Angelo Mathews has returned to the helm of the Sri Lanka team after successfully recovering from a calf injury to lead the 15-man squad for the upcoming South Africa Tests later this month.
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Vice-Captain Dinesh Chandimal has also recovered from a fractured thumb and has been included in the squad. Both the regular Captain and Vice-Captain were not considered for selection for the Zimbabwe tour due to their injuries.
Lanky fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera has also returned to the national set-up after a six-month lay-off owing to a stress fracture he suffered to his lower back during the England Test series in May.
Uncapped 24-year old right-arm fast-bowler Wikum Sanjaya from BRC has also earned a maiden national call-up. He is rated highly by the Sri Lanka ‘A’ fast-bowling coach, Chaminda Vaas for his accuracy, swing and pace. Last week, Sanjaya produced his best bowling performance in the Premier Cricket, 7 for 102 against SL Army including a six-wicket haul in the first innings.
Read: Top performers – SLC Premier League Tournament – Week 1
Sanjaya’s ability to swing the ball both ways at pace makes him a dangerous customer to deal with. In 17 first-class matches, he has taken 38 scalps so far and was named the Best Bowler in the recently concluded MCA ‘A’ Division Cricket Tournament representing John Keells Holdings. Nuwan Pradeep who missed the Zimbabwe Tests has also made his way into the squad.
Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Gamage and Kasun Madhushanka who were a part of the Test squad which won the two-match series in Zimbabwe have been overlooked for the South African tour. Gunaratne scored 225 runs in his maiden Test series with one century and one fifty but unfortunately missed out on selection.
The team is set to leave Sri Lankan shores on the 10th of December.
Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to officially announce the squad for the tour as at 1 p.m today.
The three-match series will start with the Boxing Day Test at Port Elizabeth.
Sri Lanka Test Squad
Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Vice-Captain), Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya De Silva, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Wikum Sanjaya.
