KAMIL AND SAHAN IN 14 MEMBER SQUAD FOR 2nd TEST-by Sunil Thenabadu
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named opener Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige in the 14-member squad for the second Test against India, which begins tomorrow at the SSC Grounds.The hosts will be without two experienced players, Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, for the Colombo Test, while opener Pathum Nissanka is also unavailable after undergoing surgery on his right wrist.
Following the Galle Test, which India won by 165 runs, Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten confirmed that Mendis has a hamstring injury and “won’t be available for a while.” Chandimal is also set to miss the second Test after being injured on the fourth day of the Galle match and entering the concussion protocols, which require a minimum seven-day stand-down period before a return to action.
Chandimal was replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara as a concussion substitute, and Sooriyabandara has been retained in the Test squad. However, after being dismissed for a duck in his debut innings, he is now fighting for a place in the final XI.Mendis has been nursing a hamstring injury sustained during the Lanka Premier League and has been replaced in the squad by Niroshan Dickwella.
Both Kamil Mishara and Sahan Arachchige are yet to make their Test debuts, but both are in tremendous form.The 30-year-old left-hander Arachchige, who is also a useful off-spinner, impressed in the unofficial Tests between Sri Lanka A and India A. He scored 127 in the second match and topped the run charts for Sri Lanka A. Although India A won the game by 10 wickets, Arachchige’s defiant knock at number five, while leading the side, was one of the highlights of the match.
Arachchige has played five ODIs and one T20I and is expected to be in contention for his Test debut.The 25-year-old Kamil Mishara has been in outstanding form. During the recently concluded LPL, he scored 411 runs at an average of 51.37 and won the Player of the Tournament award. He continued his excellent form by smashing 145 off 72 balls in the Major Clubs T20 tournament on the very same day he was called up to the Test squad.Mishara is tipped to open alongside Lahiru Udara in the second Test at the SSC. Sri Lanka’s top order collapsed in both innings of the Galle Test, and the selectors are determined to strengthen the batting at the top.
“This is a good opportunity for the youngsters,” said head coach Gary Kirsten.Meanwhile, Ramesh Mendis and Dilshan Madushanka, who were released from the 16-member squad for the first Test to play in the ongoing domestic Major Club matches, have not been retained for the second Test.Opener Nishan Madushka has also been left out after a prolonged poor run of form in Test cricket. His last six Test innings have yielded scores of 23, 2, 6, 20, 0 and 6, prompting the selectors to look for another opening option. Kamil Mishara has emerged as their preferred choice.India’s Devdutt Padikkal successfully made the transition from white-ball cricket, including the IPL, to Test cricket, and Mishara will have a similar opportunity to prove his ability in the longer format.
The 14-member Sri Lankan squad includes pacemen Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Milan Rathnayake. The two key spinners, Prabath Jayasuriya and Kesara Nuwantha, have also retained their places.However, Lahiru Kumara failed to meet expectations in the Galle Test and will have to fight for his place in the second Test, with either Vishwa Fernando or Milan Rathnayake pushing for selection.
Sri Lanka official Test Squad for the second Test
Lahiru Udara,Kamil Mishara Pasindu Sooriyabandara,Kamindu Mendis (V.Capt), DhananjayaDe Silva (Capt) , Sahan Arachchige,Sonal Dinusha,Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha,Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Ratnayake, Lahiru Kumara,Asitha Fernando ,Vishwa Fernando.
