Sri Lanka Names 18-Member Squad for England Tests, Includes Uncapped Rathnayake and Tharaka

Sri Lanka Cricket has unveiled their squad for the highly anticipated Test series against England, set to commence later this month. The 18-member team includes two uncapped players, right-arm seamer Milan Rathnayake and fast-bowling allrounder Nisala Tharaka, who will look to make their mark on the international stage.

Uncapped Players Earn Call-ups

Milan Rathnayake, 28, has been a consistent performer for the Sri Lanka A side and has been selected in the Test squad on previous occasions, most recently for a one-off Test against Afghanistan. Despite not yet making his debut, Rathnayake has impressed with his performances in domestic cricket, having played 39 first-class matches and picked up 79 wickets. He has also showcased his batting prowess, scoring 633 runs with a highest score of 59.

Nisala Tharaka, a 33-year-old veteran of 107 first-class games, earns his maiden call-up to the national team. Tharaka has been a prolific wicket-taker in domestic cricket, claiming 257 wickets, and has also contributed with the bat, scoring 2358 runs with a highest score of 107. His most recent standout performance came in May when he took six wickets for 42 runs in the second innings for Sri Lanka A against Afghanistan A.

Experienced Squad with Notable Returns

The Sri Lankan squad boasts a mix of experienced players and promising youngsters. Dhananjaya de Silva will lead the side, with Kusal Mendis serving as his deputy. The team features a pace-heavy bowling attack, with Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Tharaka, and Ratnayake set to spearhead the pace department. Angelo Mathews, known for his occasional seam bowling success in England, also finds a place in the squad.

The spin bowling department is led by Jeffrey Vandersay, who makes a comeback after an impressive showing in the second ODI against India, where he picked up a career-best 6 for 33. Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya, who have been Sri Lanka’s primary Test spinners over the past 18 months, also feature in the squad.

The squad also marks the return of Pathum Nissanka to the longest format. Nissanka, who made his Test debut in March 2021, has not played a Test match since mid-2022, having been replaced by Nishan Madushka at the top of the order.

Preparation and Schedule

Although many of the players named in this squad are currently involved in the ODI series against India, six Test specialists flew to England on Saturday to begin their training. Vishwa Fernando has also played three County Championship matches for Yorkshire as part of his preparation for the upcoming series.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and England will be played at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester from August 21-25. The teams will then travel to Lord’s Cricket Ground in London for the second Test from August 29 to September 2. The series will conclude with the third Test at The Oval in London from September 6-10.

Sri Lanka squad for Tests vs England: Dhananjaya De Silva (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (vice-capt), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake

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