11 May 2018 09:06 pm Views - 2028
Hard-hitting opening bat Mahela Udawatte has earned a call-up to the Test squad along with three other uncapped players---Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando for the three-match Test series against West Indies.
The team also see the return of Angelo Mathews after a long injury lay-off but his travel to West Indies depends on subject to proving his fitness. Suranga Lakmal also returns to the side but like Mathews his participation will be subject to fitness.
Udawatte, 31 last played for Sri Lanka in 2008 and comes back to the side on the back of some solid batting performance in the ongoing Super Provincial tournament hitting two centuries and two half-centuries.
Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando—two pacemen have been included in place of Dushmantha Chameera and Lakshan Sandakan. There was also no place for Danushka Gunathilaka in the 17-man squad.
Kusal Perera has also returned to the side while the selectors have left out regular test openers Dimuth Karunaratne due to injury and Kaushal Silva over poor form in the provincial tournament.
Akila Dananjaya, who made his debut at Dhaka has been retained along with Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. The first of the three Tests begins on June 6 at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Sri Lanka full squad: Dinesh Chandimal, Mahela Udawatte, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Angelo Mathews (Subject to fitness), Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Gamage, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal (Subject to fitness), Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando