Top-order batsman Nuwanidu Fernando and right-arm seamer Matheesha Pathirana have broken into Sri Lanka’s T20I squad, for the forthcoming series against Australia. Both have come into the side having impressed overseas – Nuwanidu (22) in England, and Pathirana (19) in the IPL.
However, there are no places for allrounder Dhananajaya de Silva, fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, or wicketkeeper batsmen Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshand Dickwella. Kusal Mendis is likely to take the gloves.
Making a return to the T20 squad, also, are seamer Kasun Rajitha and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay has, like Dickwella, been relegated to the standby players list. Avishka Fernando and Kusal Perera remain unavailable through injury. Neither have played a competitive match for months. Nuwanidu comes in on the back of his 126 not out off 67 balls, which he made for Sri Lanka’s Development XI, against Gloucestershire. The younger brother of Test seam bowler Vishwa, Nuwanidu has largely been picked on potential, having made only two other half-centuries in 20 T20 innings.
So too Pathirana, who bowls with a Lasith Malinga-esque, slingy action, and had impressed in two outings for Chennai Super Kings, claiming 2 for 24 in one match, and 0 for 28 (in 3.4 overs) in the other. Pathirana had come in for particular praise by MS Dhoni, who had called him an “excellent death bowler” who had a big margin for error because he is difficult to hit in the air.
Pathirana is actually one of two round-arm bowlers in this Sri Lanka squad. Nuwan Thushara, who played two T20Is earlier in the year, is also in the squad. They are joined on the pace front by Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, and Rajitha, who recently made a successful return from injury in the Test format.
On the spin front, Sri Lanka are led by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who both had successful stints at the IPL. Hasaranga had a particularly excellent season, picking up 26 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54. He was one wicket off claiming the purple cap. Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama, and Sandakan are the other options.
The batting is fairly straightforward. Chandimal and de Silva were omitted on account of their modest strike rates in this format. Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Nuwanidu Fernando are all in the running for top order spots, while Dasun Shanaka, Madushanka, and Karunaratne are the middle order options.
The three-match series begins on June 7, at Khettarama (Colombo).
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan.
Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella
- Andrew Fernando, Cricinfo
Sri Lanka provisional Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan.
Sri Lanka provisional ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya De Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Arachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama.
Sri Lanka provisional T20I squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Guanathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Niroshan Dickwella, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Aarachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Kasun Rajitha, Nipun Malinga, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan.
Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 2022
Australia’s T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade.
June 7: First T20, Colombo.
June 8: Second T20, Colombo.
June 11: Third T20, Pallekele, Kandy.
Australia’s ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
June 14: First ODI, Kandy.
June 16: Second ODI, Kandy.
June 19: Third ODI, Colombo.
June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo.
June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo.
Australia’s Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
June 29 – July 3: First Test, Galle.
July 8-12: Second Test, Galle.
Australia A fixtures
Squad: Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Pete Handscomb, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee.
June 8: First one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo.
June 10: Second one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo.
June 14-17: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, HambantotaJune 21-24: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota.
