Dickwella back in favour for white ball cricket

• Sri Lanka names provisional squads for Australian tour

Dasun Shanaka has retained the Sri Lanka ODI and T20I captaincy for the forthcoming series against Australia, while Dimuth Karunaratne continues as skipper of the Test side.

The National Selection Committee named the provisional squads for the three formats in which Sri Lanka will play Australia. A 24-member squad was picked for the two-Test series, and two 26-member squads for the five ODIs and three T20Is.

A point of interest is the selection of wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella for all three formats. Since breaking the bio-bubble rules on the tour of England in June last year Dickwella has not been selected for any white ball matches but only for Test cricket. 

A hard hitting fast scoring batsman in the top order Dickwella has a strike rate of 93.48 in ODIs and 131.14 in T20Is. In the first Test against Bangladesh that concluded on Thursday at Chattogram, Dickwella scored a match-saving half-century (61*) helping Sri Lanka to draw the match.

Batsman Pathum Nissanka (back injury) and fast bowler Lahiru Kumara (hamstring) who missed the ongoing Test series in Bangladesh have also been named in the squads for all three formats while two newcomers feature in the Test and white ball teams. 

Lakshitha Rasanjana, a 22-year-old off-spinner from SSC who has 60 first-class wickets from 15 matches has been named in the Test squad, while Sri Lanka’s Under19 World Cup captain Dunith Wellalage figures in the ODI and T20I squads. 

Australia will commence the tour with the three-match T20I series on 7 June at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The five-match ODI series starts on 14 June at Pallekele followed by the two Tests at Galle from 29 June. – (ST)

PROVISIONAL TEST SQUAD

Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), 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.

PROVISIONAL ODI SQUAD

Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), 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.

PROVISIONAL T20 SQUAD

Danushka Guanathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), 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.