Uncapped Sonal Dinusha to replace Mathews

Sonal Dinusha	Vishwa Fernando	Dunith Wellalage

• Sri Lanka make two changes to 18-man squad for 2nd Test

24-year-old batting all-rounder Sonal Dinusha will replace Angelo Mathews in the second Test for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh starting at the SSC grounds tomorrow.

38-year-old Mathews retired from Test cricket at the end of the first Test at Galle having represented his country in 119 matches.

Dinusha was included in the Test squad for the two-match series against Australia in February along with Lahiru Udara, but both of them failed to make it to the final 11. However, in the first Test against Bangladesh of the ongoing series Udara was given his Test cap and Dinusha is expected to follow him in the second Test.

A left-hand middle-order batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Mahanama College, Colombo, Dinusha has been knocking on the door for recognition with some consistent performances in domestic cricket in the Major Clubs 3-day, National Super League and for Sri Lanka ‘A’. He averages 40.62 in first-class matches with the bat with 7 centuries and is one wicket shy of reaching 100 first-class wickets.

Dinusha is not expected to bat in Mathews’ position at 4 but most likely at 6 with Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva moving upto to fill that slot.

During the recently concluded National Super League 4-day tournament De Silva who captained Dambulla was asked to bat at number 4 with the intention of filling the number 4 slot in the national Test side when Mathews retires. He performed the role adequately averaging 52.71 scoring 369 runs with 3 centuries.  

Sri Lanka were forced to make two changes to their Test squad of 18 for the second Test following the retirement of Mathews and fast bowling all-rounder Milan Rathnayake being ruled out with a left side strain suffered during the first Test.

Replacing them are uncapped all-rounder Dunith Wellalage and left-arm fast-medium bowler Vishwa Fernando.

With the SSC pitch expected to favour pace Sri Lanka are looking at going with 3 fast bowlers and one spinner. Asitha Fernando is expected to pair off with Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha.

However when it comes to spin there is a big question mark who the solitary spinner would be?

In normal circumstances it would have been left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya without a doubt. However, Jayasuriya it seems is currently not bowling at his best and this has raised a lot of concern in the Sri Lankan camp.

The Bangladeshi batsmen negotiated Jayasuriya on the Galle surface with ease where he conceded 246 runs for a solitary wicket. Even the Australians countered his spin with sweeps and reverse sweeps. Jayasuriya’s lack of success has put a big question mark on his ability as a match winning bowler. He has failed to make an impact even on the domestic circuit bowling on his home surface at SSC.

It is learnt that Jayasuriya has a problem with his bowling action. After several analyses it has been found out that it is his wrist angle at the point of release. This flaw has apparently happened during the domestic season and Jayasuriya has been working hard towards rectifying that fault with the national team coaches.

Sri Lanka will have to decide whether to gamble with Jayasuriya or go with ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake who was their most successful bowler at Galle with a match bag of 6 wickets. There is also versatile spinner Akila Dananjaya who did not play at Galle but is awaiting to break into the Test circuit again after 6 years.

SRI LANKA SQUAD FOR 2ND TEST

Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (Captain), Kusal Mendis,  Kamindu Mendis, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tharindu Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Isitha Wijesundara.

Key players return to Bangladesh ODI squad v SL

A host of key players have been named as Bangladesh announced a strong squad for their upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman have recovered from injury and have been included in the 16-member playing group, while T20I skipper Litton Das wins a recall after he missed out on the ICC Champions Trophy tournament at the start of the year.

Shamim Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and Mohammad Naim are also included in the squad, with recently retired duo Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim among the players to drop out of the squad that went winless at the Champions Trophy.

The opening two matches of the series will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 2 and 5 July, with the series switching to Pallekele for the final match on 8 July.

BANGLADESH ODI SQUAD: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud.