From Colombo: Sri Lanka's cricket board has named a 16-man squad for the two-match home Test series against New Zealand, kicking off this Wednesday. Dhananjaya de Silva continues his role as captain. The team is looking to build on their recent experience against England; although they lost that series 2-1, they did manage to secure a win to avoid a clean sweep. Consequently, the selectors have kept the squad mostly consistent with the one used against England.
Colombo: The Sri Lanka cricket board has announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand at home beginning on Wednesday. Dhananjaya de Silva will continue to lead the Sri Lankan team in the red ball format. Sri Lanka avoided a clean sweep, and the series ended 2-1 in England’s favor. After the loss, Sri Lanka didn’t make many changes to their squad from the England series.
The biggest talking point is the return of Oshada Fernando, who hasn't played red-ball cricket in a year and a half. He's been brought back to strengthen the top order, though he faces stiff competition to make the final playing eleven. His last Test appearance was in March 2023 against the Kiwis, but he forced his way back into the conversation after a dominant showing for Sri Lanka A against South Africa A this month, featuring a brilliant 122 and a solid 80.However, Oshada Fernando has been named after 18 months since his last appearance in red-ball cricket. Oshada returns to the squad and aims at solidifying the top-order batting, but he might find it hard to break through into the playing XL. Fernando’s last Test was against New Zealand in March 2023. He found his place back in the red-ball team after producing player of the match performance after smashing 122 and 80 for Sri Lanka A against South Africa A earlier this month.
Nishan Madushka, the wicketkeeper-batter, has missed out on selection this time. His struggles with the bat during the England series paved the way for Oshada Fernando's return. Furthermore, Nisala Tharaka and Kasun Rajitha have also been left out, as the board opted to stick with the majority of the players who featured in the recent series against England.The wicketkeeper-batter Nishan Madushka was not included in the upcoming squad. Madushaka made way for 33-year-old Oshada following his underwhelming run with a bat, who was part of the side that toured England for a three-match Test series. The other two players from Sri Lanka, Nisala Tharaka and Kasun Rajitha, are to miss out on the squad because Sri Lanka retained most of the members that faced England.
There is a clear sense of trust in the younger generation, with Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Milan Rathanayake all retained following their strong showings against England. Nissanka made history as the first Sri Lankan opener in over a decade to hit a century on English soil, with his unbeaten 127* playing a pivotal role in one of Sri Lanka's few wins in England over the last 40 years. Similarly, Kamindu Mendis is off to a flying start in his Test career, having already notched three centuries in just his fourth match during the second Test against England.Sri Lanka shows trust in youngsters like Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Milan Rathanayake, who will aim to continue their impressive performances from the England series. Nissanka, who became the first Sri Lankan opener in 13 years to score a Test hundred in England. His match-winning 127* helped Sri Lanka record their 4th Test win on England soil in the last 40 years. Kamindu Mendis also had a dream start to his Test career, scoring a third Test century in his 4th appearance in whites for Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test match against England.
For New Zealand, this trip marks a return to Sri Lanka after five years, following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign where they were knocked out early. This bilateral series is significant as it counts toward the World Test Championship, which culminates at Lord’s in 2025. Sri Lanka will be looking to leverage their familiarity with local conditions and ride the momentum from their recent ODI victory over India in Colombo.New Zealand hasn’t had the best of years because of an early elimination in the T20 World Cup. After five long years, New Zealand will return to the island nation for a bilateral series. The Test series will be part of the World Test Championship, set to conclude at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2025. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will aim to make use of their home weather conditions and take confidence from their recent ODI series triumph against India in Colombo.
In the WTC standings, Sri Lanka currently sits in fifth place with a percentage of 42.86, while New Zealand holds third with 50%. The matches will be hosted in Galle, with the second Test scheduled to begin on September 26 immediately following the conclusion of the first.Sri Lanka are currently fifth in the WTC standings with a point percentage of 42.86, while New Zealand occupy third place with 50 percent.The test series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will take place in Galle. After the first test concludes, the second test match begins on September 26.
Sri Lanka's Test Roster: Dhananjaya De Silva (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Milan Rathnayake.Sri Lanka ODI Squad: Dhananjaya De Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake.