On the strength of his ODI achievements, legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay has gained a spot in Sri Lanka’s Test team for the forthcoming series against Australia. Pathum Nissanka, who missed the Bangladesh Tests due to injury, is also back in the Test lineup and is anticipated to reclaim a spot in the starting XI.
All-rounders Chamika Karunaratne and Kamindu Mendis, who were with the Test team in Bangladesh, have also been kept. No significant omissions exist. The players that make room for Vandersay and Nissanka are uncapped Kamil Mishara and Suminda Lakshan, who were both a part of the team during the previous series.
Vandersay has never participated in a Test match, although he has first-class cricket experience, having taken 233 wickets at an average of 26.92. In the just finished ODI series, he grabbed five wickets across four games. However, Dunith Wellalage, who had a series-high nine wickets, was only able to get a spot on the standby list rather than making the team. However, Wellalage, 19, only has 11 first-class games recorded on his ledger.
Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, and Ramesh Mendis are the other left-arm spinners on the team; Vandersay is the lone wrist spinner. Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando, and left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando are Sri Lankan seam bowlers who have demonstrated penetration in Bangladesh.
The uncapped left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka is also included in the team.
There are no big shocks in the batting contingent. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne are probably going to debut. Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dinesh Chandimal are set to make up the remainder of the top order, with Niroshan Dickwella likely to grab the gloves and bat at No. 7. Sri Lanka does, however, have choices because Chandimal can also keep in a Test match.
The two Test matches will be held at Galle. On July 29, the first one begins.
