2024-03-20 00:13:46
Wanindu Hasaranga has returned from retirement to the team for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. He is in the 17-member team announced on Tuesday. Lahiru Kumara has been called into the team with him. And the new face is off-spinner Nishan Peiris.
Hasaranga retired from Tests in August 2023. So that he can emphasize white ball cricket. He took 4 wickets in 4 Tests played before retirement. The average was 100.75. He last played a Test in April 2021. That too was on the soil of Bangladesh.
However, he will not be able to play at the start of the IPL as he has been called up to the Test team. The two-match series against Bangladesh will end on April 3. On the other hand, IPL will start from March 22. As a result, he will not be able to play in the first three matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Lahiru Kumara took four wickets in the third ODI against Bangladesh. That is why he is also kept in the Test team. Who last played a Test 10 years ago.
Peiris, on the other hand, got a call-up to the Test team once in 2018. But the XI did not get a chance. Peiris has taken 24 wickets with the ball in the last four first-class matches. In all, he has 153 wickets in 37 first-class matches. Average 24.79. Considering the spin condition of Bangladesh, Peiris has also been kept in the team along with Hasaranga.
Besides, there are no other changes in the team. The players who last played against Afghanistan are also in the Test team against Bangladesh. Dhananjaya de Silva will lead the Sri Lankan team in the Test as usual.
Sri Lanka Test Team:
Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadira Samarawickrama (wicketkeeper), Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Prabhath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Nishan Peiris, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Chamika Gunasekara.