Sri Lanka Squad For Test Series vs Australia: Hosts Include Two Uncapped Players in Strong Group

Two uncapped players added as Sri Lanka announced a 18-member strong squad led by Dhananjaya de Silva for their ICC World Test Championship series against Australia, starting from January 29.

Lahiru Udara and Sonal Dinusha are in contention to make their Test debuts as the two uncapped members of the squad with key members including captain remaining a fitness concern, as per ICC.

Skipper Dhananjaya, Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka had been injury doubts heading into the home series against the reigning World Test Champions, but all three key players have been included in a large squad for the two Tests.

Nissanka's ongoing issues with a groin injury make him the least likely of the trio to feature, but the Sri Lankan selectors have built-in cover in the squad by naming an 18-man group with the first Test just five days away.

The rest of the batting core includes Dimuth Karunaratne, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, while the bowling attack features Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Milan Rathnayake.

Both matches in the Warne-Murali Test Series will be played at Galle and will bring the curtains down on the qualification phase of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, with Australia already guaranteed a spot in June's final against South Africa.

Sri Lanka currently occupy the fifth spot in the WTC table, one spot ahead of England, and could leapfrog New Zealand and potentially even India should they enjoy a successful series.

The visitors are without captain Pat Cummins for the tour due to an ankle injury, but have been boosted by the inclusion of stand-in skipper Steve Smith in the squad for both the Sri Lanka tour and subsequent Champions Trophy campaign after the batter suffered what initially appeared to be a serious elbow injury during the Big Bash.

Australia have also included several spinners in their squad with Matthew Kuhnemann being cleared only this week to travel to Sri Lanka. The left-arm spinner had broken his right thumb during a match in the BBL last week, but has been able to bowl in training this week.

Sri Lanka Squad For Tests vs Australia

Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake.