Sri Lanka names provisional squad for Australia series

Sri Lanka have announced provisional squads for all formats for their series against Australia in June. Australia will tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches. The series will begin on 7th June.

This is an important series for both Australia and Sri Lanka as the ODIs will be a part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League while the Test matches will be a part of the World Test Championship 2021-2023 cycle.

With an excellent run in the Men’s Ashes, Australia are one of the top sides in the WTC at the moment and have not lost a single Test match in the current cycle. They have won five matches and have drawn three.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka are currently playing against Bangladesh in the two-match Test series with the first one ending in a draw. However, Sri Lanka did have a lot of positives to take from that game. The all-rounder Angelo Mathews scoring 199 is the highlight.

Considering the conditions, it will be a difficult Test tour for Australia. However, the team did well in the subcontinent against Pakistan where they were able to push for a result on a complete death track.

Things could be different in Sri Lanka as the conditions would favour the spinners more. In this case, we might see Australia going in with three spinners. Still, they have to scratch their heads to come up with a perfect playing eleven, which is always a challenge in the subcontinent.

Australia have already named a full-strength squad for the tour, with the Test team being led by Pat Cummins and the white-ball sides being led by Aaron Finch.

The hosts have announced a 24-member provisional squad for the Tests and two 26-member provisional squads for the ODIs and T20Is to prepare for the upcoming series. Dimuth Karunaratne will lead the Test team while Dasun Shanaka will take the charge of the white-ball series.

Sri Lanka provisional Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c),Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Sri Lanka provisional ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya De Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Arachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama

Sri Lanka provisional T20I squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Guanathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Niroshan Dickwella, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Aarachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Kasun Rajitha, Nipun Malinga, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan