3 weeks ago
Dickwella returns to Sri Lanka Test squad for India series
The Sri Lanka cricket team is getting ready to play a long and tricky kind of cricket game called a Test match against India.
Before the game, Sri Lanka chose a group of 16 players.
They had to make changes because two important players got hurt.
Kusal Mendis hurt his leg muscle, and Pathum Nissanka hurt his wrist and needed surgery.
So Sri Lanka asked an older player named Niroshan Dickwella to come back to the team.
He had not played this kind of cricket for three years.
They also picked a brand-new player named Keshara Nuwantha, who bowls spin.
The first game starts on Saturday in a city called Galle.
A second game will be played later in Colombo.
Sri Lanka named a 16-member Test squad for the first Test against India, which starts Saturday, Aug 15, in Galle.
Wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella returned to the red-ball setup after a three-year gap.
Uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha and top-order batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara received maiden call-ups.
Kusal Mendis was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Pathum Nissanka is recovering from wrist surgery.
Dhananjaya De Silva captains the side with Kamindu Mendis as vice-captain; the second Test begins Aug 23 in Colombo.
- Who
- Sri Lanka's cricket team, captained by Dhananjaya De Silva, against India's cricket team, with returning wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella in line to play.
- What
- Sri Lanka announced a 16-member Test squad for the first Test against India, recalling Niroshan Dickwella and handing maiden call-ups to Keshara Nuwantha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara.
- Where
- First Test at Galle; second Test from Aug 23 at the SSC in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- When
- The squad was named ahead of the first Test, which begins Saturday, Aug 15.
- Why
- Kusal Mendis was ruled out with a hamstring injury and Pathum Nissanka is unavailable after wrist surgery, prompting changes to the squad.
Key facts
- Event
- First Test between Sri Lanka and India
- Squad size
- 16 members
- Captain & vice-captain
- Dhananjaya De Silva; Kamindu Mendis
- First Test
- Saturday, Aug 15, in Galle
- Second Test
- Sunday, Aug 23, at SSC Colombo
- Injury absentees
- Kusal Mendis (hamstring), Pathum Nissanka (wrist surgery)
- Key returns
- Niroshan Dickwella (after 3 years); Dilshan Madushanka (last Test 3 years ago)
- Squad discrepancy
- One article lists 'Lahiru Udana' in the squad; another lists 'Lahiru Udara' in the same slot.










