Sri Lanka Test Squad Adds Uncapped Mishara And Arachchige

Sri Lanka have called up two uncapped players for the second and final Test against India, which starts in Colombo on 23 August. Kamil Mishara, a batter, and Sahan Arachchige, an all rounder, come into the Sri Lanka Test squad. Injuries had already taken three first choice batters out of selection.

Dhananjaya de Silva stays on as captain for the Colombo match, with Kamindu Mendis as his deputy. India lead the two match series 1-0 after winning at Galle by 165 runs. Sri Lanka must win to draw level.

Kusal Mendis, Nissanka and Chandimal all unavailable

Kusal Mendis picked up a hamstring injury during the Lanka Premier League and missed the first Test. Head coach Gary Kirsten has described the injury as a proper one and said Mendis faces an extended spell out. Pathum Nissanka is still recovering from wrist surgery. Dinesh Chandimal was concussed on the fourth day at Galle, and the mandatory seven day stand down rules him out of Colombo.

Three experienced batters, gone at once. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who came in as Chandimal's concussion substitute at Galle, keeps his place. Niroshan Dickwella stays in the group after replacing Kusal Mendis.

Mishara and Arachchige earn the call

Arachchige made 127 batting at No. 5 in the second unofficial Test against India A last month. He bowls off spin. Mishara had a productive Lanka Premier League, then hit 145 from 72 balls in a Major Clubs T20 fixture on the same day the call came.

Both promotions ran through Sri Lanka's domestic layer rather than around it. The A team programme against India A, the franchise league and the Colombo club competition each produced evidence inside the past six weeks. Selectors used all three. Boards and clubs running similar structures will recognise a pathway doing the job it was built for.

Sri Lanka squad for the second Test

• Dhananjaya de Silva (captain)
• Kamindu Mendis (vice captain)
• Lahiru Udara
• Kamil Mishara
• Pasindu Sooriyabandara
• Sahan Arachchige
• Sonal Dinusha
• Niroshan Dickwella
• Keshara Nuwantha
• Prabath Jayasuriya
• Milan Ratnayake
• Lahiru Kumara
• Asitha Fernando
• Vishwa Fernando

Ramesh Mendis and Nishan Fernando make way, according to Orissa Post. Prabath Jayasuriya leads a spin attack that will carry most of the workload on a Colombo surface. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Milan Ratnayake cover the seam.

Galle result and the championship table

India took the first Test after Manav Suthar's ten wicket match haul at Galle, in what was India's 600th Test. The ICC lists Sri Lanka sixth in the World Test Championship table on 33.33 percent of points available.

The match runs from 23 to 27 August. ThePapare reports the venue as the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo. Sri Lanka have named four seamers and one frontline spinner in the fourteen, with Arachchige and Kamindu Mendis offering further spin options.