Kusal Perera returns as Sri Lanka announce their squad for Test series against England

Left-handed batsman Kusal Perera made a comeback to the Sri Lanka Test squad for the two-match home series against England starting March 23. The 29-year-old, who has played the last of his 18 Tests against New Zealand last year, took the place of Lahiru Thirimanne and it was the only change that the islanders made to their 15-man squad that travelled to Zimbabwe for a two-Test series in January.

Perera, who starred in Sri Lanka’s famous come-back-from-behind win against the Proteas in Durban last year, was overlooked for the tour of Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka’s chief selector Ashantha de Mel had said then that the presence of Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews meant Perera had no place in the squad. Perera’s poor outing with the bat in the Test series against New Zealand at home (he scored 1, 23, 0 and 0) also saw him ousted for the Test tour of Pakistan that followed after some months.

Sri Lanka will be led by Dimuth Karunaratne, who was the side’s top scorer in the last Test series that the islanders played against England at home in 2018-19. The Three Lions won that series 3-0, the first time in Sri Lanka after 2000-01.

Thirimanne, on the other hand, also played his last Test match against New Zealand at home in 2019 as he was not picked for any of the two Tests against Zimbabwe despite being picked in the squad. Sri Lanka preferred Oshada Fernando to partner Karunaratne at the top of the order against the Africans. In Tests, Perera averages 31 plus while Karunaratne has 22 something as the average in the long format.

Sri Lanka have only clinched one win in ICC Test Championship

Sri Lanka have registered only one win in the ongoing ICC Test Championship and have 80 points from four outings. They are in the sixth position, two below England who are at 146 points with five wins from nine games.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Monday that they will name a replacement player for Wanindu Hasaranga before the first Test match against England in Galle. The second Test will be played at the SSC in Colombo from March 27.

Overall, England and Sri Lanka have played each other in 34 Tests with the former winning 15 as against the latter’s eight. Eleven matches have been drawn.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Wanindu Hasarang