Sri Lanka pick uncapped players Sonal Dinusha and Lahiru Udara for Tests against Australia

Sri Lanka are all set to play a two-match Test series against Australia in Galle. The first Test gets underway on Wednesday, January 29.

The home side has picked uncapped players Sonal Dinusha and Lahiru Udara in the 18-man squad. While Dinusha has not made his international debut as yet, Udara has featured in a solitary T20I. Pathum Nissanka is trying to get fit in time after picking up a groin strain while batting during the third ODI against New Zealand in Auckland on January 11.

Udara, who is an opening batter, has been picked as a potential backup for Nissanka. The former has played 97 first-class matches and scored 6,665 runs at an average of 41.14. Meanwhile, Dinusha has scored 2,285 runs and bagged 94 wickets from 44 first-class games. 

Meanwhile, captain Dhananjaya de Silva is nursing an injury as well, having retired hurt from a first-class encounter with a side strain less than a couple of weeks ago.

Prabath Jayasuriya is set to lead the spin attack with leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and off-spinner Nishan Peiris for company. Meanwhile, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and Milan Rathnayake are the four seam-bowling options for the Lankan Lions.

Dimuth Karunaratne will be making his 100th Test appearance in the second game. Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Kamindu Mendis are in line to form the batting lineup. Sadeera Samarawickrama has also been picked in the side to add more depth in the batting department. He can also don the wicketkeeping gloves if required.

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Sri Lanka are out of the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Australia are set to face South Africa in the title decider later this year. The defending champions can only lose it if they incur an unlikely number of over-rate penalty points during the Tests against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka squad for Australia Test series: Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka (subject to fitness), 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.