Mendis In Sri Lanka Test Squad To Tour South Africa

Mendis In Sri Lanka Test Squad To Tour South Africa

Ajantha Mendis makes a return to the Sri Lanka squad following a back injury that ruled him out of playing against Pakistan

©REUTERS / Action Images

Spinner Ajantha Mendis returns from injury and Dilhara Fernando has been handed a recall to Sri Lanka's 16-man squad to play three Test matches in South Africa.

Fernando's inclusion comes after a host of players were ruled out through injury and there are places in the squad for all-rounder Tissera Perera and opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne.

Fast bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad and Shaminda Eranga were all unavailable due to injury while wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene also missed out.

Mendis missed the 1-0 series defeat to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates due to a back problem and Fernando last played a Test in June against England.

He played no part in the series against Australia or Pakistan but has featured in the One-Day International series against Pakistan.

Mendis replaces off-spinner Suraj Randiv in the squad as Sri Lanka look for their first Test win since Tillakaratne Dilshan took over as captain and Muttiah Muralitharan retired.

The series begins at Centurion Park on 15th December before matches in Durban from 26th December and Cape Town from 3rd January.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Angelo Mathews (vice-captain), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Chanaka Welagedara, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Tissera Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath

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