Thirimanne And Lakmal Drafted Into Sri Lanka Squad

Thirimanne And Lakmal Drafted Into Sri Lanka Squad

Suranga Lakmal last played Test cricket for Sri Lanka in the home series against England in April.

©REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte. Picture Supplied by Action Images

Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Thirimanne will join Sri Lanka’s Test squad ahead of the third and final Test against Australia, which starts on 3rd January.

Lakmal will replace fellow fast-bowler Chanaka Welegedara, who picked up a hamstring tear during Sri Lanka’s comprehensive defeat in the second Test, while Thirimanne, who was originally named as a standby player for the tour of Australia, will replace Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka’s other injured players, fast-bowler Nuwan Kulasekara and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene will remain with the squad, with the tourists hopeful that they will be fit in time for Sydney.

If Lakmal is selected ahead of Nuwan Pradeep, Nuwan Kulasekara and Suraj Randiv in Sri Lanka’s starting eleven, then it will be his first Test since the one against England in Colombo. He has been in good form in Sri Lanka’s ongoing Premier Limited Overs Tournament for Tamil Union, taking 13 wickets in six matches to date, and was preferred to Thisara Perera, who is currently playing in the Big Bash League and was not considered fit for Test cricket.

Thirimanne will only play if Jayawardene is deemed unable to play, in which case Dinesh Chandimal will take the gloves.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Angelo Mathews (vice-captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Tharanga Paranavitana, Nuwan Pradeep, Dammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilan Samaraweera, Lahiru Thirimanne.

© Cricket World 2012