Follow UsSri Lanka will begin a new era in Test cricket from June 25, with Angelo Mathews having retired from the format, and the hosts have added 22-year-old Dunith Wellalage in the squad in place of the legendary all-rounder for the second Test against Bangladesh in Colombo.
Wellalage has only played one Test to date, back in 2022 against Pakistan, but he’s already proven himself to be an exceptional ODI bowler, taking 37 wickets in just 28 innings. He’s made a name for himself by tormenting some of the greatest ever batters, dismissing all of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Shubman Gill multiple times.
In other news, pacer Milan Rathnayake has been ruled out of the second Test, with him being replaced by Vishwa Fernando.
While Wellalage has been picked in the squad, the direct Mathews replacement is set to be either Pasindu Sooriyabandara or Pavan Rathnayake, both of whom have impressive first-class numbers. Sooriyabandara, in fact, averages 56.87 in first-class cricket.
The first Test between the two sides, which was Mathews' last in Tests, ended in a draw.
Sri Lanka squad for the second Test
Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Pavan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tharindu Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Isitha Wijesundara