Vandersay recalled as Sri Lanka name 18-member squad for England Tests

Sri Lanka have named an 18-member squad for the upcoming three-Test series against England, and the squad features the return of leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who played a solitary Test back in 2022 against Australia in Galle. 

Vandersay has been out of the red-ball picture for a while now and has not registered impressive numbers in first-class cricket either (averaging 35.6 since the start of 2022), but the 34-year-old has received a surprise call-up just days after his six-wicket haul in the ongoing ODI series against India.

Vandersay is one of three spinners in the squad, alongside Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis. Wanindu Hasaranga, who came out of retirement to be a part of the Bangladesh Test series in March, misses the three-Test series with injury.

Vandersay aside, Sri Lanka have also handed call-ups to fast bowler Milan Rathnayake and bowling all-rounder Nisala Tharaka. While it’s a maiden call-up for 33-year-old Tharaka, Rathnayake earned his first call-up on the tour of New Zealand last year.

The 18-member squad will continue to be led by Dhananjaya de Silva, with Kusal Mendis serving as his deputy. 

From the Bangladesh series that happened in March, seam bowler Chamika Gunasekara and off-spinner Nishan Peiris have failed to make the cut. 

The three-match series will kick off on August 21 at Old Trafford, Manchester. The second and third Tests will be played at Lord’s and The Oval, respectively. 

As it stands, Sri Lanka (fourth) are ahead of England (sixth) in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.

Sri Lanka squad for Tests vs England

Dhananjaya De Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (vc, wk), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake

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