By Dhammika Ratnaweera
A squad of 22 players who will make the tour party to South Africa next month, will undergo a nine-day training camp in Pallekele to acclimatize themselves to the conditions and pitches they will encounter in South Africa
The squad includes two uncapped players from Colts CC, with Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup cricketer, 20-year-old left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who has played 3 first-class matches and taken 10 wickets, which includes figures of 6/33 on his first-class debut against Negombo CC in March this year and 21-year-old all-rounder (right-hand bat and medium-pace) Santhush Gunathilaka who averages 45.33 in nine first-class matches inclusive of two centuries and 6 wickets.
Two other players who have yet to break into Test cricket, but won their Sri Lanka caps in white ball cricket are CCC’s 23-year-old all-rounder (right-hand bat and leg spinner) Wanindu Hasaranga, who has represented his country in 15 ODIs and 13 T20Is and SSC’s 25-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman Minod Bhanuka, who has played in 1 ODI and 2 T20Is.
Only three spinners are included in the squad – Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dilruwan Perera, in comparison to seven fast bowlers.
According to a news report South Africa has chosen the two venues for two reasons – so that Cricket South Africa can create a bubble between Centurion and Johannesburg and from a cricketing point of view, as it will suit the hosts to play Sri Lanka on the two fastest surfaces in the country, as they have not beaten Sri Lanka in a Test series since 2016-17.
The Lankan cricketers have had no international engagements since March due to COVID-19 and the only competitive cricket they will get before leaving for South Africa is the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20, which is not the best preparation ahead of a two-Test series.
“It is not the ideal preparation for a Test series, but there is nothing that you can do with the LPL getting postponed time and again,” said De Mel. “The nine-day camp will be very good. They are starting the camp on 13 November in Pallekele which has a high altitude, with the 22 players who will be released on 22 November to play in the LPL. They will be leaving for South Africa on 17 December, a day after the LPL final.”
The LPL was originally scheduled to commence on 28 August and conclude on 22 September, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been postponed four times. It is now due to run from 26 November to 16 December.
Sri Lanka has a 3-day warm-up match in Benoni before they commence the two-Test series against South Africa on Boxing Day at the Centurion which will be followed by the second Test at Johannesburg from 3 January.
The Sri Lanka tour squad is expected to comprise 22 players and 10 officials (manager, four coaches, physiotherapist, masseur, trainer, analyst and a local doctor).
Probable 22-Member Squad for South Africa
Dimuth Karunaratne, Santhush Gunathilaka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asith Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Embuldeniya, Dilruwan Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka.
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