The Sri Lanka national cricket team took wing to the United Kingdom on Wednesday afternoon for a two-month long tour, hoping to repeat their 2014 success in what promises to be a very challenging tour.
After suffering humiliating group-stage exits in the Asia Cup and ICC World T20, Sri Lanka, ranked 7th in Tests, face a daunting task taking on fourth-ranked England in the longest format of the game. The Lions won the series in all three formats in their historic tour in 2014 but since then they have been on a downward trend.
Sri Lanka skipper Mathews reminisced on his match-winning knock in Headingly, naming it as the best knock of his career and recalled fond memories of the tour, during the press conference held before the departure, “We will all cherish winning in England (2014) for the rest of our lives but we have to move on for the future, it has gone down as history, we will be remembered if we can repeat it once again.”
This time around, Angelo Mathews and his team will take on England in three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I and in between will play two ODIs against Ireland. “We have been preparing well on surfaces similar to England in Pallekelle by leaving out grass and started batting very early in the morning. Adjusting to the conditions once we go there will be the biggest challenge.” Mathews said regarding the preparations in the past few weeks.
Photo Album – Sri Lanka team departure to England 2016
Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhammika Prasad, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep and Dilruwan Perera, along with Mathews and Rangana Herath, are those in the present squad who also toured in 2014. Some of the new uncapped players, Dhananjaya De Silva and Dasun Shanaka will be itching to make an impression while young Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella will look to stamp their authority in the Test arena.
“We are little bit short on experience but the players have trained extremely well and they are looking forward to this tour. The Captain, Vice-Captain, senior players and all the players should take more responsibility and lead the country to victory.” Sri Lanka Cricket’s newly-appointed Chief Selector, Sanath Jayasuriya said.
Sri Lanka head coach, Graham Ford also gave his thoughts on the upcoming tour, “It is a big challenge, and any team going to England in early summer finds it hard especially coming from the sub-continent, it’s more of an adjustment. We have got a bowling group which has grown into a pretty useful attack on English conditions. As far as our batting group, having lost a couple of senior players, obviously there are few young guns who have come in and worked extremely hard. “
Former Chief Selector and present Consultant, Aravinda De Silva shared his views on the touring squad, “We all try to do the best thing for the future of Sri Lanka Cricket. The squad that we have picked is for the future. If you look at the average age of the touring party, it is 27 so they are not that young.”
There has reportedly been a delay in obtaining the visa for Lahiru Thirimanne, who was a late inclusion to the touring party, however, it is expected that the Consulate of Ireland will issue the visa by tomorrow and Thirimanne will be able to join the squad shortly.
The Islanders will play two three day warm-up games against Essex and Leicester in Chelmsford and Grace Road respectively prior to the opening Test Match at Headingley on the 19th of May. The other two Test matches in the series are scheduled for Chester-le-Street and Lord’s.
Full Tour Schedule
First warm-up match – Essex vs Sri Lankans on May 8-10 at Chelmsford (15.30 IST)
Second warm-up match – Leicestershire vs Sri Lankans on May 13-15 at Leicester (15.30 IST)1st Test – England vs Sri Lanka on May 19-23 at Headingley, Leeds (15.30 IST)
2nd Test – England vs Sri Lanka on May 27-31 at Chester-le-Street (15.30 IST)
3rd Test – England vs Sri Lanka on June 9-13 at Lord’s (15.30 IST)1st ODI – Ireland vs Sri Lanka on June 16 at Dublin (15.15 IST)
2nd ODI – Ireland vs Sri Lanka on June 18 at Dublin (15.15 IST)1st ODI – England vs Sri Lanka on June 21 at Trent Bridge (18.30 IST)
2nd ODI – England vs Sri Lanka on June 24 at Birmingham (18.30 IST)
3rd ODI – England vs Sri Lanka on June 26 at Bristol (18.30 IST)
4th ODI – England vs Sri Lanka on June 29 at London (17.30 IST)
5th ODI – England vs Sri Lanka on July 2 at Cardiff (15.00 IST)Only T20I – England vs Sri Lanka on July 5 at Southampton (23.00 IST)
Sri Lanka Test Squad
Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Vice-Captain), Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga.
Officials
Charith Senanayaka (Manager), Graham Ford (Head Coach), Stephen Mount (Physio), Michael Maine (Trainer), Chandrishan Perera (Assistant Trainer / Communications Manager), Champaka Ramanayaka (Bowling Coach), Nuwan Senevirathna (Fielding Coach), Lal Thamel (Masseuse), Dulip Samarasinghe (Computer Analyst).
