Sri Lanka playing XI for 1st Test against West Indies announced

West Indies Tour of Sri Lanka 2021

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SL playing XI 1st test vs West Indies

Sri Lanka Test Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, a pre-match press briefing earlier today (20th), revealed the names of the eleven players who will start for Sri Lanka in the 1st Test against West Indies set to commence tomorrow (21st).

With Lahiru Thirimanne unavailable for the 2-Test series due to personal reasons, Karunaratne will be partnered with Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order. Nissanka has thus far batted at No. 6 for Sri Lanka in his short Test career, where he has made 229 runs in 6 innings, including a century on debut against the West Indies earlier this year.

Many expected Charith Asalanka, who impressed one and all with his batting and temperament during the T20 World Cup to make his debut in him hometown this weekend, however, it seems that he will have to wait a little bit more for that milestone.

Sri Lanka will go into the Test with 6 batters and 5 bowlers, meaning that young Ramesh Mendis will have a huge role to play, coming in at No. 7. Both left-arm spinners Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama will also play, while Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal will head the pace department.

With no first-class cricket between Sri Lanka’s last Test in May and now, the Sri Lankan management have decided to stick with the likes of Mendis and Jayawickrama who did exceedingly well against Bangladesh.

Embuldeniya has not played any international cricket since injuring himself during Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies earlier this year, but will slot straight into the playing XI.

According to Karunaratne, left-armer Vishwa Fernando has been left out of the side, as the hosts want the extra pace of Dushmantha Chameera against the West Indies.

The first Test will be from the 21st – 25th November, while the 2nd will commence on the 29th of November. Both games will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka Playing XI – 1st Test vs West Indies

  1. Dimuth Karunaratne ©
  2. Pathum Nissanka
  3. Oshada Fernando
  4. Angelo Mathews
  5. Dhananjaya de Silva
  6. Dinesh Chandimal (wk)
  7. Ramesh Mendis
  8. Dushmantha Chameera
  9. Suranga Lakmal
  10. Lasith Embuldeniya
  11. Praveen Jayawickrama