Dickwella, Madushanka return to Sri Lanka squad for Galle Test against India

Niroshan Dickwella returns to the Sri Lanka Test squad three years after he last played internationals. Also in Sri Lanka's squad for the Tests against India are uncapped offspinner Keshara Nuwantha, uncapped top-order batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara - who had also been part of Sri Lanka's last Test squad, and left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who has only played one Test, three years ago.

Pathum Nissanka, who is still recovering from a wrist surgery, and Kusal Mendis, who is out with a hamstring injury, were not available for selection. Dickwella can now make a comeback at the age of 33 due to Kusal's absence. Sooriyabandara too keeps his place in the squad partly due to Nissanka's absence, although Nishan Madushka and Lahiru Udara are likely to open the batting, having done so in Sri Lanka's most-recent Test.

Sri Lanka have also unusually selected no fewer than four specialist quicks for a home series, with allrounder Milan Rathnayaka adding a fifth seam-bowling option. Asitha Fernando is almost certain to play, but Sri Lanka also have Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, and Madushanka to pick from.

Only three front-line spinners have been picked. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka's lead slow bowler, but may play alongside either uncapped Nuwantha, or Ramesh Mendis. Sonal Dinusha - the left-arm spinning allrounder - is also in Sri Lanka's 16.

Sri Lanka's selections for batting are more predictable. Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva are likely to bat at Nos 3, 4 and 5. Allrounders Dinusha, Ramesh Mendis, and Rathnayaka will be in the running to be selected lower down, with Dickwella likely to bat at No. 6 or 7.

Nuwantha, 25, had impressed in a Sri Lanka A match against India A in Galle last month, taking 5 for 159 in the first innings. He also returned last week to the tour match in Colombo with match figures of 3 for 97 against India. However, with only 15 appearances in first-class cricket and 64 wickets to his name, he lacks experience even in domestic cricket.

Madushanka, meanwhile, has almost exclusively played T20 cricket in the past two months, and had not played the Sri Lanka four-day domestic tournament this year, or in any multi-day Sri Lanka A fixtures. His last Test was his debut against Pakistan in 2023, and he is yet to take a wicket in Tests.

Saturday marks the beginning of the first Test in Galle, and on August 23, the series will conclude at the SSC in Colombo.

Sri Lanka squad
Dhananjaya De Silva (c), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka