Dickwella axed, Nissanka given raw deal

by Rex Clementine

Nearly ten years after establishing himself in the Test squad and after representing the country in 54 Test matches, Niroshan Dickwella finds himself out of the equation as the selectors are determined to look at other options as they named the squad for the first Test against Ireland starting this week.

Dickwella was dropped for the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington as Nishan Madushka debuted. This time Dickwella finds himself out of the squad too as Sadeera Samarawickrama has been named as the back up keeper.

Dickwella has been hailed as the best wicketkeeper in the country at the moment, but his attitude of throwing away his wicket after getting starts seems to have gone against him. After all these years, the 29-year-old has failed to score a Test century.

It is believed that Madushka will play as a specialist batsman opening the batting while Samarawickrama will keep wickets.

Opening batsman Oshada Fernando also is missing out while quicks Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha have been rested following their heavy workload in New Zealand.

Rajitha in particular featured in all seven games and impressed in all three formats of the game.

Few eyebrows have been raised after opening batsman Pathum Nissanka was overlooked for the series. He was overlooked for the New Zealand series as well and at that point it was said that he was recovering from injury. To not see him when he is fully fit is surprising as he has been one of the brightest prospects to emerge in the last five years.

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya also returns to the side having last featured against the Aussies last year. However, Prabath Jayasuriya is expected to be the lead left-arm spinner.

Fernandos – Asitha and Vishwa are expected to share the new ball in the absence of Rajitha. The uncapped Milan Rathnayake is also in the squad but in Galle, Sri Lanka have rarely played three seamers.

The first Test gets underway on Sunday in Galle. Both games will be played in Galle. This is the first Test match between Ireland and Sri Lanka.

Ireland were granted Test status in 2018 but in the last five years have played just four Test matches. This will be the first time they will engage in a two-match series as all their other encounters have been one off games.