Jayasuriya vows to end coaching stint with series victory over England

The Sri Lanka national cricket team has embarked on their tour of England with high spirits following their recent ODI series victory against India. 

The team departed Colombo yesterday, gearing up for a three-match Test series that begins on August 21.

Sri Lanka's interim Head Coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, is optimistic about the upcoming series and has called for maximum effort from his players. 

"As we expect 100 percent from the players, we also hope to give 100 percent for the players. If we perform well in all three departments, Sri Lanka can climb into the top rankings of the table," Jayasuriya said.

Jayasuriya, who is at the helm for this series only, emphasized the importance of strong performances from both batsmen and bowlers. 

"This is my last series as the Interim Head Coach, and I expect the England series to end victoriously with the confidence and commitment of the players," he said.

The squad will first engage in a warm-up match in Worcester before heading to Manchester for the opening Test at Old Trafford. The second Test will be hosted at Lord’s, with the third and final game taking place at The Oval, marking Sri Lanka’s return to the venue since their landmark victory there in 1998.

In preparation for the series, Sri Lanka has introduced two uncapped players to their squad: pacer Milan Rathnayake and all-rounder Nisala Tharaka. Tharaka, 33, boasts a commendable first-class record with 257 wickets and 2358 runs, while Rathnayake, despite being included in past squads, is yet to make his debut.

The fast-bowling unit will be led by Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Lahiru Kumara. Veteran Angelo Mathews has also been included. The squad, captained by Dhananjaya de Silva, also welcomes back batter Pathum Nissanka and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who last played Test cricket in 2022. Vandersay’s recall follows his impressive performance against India, where he claimed 6/33 in the second ODI.

The tour is not without concerns, as there have been reports of anti-immigrant riots in various English cities. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has expressed apprehension about the security situation. 

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured SLC of comprehensive security measures. Players already in England for pre-series training have voiced their concerns and requested enhanced security as they travel near London.

Sri Lanka Test squad:

Dhananjaya De Silva (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (Vice Captain) , Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay,Milan Rathnayake