Dhananjaya de Silva is leading Sri Lanka in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Dhananjaya De Silva was handed over the reins in the red-ball format after Dimuth Karunaratne stepped down as captain. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva hopes his side can climb up the World Test Championship (WTC) table as they go in search of a maiden win in the five-day format at Lord’s this week.
Dhananjaya De Silva is also conscious of Sri Lanka’s position in the WTC table, where his side are currently fifth — one place below England. The tourists pushed England hard before losing last week’s first Test at Old Trafford by five wickets. That defeat has left them needing to win at Lord’s, where they have drawn six and lost two of their previous eight Tests, if they are to level this three-match series at 1-1 and turn next month’s finale across London at the Oval into a decider.
Sri Lanka makes 2 changes to the squad ahead of 2nd test vs England
Sri Lanka has made two changes to its side. Pathum Nissanka, who has enjoyed one-day international success this year but last played a Test match in 2022, replaces Kusal Mendis in the top order and paceman Lahiru Kumara comes in for left-armer Vishwa Fernando.
Dinesh Chandimal, who made an impressive second-innings 79 at Old Trafford has been included despite suffering a painful blow to the thumb while batting against express quick Mark Wood, but he may not keep wicket with Nishan Madushka on standby to take over behind the stumps.
England will be without the injured Wood at Lord’s, but De Silva said new-ball spearhead Chris Woakes was proving tougher to face for Sri Lanka’s batsmen.
Playing county cricket is a dream of most of the budding cricketers of the subcontinent. Though the stature and competitiveness of the Championship might have faded a bit with the arrival of glamorous T20 leagues, still batters want to try their hands at playing in the whites with the red ball in English conditions.
Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva echoed the sentiments of former captain and current middle-order batter Dinesh Chandimal about playing in county cricket.
Dhananjaya de Silva calls for more county exposure for Sri Lankan players ahead of 2nd Test vs England
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva wants his teammates to get a chance to play county cricket in England. Dhananjaya De Silva, who has 12 Test centuries, has also expressed his desire to play in the red-ball format in English conditions.
The right-hander returned with scores of 74 and 11 in the first Test in the ongoing three-match series. He is playing his first-ever Test series in England. Overall, he has scored 3667 runs in 55 Tests at an average of 40.74 with the help of 15 tons and 15 half-centuries.
Silva’s reaction came after the visitors put up a spirited performance in the opening Test despite losing the game by five wickets. He said (via ESPNCricinfo):
“Playing in these conditions will be better for the batsmen. We are only getting the chance while we’re touring here. But if the batsmen can play county [cricket], it’ll be nice for them.”
“The last few years, I wanted to get a county deal. I didn’t get it so far. If I can do well in this series, hopefully, I will be picked by one of the counties. It is my dream to play a season of county cricket,” he added.
Notably, Vishwa Fernando is the only Sri Lanka player in the Test squad to play in the County Championship this year. He played three matches for Yorkshire. Dimuth Karunaratne and Asitha Fernando have previously played for Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire respectively.
Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva on challenges of playing in England
Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva further spoke about the challenges of playing in English conditions, citing the line and length as the main concern over pace. The 32-year-old said (via ESPNCricinfo):
“The speed is not troubling me, but the line and length. The opening bowler (Chris Woakes), he bowls in one area for 20 to 30 balls and that’s the problem we have: with the swinging ball, not the pace… if the plans work here, we’ll get on top.”
After going down 0-1 in the three-match Test series against England, Sri Lanka have made two changes to their playing XI.
Silva has backed Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Kumara to deliver in the second Test after they replaced Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando in the lineup. On this, he said:
“Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment. He has a good mindset and he has a good technique.”
Nissanka has amassed 918 runs in 21 innings this calendar year. The right-hander has smashed three tons and as many fifties. Meanwhile, Lahiru has 85 scalps in 28 Tests so far. The second Test will be played in Lord’s, beginning on Thursday (August 29) and Sri Lanka would look to bounce back in the 3 match series.