10 August 2017 08:45 pm
However, there was no place for Danushka Gunathilaka who made his Test debut in Galle in the 15-man squad. Gunathilaka’s omission was expected as he was drafted into the side when skipper Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out with a bout of pneumonia. He scored 16 and 2 in the first Test and did not feature in the second Test at the SSC where Chandimal returned to lead the side.
Chameera replaces injured seamer Nuwan Pradeep who suffered a hamstring injury while bowling in the second Test. Gamage joined the squad in place of Rangana Herath who has been rested with a stiff back.
Chameera who suffered a stress fractured during Sri Lanka’s tour to England last year, last played a Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. With little success, he was not selected for the subsequent Test series including the first two matches against India. However with Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal both ruled out from the series, the selector’s recalled the 25-year-old seamer into the side.
Gamage is a right arm seamer who is yet to make his international debut in Test cricket. However his recent form has not been impressive. During India’s only warm-up match, Gamage conceded 65 runs without taking a wicket.
Sri Lanka squad - Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara