Sri Lanka announce Test squad for Australia tour; Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep included

Sri Lanka national selectors, on Tuesday, announced the Test squad that will tour Australia in December-January. The ODI squad will be announced later.

No major surprises are there in the Sri Lanka team. Dimuth Karunaratne, who impressed against New Zealand, has been retained for the tough tour Down Under. One absentee from the Sri Lanka's Test against New Zealand is Tharindu Kaushal but that is understandable since spin will not be a major factor on Australian pitches. His replacement is Nuwan Pradeep.

Mahela Jayawardena will lead the side with Angelo Mathews being his deputy.

Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dhananjaya and Ajantha Mendis will be the back-up players as and when required.

Full squad

1.      Mahela Jayawardena (Capt)
2.      Anjelo Mathews (V.Capt)
3.      Tillakaratne Dilshan
4.      Kumar Sangakkara
5.      Tharanga Paranavitana
6.      Thilan Samaraweera
7.      Prasanna Jayawardane
8.      Rangana Herath
9.      Nuwan Kulasekara
10.    Shaminda Eranga
11.    Suraj Randiv
12.    Dinesh Chandimal   
13.    Chanaka Welagedara
14.    Nuwan Pradeep
15.    Dhammika Prasad
16.    Dimuth Karunaratne

Stand Bys

17.    Lahiru Thirimanne
18.    Thisara Perera
19.    Jeevan Mendis
20.    Akila Dhananjaya
21.    Ajantha Mendis