Kaushal Silva, Dasun Shanaka included in Sri Lanka Test squad for England tour

Opening batsman Kaushal Silva has been named by Sri Lanka as a part of the 17-man Test squad for the tour of England which begins in May.

Silva was recently struck on the head while fielding at short leg in a practice match and suffered a mild concussion for which he was admitted in a hospital in Colombo.

After observing Silva for 36 hours, the medical experts gave him a clean bill of health and discharged him from the hospital.

On their tour of England, Sri Lanka will play a total of three Test matches, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International apart from two ODIs against Ireland.

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal will be the captain and the vice-captain of the side respectively, while Dimuth Karunaratne, Silva and Kusal Mendis are the three opening batsmen in the squad.

Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva have received their maiden call-up to the Test side while Lahiru Thirimanne is also included after missing the New Zealand Tests.

De Silva was in great form in the Premier League Tournament where he scored 868 runs for Tamil Union at an average of 54.25.

Thirimanne whose average in his last 25 innings was 19.26 was not named in the preliminary squad due to a hamstring injury but finds a place in the Test squad despite being doubtful for the first game.

The Sri Lankan selectors have picked Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Shaminda Eranga as the pace attack while Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera will be lead the spin attack.

Sri Lanka will be boosted by the return of Eranga, who last played a Test match in December 2014, following which he suffered various injuries.

Eranga picked up 14 wickets in three games for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, who won the 2015-16 AIA Premier League Tournament.

When the two teams faced off in 2014 for the last time in Test cricket, Sri Lanka managed to beat England 1-0 in the two-match series.

Sri Lanka will leave for England on 4th May following which they will play a couple of practice matches before the start of the Test series on 19th May in Leeds.

Sri Lanka Test squad against England:

Angelo Mathews (captain), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dhammika Prasad, Dilruwan Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal (vice-captain), Dushmantha Chameera, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardana, Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal.

© Cricket World 2016