The return of Niroshan Dickwella to the Test spotlight, alongside the likes of his countryman Thisara Perera, Danesh Chancheler and Chaminda de Silva, has been a perfect mix of old and youthful talent and some intriguing decisions for the Sri Lanka Test Squad for its series in India. Pathum Nissanka, aged 33 and Kusal Mendis are out due to injuries suffered by Sri Lanka and Nissanka is coming back at an ideal time as the situation is challenging for the Sri Lankan team.

However, the team also has left arm spinner Keshara Nuwantha and top order batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara, already not capped, and left arm quick Dilshan Madushanka, who has just made his first Test debut. The two-match BSL will start in Galle on Saturday before Sri Lanka’s home base, SSC Colombo, hosts the second Test on August 23. The ICC has announced Dhananjaya de Silva as the team’s captain.

The return of Dickwella is the show winner. Kusal Mendis’ hamstring injury has allowed him to come back, and now has the space in the middle order and for the wicketkeeper. Dickwella brings in a lot of overseas experience, adding to the squad which has several emerging Australians who are still finding their foot in the spur of Test cricket competition. The Sri Lankan selectors may want to keep him in back of a possible India spin-off at 6th and 7th ahead of his aggressive style of batting. But his choice is not just for the sake of replacing an injured player it is also because he has someone with experience about how he has to play under pressure in international game.

A significant factor in that selection is the lack of Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka can’t play tennis due to the wrist injury and will remain out for Sri Lanka’s first weekend before getting fit to replace his fearless top man in a different combination. With that said it is likely to be Nishan Madushka and Lahiru Udara who will be the most prominent to open as they took that responsibility in Sri Lanka’s last Test. Sooriyabendara is staying in the team and may play better given the lack of depth in the squad due to Nissanka’s absence. This is quite an opportunity for the uncapped batter as they have a chance to go up from being a squad man to becoming a potential debutante in Tests against one of the strongest teams in cricket.

Nuwantha has also shown the ability to grab fans’ interest in the series. The 25-year-old offspinner already proved his worth against India A at Galle last month in the first innings. He then comes back with good bowlers results in Sri Lanka against India which he took three wickets for 97 runs in tour match. What those games have done, however, is make his case better, but he still has not had many first-class games. Nuwantha has only 15 first-class appearances to his name with 64 wickets, leaving the selectors with huge confidence and potential in an investment that could prove to be one of their best.

An interesting aspect about Sri Lanka’s bowling squad is, the host nation has called four specialist fast bowlers for a home series. The pace to pair up with as it will be Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka will be available. Luca Pisanu goni has gone, leaving the captain Dhananjaya de Silva to look for a seam bowler to suit the team with allrounder Milan Rathnayaka available. The balance implies that Sri Lanka aren’t forced to stick to artificial spin-friendly home spin and perhaps they will make sartanaeby at some point of the Tests.

Perhaps the biggest gamblish in Madushanka’s list is his own. The left-arm bowler has only made his debut Test appearance against Pakistan in 2023, and is yet to get a wicket in the highest format. He has limited his involvement in the four day Sri Lanka A fixtures in Sri Lanka as well as the four day Sri Lanka international tournament this year with a huge workload in his T20 series roles. His inability to play red-ball cricket though may make his presence in the selection a question mark, but his left-arm angle and pace-neutralizing ability may be something new for Sri Lanka’s attack.

Meanwhile, Prabath Jayasuriya is still the focus of the spin ballroom. Sri Lanka have options with him as well but the expert left arm spinner is likely to be an ace for Indian spinners who are expected to perform at a slower tempo. Ramesh Mendis could give India another proven spin threat, while Nuwantha could not only give India another pleasant taste of spin but also provide a potential off-spinner threat that they don’t have much. Sonal Dinusha is another left arm spinning allrounder that adds that spice. The selectors accordingly have to work with many different combinations in the Galle surface and what help they’re looking for from the spinners.

Sri Lanka is much easier to find a hole in with the bat. The middle-of-the-order trio Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva is likely to anchor at the No. 88, 89 and 90 positions, respectively. 3, 4 and 5 which is the experience and ball youngsters that the hosts have. Sharing spaces with the batting unit, Kamindu is building a trustworthy reputation as a Test allrounder and Chandimal is yet another source of experience. Play setup Srilanka will be tying up for the balance in behind which will competition between Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Sonal Dinusha and Rathnayaka.

However, the biggest surprise is that Sri Lanka may be forced to adapt their team due to injuries. Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are regular parts of the batting order, but not with them and play opportunities have opened for those who might have been budging on the outside. It will be significant for Sooriyabandara and Nuwantha in an tournament with this team and will also allow Dickwella to prove his potential as an international.

In Sri Lanka, the opening Test in Galle will thus not only be a victory situation, but also a test of the nature of the victory. It will test the robustness of their new blend, as well as the ability of some of their returned, capped players to be able to kick in at Test straight away.

the Sri Lanka Test Squad mix of both familiar and calculated risk. Dickwella’s revival offers experience, Nuwantha’s inclusion is a taste of things to come and Madushanka’s side is him taking his turn in the longest format. Sri Lanka are facing a tough doubleheart at India, the first Test which opens in Galle on Saturday, and the second in Colombo from August 23. One thing is evident for the hosts – can they take advantage of the odd fixtures and make this one a good Test campaign?

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