Wellalage and Theekshana to make debut in Second Test
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Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana celebrating a wicket at the third T20 game against Australia in Pallekele.
The promising leg spin all rounder Dunith Wellalage and Mahesh Theekshana the mystery spinner who was with the white ball National team are likely to make their test debut on Friday at the Galle International cricket stadium.
According to a senior official of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) both Wellalage, Theekshana and promising off spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe have been drafted to the Sri Lanka test squad for the second test against Australia while the two leg spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldeniya have been left out from the squad.
Praveen Jayawickrama has tested positive for Covid-19 he was found to be Covid positive when he was tested (Rapid Antigen Test) last morning, as he complained of feeling ‘Unwell’.
Jayawickrama was immediately isolated from the rest of the team members and will remain in room isolation for five days. Meanwhile Lasith Embuldeniya was released from the squad last Sunday while Jeffrey Vandasay also is not well and they have been replaced by Wellalage, Theekshana and Manasinghe in the squad.
The reliable source close to SLC management said most probably Wellalage the 19 year old all rounder and white ball expert Theekshana are likely to make their test debut on Friday.
Sri Lanka has already lost first test by ten wickets and Aussies are leading 1-0 with one test to go.Now Sri Lankan team is expected to strengthen their spin department Ramesh Mendis and two newcomers Theekshana and Wellalage in the second test. Wellalage has performed well during the last ODI and T 20 series and he was highest wicket taker with nine wickets at the last Australia ODI series while Theekshana who really performed well at the last IPL are looking to do well at the red ball format .In fact Wellalage has taken five wickets haul at the last week Major clubs limited over cricket fixture for the Colts CC team.
Meanwhile the identification of Praveen Jayawickrama, as Covid Positive, the rest of the team members (players and support staff) were subjected to a Rapid Antigen Test. All of them returned negative results.
The experienced former skipper Angelo Mathews, who contracted Covid-19 has recovered and will be available for selection for the second Test Match stated SLC media release. The Medical clearance has been given for the player. Accordingly, Mathews will rejoin the team, from Tuesday Sri Lankan team is staying in Galle Light House Hotel while opponents Australia team also is in same Hotel and doing their regular training at the Galle International cricket stadium.
Sri Lanka team is concerned about their batting and they have planned to develop their batting line up.
Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne are the three experienced batters and they have come up with long innings to build the innings and batting specialist coach and Assistant coach Naveed Nawaz is busy with the batters while spin coach Piyal Wijetunga also working hard with the spinners.
Meanwhile Australian spinners Aston Agar also back home and he is out from the squad due to injury and team management have decided to retain the same team
