Uncapped leg spin bowler Jeffrey Vandersay has been recalled into the Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies, but experts fear that he will most likely sit out the matches as has been the case before.
Vandersay shot to the limelight by taking seven wickets in a three-day match against Pakistan three years ago but was not selected for the ensuing Test series against the same opposition.
Instead he was thereafter thrown on and off into T20 matches bowling just a quota of four overs or less.
With veteran Rangana Herath also in the tour party it is unlikely that Sri Lanka will deploy two leg-spinners in the Caribbean which only adds to the concern that Vandersay now age 28 will have to wait.
A Sri Lanka team official said Vandersay’s selection to the final playing eleven will depend on team requirements and plans.
Herath is the only player in the Sri Lanka squad who has played Test cricket in the West Indies with the rest of the squad including Angelo Mathews touring the islands for the first time.
Sri Lanka last toured the West Indies ten years ago.
Also selected are three other uncapped players in batsman Mahela Udawatte and fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando.
The three are seen more as injury replacements than first-place players with 31-year old Udawatte entering the squad in the absence of opener Dimuth Karunaratne while 24-year old Kasun Rajitha from St. Servatius College Matara and 20-year old Asitha Fernando from St. Sebastian’s College in Katuneriya fill the voids left by Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep Fernando.
The first Test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies start on June 6 at Port of Spain Trinidad, Trinidad followed by the second match from June 14 to 18 at Gros Islet St. Lucia.
The final Test will be from June 23 to 27 in Barbados.
Sri Lanka squad:
Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Mahela Udawatte, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Gamage, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal (subject to fitness test), Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando