Sri Lanka A team led by Sadeera Samarawickrama will play their first ODI of the three-match series against England Lions today at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium commencing at. 9.45 am.
This will be a good opportunity for Sri Lanka A players before the important New Zealand series which will commence on March 9. After the two four-day unofficial Test matches at Galle, a new look Sri Lanka A side look to give a good challenge against the England lions. The two 4-day games were dominated by batters while Sri Lanka A batters did well in both matches and took major honours but both ended in no decisions.
The experienced campaigner Angelo Mathews will get a chance to play in this ODI and selectors are looking at Mathews’ ability during this white ball series, also Nuwanidu Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrema the leg spinner, and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne have the chance to make a strong impression ahead the New Zealand tour.
Chamika Karunaratne who was out without scoring in both innings of the last 4-day game was able to get a four-wicket haul while Praveen Jayawickrema also couldn’t make a major impression during the four-day game at Galle and this will offer a good testing ground for senior players before their special training period at Radella.
Skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama the wicket-keeper and top-order batter recently performed well at domestic tournaments and was in good touch with the bat at the LPL tournament which ended recently.
Lasith Croospulle the in-form opener who hit centuries at three day warm up game and last four day game will play this game while all-rounders Sahan Arachchige, Lahiru Udara, Nipun Dhananjaya leg spinner Sumunda Lakshan and two pacemen Promod Madushan, Milan Ratnayake and the promising all-rounder Kavishka Anjula also fighting for places in the team today.
England lions are also a new look team with several players joining for this white ball series after their test matches.
Meanwhile, England Lions ODI squad provides a return to action for Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse after they were both a part of the pace bowler rehab programme during the UAE camp.
The squad also includes Jacob Bethell, Tom Prest and James Rew who were a part of the England Under-19s team that reached the 2022 ICC Under-19s World Cup final in Antigua.
Bethell and Rew, who are both currently playing grade cricket in Australia, will join the England Under-19s squad for this month’s two Youth Tests in Australia before joining the Lions ODI squad.
ECB Performance Director, Mo Bobat, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to expose players to the challenges of playing A-team cricket in the sub-continent, which will be fantastic for their development.
“The series also provides us with the chance to observe the players ahead of this year’s World Cup as well as next winter’s Test series in India.
“The squads have been selected with careful consideration of each player’s individual programme. We’ve worked closely with the counties to understand the players’ best interests as we map their development opportunities. In some cases that includes enabling players to play in domestic franchise cricket.
“The ODI squad takes into account the strength in depth that we have across a number of key roles in our England Men’s white-ball teams and many of the players will join us directly from cricket they’ve been playing elsewhere, in Australia, South Africa or the UAE.
“After a hugely exciting and successful first half of the winter for our Test and Twenty20 teams, I am sure the Lions players will be suitably motivated to make the most of this opportunity.”
England Lions for the ODI series: Tom Abell (Somerset), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Kent), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Matt Critchley (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Sam Hain (Warwickshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Tom Lammonby (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Tom Prest (Hampshire), James Rew (Somerset), Luke Wood (Lancashire).
Sri Lanka A one day squad for first one day game: Avishka Fernando, Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Sadeera Samarawickrama – (WK) – Captain Sahan Arachchige, Chamika Karunaratne, Praveen Jayawickrema, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha, Milan Rathnayake, Kavishka Anjula, Lahiru Udara Nipun Dhananjaya, Suminda Lakshan.