Strategic Choice: Rathnayake’s Exclusion from the Galle Test

In preparation for the upcoming Galle Test, Sri Lanka's interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has navigated challenging selection issues caused by an unusual surplus of fast bowlers. Following a remarkable performance where Sri Lanka’s pace attack took down England, claiming 156 runs in a pivotal third innings at The Oval, the team now faces the constraints of the Galle pitch, which is conducive to spin bowling rather than seam.

Jayasuryia explained the rationale behind the decision to omit Milan Rathnayake from the squad despite his impressive debut series, where he notched 11 wickets and significant contributions with the bat, scoring 72 at Old Trafford and 43 at Lord's. “Choosing a third fast bowler involves considering one of our finest talents,” Jayasuriya noted. “While Rathnayake performed exceptionally both with bat and ball, Galle requires us to prioritise our spin options to achieve the right team composition.”

This leads to the selection of spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, as the team narrows the fast-bowling roster to just two: Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara. “Milan’s efforts in his first tour were commendable,” Jayasuriya acknowledged. “He played with great maturity, but Galle's conditions necessitate limiting the number of seamers. I have spoken with Milan personally to ensure he comprehends the reasoning behind this choice. The other players recognize that his exclusion follows a series of strong performances.”

Vishwa Fernando, who also impressed at The Oval, has been dropped as selectors opt for Kumara's speed.

Another pivotal selection dilemma involves the wicketkeeping role. Dinesh Chandimal, who started behind the stumps in the previous Test, suffered a back injury during the second innings. After previously dealing with a thumb injury, he will now step up to bat at No. 3, while Kusal Mendis is set to take on the wicketkeeping duties, likely batting at No. 7.

“Chandimal's decision to forgo wicketkeeping is made collectively,” Jayasuriya elaborated. “We considered who should bat at No. 3, knowing it's challenging for a player in that position to also keep. Chandimal has chosen to take on the No. 3 role, placing the team's and his own well-being at the forefront.”

To counterbalance changes, Kamindu Mendis will move up to No. 5, the slot previously held by Chandimal, while Kusal Mendis will transition to No. 7.

“We engaged in thorough discussions to navigate these complex choices and consulted closely with Chandimal about his batting order adjustment, which required us to restructure the middle order. The aim is to introduce a wicketkeeper in the lower middle order for optimal team balance.”