Sri Lanka announce playing XI for 3rd England Test 2024; Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando return

Sri Lanka announced their playing XI for the third and final Test against England, starting on September 6 at the Oval. Veteran batter Kusal Mendis returns to the lineup after being left out for the second Test, replacing Nishan Madushka.

Mendis will also take over the wicketkeeping duties and is slotted to bat at his customary No.3 position.

On the bowling front, left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando is back in the XI after playing the opening Test and missing the second Test like Mendis. Fernando will replace left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, meaning Sri Lanka will field a four-pronged pace attack with only Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva as part-time spinners.

Madushka has had a series to forget thus far, scoring only 24 runs in four innings at a dismal average of 6. Meanwhile, Jayasuriya has bagged eight wickets in the first two Tests but has a sub-par bowling average of 48.

Sri Lanka have already conceded the series, losing the first two Tests by five wickets and 190 runs. Their top order has been in shambles, resulting in scores below 300 in three of the four innings.

Kamindu Mendis has been their batting start with an average of over 50, including a brilliant century in the second innings of the first Test and a 74 in the second Test. Veteran batter Dinesh Chandimal is the only other batter with a 40+ average at 44.25 with two half-centuries.

The Lankan bowlers have been similarly disappointing barring the occasional spurts, leading to the hosts posting above-par totals 358 and 427 in the first innings of both Tests.

Yet, right-arm pacer Asitha Fernando has impressed with 14 wickets at an average of 20.14, including figures of 5/102 in the first innings of the second Test.

Sri Lanka will look to avoid being whitewashed for a third time in their last six bilateral Test series with a win or a draw in the third England Test.

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Sri Lanka's playing XI for 3rd Test vs England

Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, and Asitha Fernando.