Uncapped quartet named to face Aussies

Australia will potentially face a previously unseen bowling attack after Sri Lanka named four uncapped players in a 15-man squad for the three-match Test series against Steve Smith's men starting on Tuesday.

Asitha Fernando, an 18-year-old fast bowler who has played just two first-class games, and fast bowler Vishwa Fernando are likely to be given Test caps during the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka as the home side deals with a series of injuries and suspension to its seamers.

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Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera were injured during the Test series in England while Shaminda Eranga was suspended by the International Cricket Council after his bowling action was found to be illegal.

Suranga Lakmal, who was also injured in England, has recovered well enough to retain his place while Dhananjaya de Silva, who has played limited-over matches for Sri Lanka, is also included in the squad.

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Left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan and prolific first-class batsman Roshen Silva are the other new players named by selectors.

There was, however, no recall for veteran 37-year-old fast bowler Dilhara Fernando who impressed for the Sri Lankan Board XI in Australia's warm-up match in Colombo.

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Lahiru Thirimanne, also injured during the recent series against England, and Milinda Siriwardene, who was also part of that tour, were left out.

Asitha Fernando has collected eight wickets in his two first-class matches while Vishwa has 127 wickets from 44 first-class matches. Sandakan has taken 155 wickets from 34 matches.

Roshen Silva's batting average is more than 50 in first-class matches with 5514 runs, including 17 centuries.

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The squad, led by Angelo Mathews, has eight specialist batsmen, four fast bowlers and three spinners, including veteran Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.

The first test begins in Pallekele, on the outskirts of Kandy, next Tuesday.

Sri Lanka squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal.

The schedule

The first of three Tests starts at the Pallekele International Stadium, just outside the mountain city of Kandy in Sri Lanka's centre, on July 26. Australia also play five one-day internationals and two T20s against Sri Lanka. Match dates and times for all Australia's games on the two-month tour of Sri Lanka can be found here.

What’s at stake?

With the Caribbean ODI Tri-Series trophy safely in Australia’s hands, attention now turns to the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, where they'll face the hosts in three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.

Australia will be handed another piece of silverware before the series even starts, when they are awarded the ICC Test Championship mace after reclaiming the No.1 Test ranking against New Zealand in February.

Australia and Sri Lanka will be competing for the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy in the Test series; Australia are the current holder of the trophy following their 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka on home turf back in 2012. The trophy was introduced for the 2007-08 series in Australia, with the Aussies claiming the prize all three times it has been up for grabs.

The Test squads

Australia confirmed they will look to speed as much as spin to defeat Sri Lanka by naming six seamers – including recalled pair Nathan Coulter-Nile and Moises Henriques – in their 15-man Test squad.

The spin-bowling duties will be carried by New South Wales pair Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe, the latter returning to the squad having been selected for last summer's final Test against the West Indies but overlooked for the two-match tour to New Zealand on green, seaming pitches.

Meanwhile, David Warner is expected to be fit and ready to go for the first Test after being ruled out of Australia's ODI tri-series in the Caribbean after copping a blow to his left index finger while fielding in St Kitts.

While the 29-year-old missed Australia's intra-squad warm-up match and has been carrying drinks during the current first-class fixture, Warner isn's worried about going into the Test series with a lack of practice under his belt.

Sri Lanka have left it late to name a squad for the first Test, announcing four new players in a squad of 15 just four days out from the series starting, as the team deals with the injuries to five bowlers, including Mathews himself, during the England tour.

The hosts are without paceman Dushmantha Chameera after he suffered a back injury that forced him to return home from the tour of England, and fellow quick Dhammika Prasad has not recovered from a shoulder injury suffered before the first Test in Leeds.

Sri Lanka are also without seamer Shaminda Eranga, who has been banned from bowling after his action was found to be illegal last month.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (v-c), Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Lyon Steve O'Keefe.

Sri Lanka squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal.

The Form

Australia is coming off excellent form in the 50-over format, having claimed the ODI tri-series against West Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean last month.

In the Test arena, Australia defeated New Zealand on home soil in February, with their 2-0 series win propelling them back to the top of the Test table.

Sri Lanka recently returned home from a disastrous tour of England that saw them lose the Test series 2-0, the five-match ODI series 3-0 (with one tie and one washout) and also concede the only Twenty20 international in chilly English conditions.

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews blamed the fitness issues for his team's winless tour but he is hopeful the advantage of home conditions will aid his team against Australia.

How to watch?

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