Sri Lanka elects to bat in 1st test against Ireland

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and elected to bat in the first-ever cricket test against against Ireland at Galle International Stadium on Sunday.

Sri Lanka has recalled wicketkeeper Sadeera Samarawickrama in place of Niroshan Dickwella, who did not play well during a recent tour of New Zealand. Samarawickrama is also a good top-order batsman.

The hosts have also included a balanced bowling attack including two seamers and two spinners.

Ireland is playing just its fifth cricket test since being admitted to the elite group of test-playing countries. It had a three-year interval before its only test against Bangladesh earlier this month — the Irish lost by seven wickets but competed well for an inexperienced team.

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Teams:

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis ,Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando.

Ireland: Andy Balbirnie (Captain) , Murray Commins, James McCollum, Harry Tector, PJ Moor, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, George Dockrell, Ben White.

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