Pope is on his way to Lions tour as England rely on Denly for back-up
CRICKET
Ollie Pope will leave England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka to join the England Lions squad in the United Arab Emirates.
The Surrey batsman was not selected for the Test series opener, last week’s 211-run win in Galle, and was unlikely to be required for the remaining two Tests in Kandy and Colombo.
The England management have decided the 20-year-old will be better served by linking up with the Lions ahead of their four-day match against Pakistan A in Abu Dhabi, which starts next Sunday. He will stay on for the Lions’ five 50-over games and two Twenty20 internationals.
Pope’s departure leaves Kent’s Joe Denly as the spare batsman on tour in Sri Lanka.
“It is important that Ollie is playing and the selection panel felt that to aid his development the best course of action is for to him to go and play for the Lions in a competitive series against Pakistan A,” England head coach Trevor Bayliss said yesterday.
“Ollie needs some gametime before the West Indies Test tour early next year and will get more out of playing competitively for the Lions rather than spending the next three weeks in Sri Lanka on the sidelines. He will get the opportunity of playing up to eight matches across all formats in the UAE.”
The entire England squad and support team congregated at their Kandy hotel to mark Armistice Day yesterday.
The travelling party formed a circle on the lawn at Earl’s Regency hotel and listened as
in Kandy
captain Joe Root made a short speech. At 4.30pm local time, 11am in the UK, they joined the nation in observing a twominute silence.
Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the first Test against England, while captain Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out for the rest of the series.
Dananjaya bowled 38.5 overs in the tourists’ 211-run win at Galle, taking two for 183, and drew the attention of umpires Chris Gaffaney and Marais Erasmus.
The 25-year-old will undergo clinical testing in the next 14 days but remains eligible to play in the second Test in Kandy. Failure to pass the testing process would result in a ban from bowling.
A statement from the International Cricket Council read: “The match officials’ report, which was handed over to the Sri Lanka team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 25-year-old’s bowling action.
“Dananjaya’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20 reported.”
Chandimal, meanwhile, will not be available for the remaining Tests in Kandy and Colombo. He suffered a groin strain and will be on the sidelines for at least two weeks.
Chandimal’s replacement is Charith Asalanka, who made an unbeaten half-century against England during a warm-up match in Colombo before the series.
Reports locally indicate further turmoil behind the scenes, with team manager Charith Senanayake said to have tendered his resignation.
With Rangana Herath having retired following the Galle Test and young seam bowler Lahiru Kumara axed from the squad on disciplinary grounds, Sri Lanka cricket is in dire need of good news ahead of Wednesday’s second Test at Pallekele Stadium.