Three promising players Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne and Binura Fernando had the opportunity of making their debut for Sri Lanka during the third and final One Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Dhaka yesterday.
Twenty-five-year-old Mendis and Karunaratne are two useful bowling all-rounders.
Off-spinner Mendis is also a useful middle order batsman. Earlier he played in two Test matches against England and Bangladesh both in Sri Lanka and for the first time earned the ODI status.
Mendis started his school cricket from Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda and then crossed over to Dharmasoka College where he had a good season at Under-19 level and also captained the side. He represented the national Under-19 side, Sri Lanka Emerging Team and the Sri Lanka Board X1 as an all rounder.
After leaving school Mendis played for the SSC, Bloomfield and is presently playing at Moors SC.
He has played 47 First-Class matches scoring 2,491 runs with five centuries while his best was an unbeaten 300 as a middle-order batsman.
He has already taken 91 wickets and has taken eight wickets in two Test matches with a best effort of four for 103 against Bangladesh at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.
Meanwhile, former Royal College Skipper Chamika Karunaratne who will celebrate his 25th birthday today (29) played in one Test in 2019 against Australia in Canberra and had to wait for two years to earn his ODI status.
He is a useful all-rounder having enjoyed a successful season in the SLC Premier League Tournament with NCC.
Having played in 39 First Class matches he has already scored 1,314 runs with a century and nine fifties and also took 73 wickets with best figures of five for 63.
He has the ability to strike the ball with power and has emerged as a match winner for NCC on several occasions.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old left-arm medium paceman Binura Fernando was the most successful bowler for Ragama CC in the recently concluded Major Club Limited Overs Cricket Tournament.
He has taken the highest number of wickets with 23 scalps with best figures of six for 28 against Panadura SC and was selected as the Best Bowler of the tournament.
He has already played in 25 First-Class matches and has taken 60 wickets with best figures of nine for 70.
Earlier, the tall paceman had the chance to play in two T20 matches against Pakistan in 2015 and had to wait for six years to earn ODI status.
Fernando, a product of D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo later represented the national Under-19 side as well as the Sri Lanka Emerging Team and the Development X1.
He also had a good amount of experience while playing English League cricket which helped him to build up his confidence before making it to the national side once again.
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