CHAMIKA Karunaratne, who played Southern Premier League cricket for Andover in 2017, took a wicket in his first over on his Test debut for Sri Lanka against Australia in Canberra last weekend.

Marnus Labuschagne, who made 81 in the first Test, was undone by an excellent ball from Karunaratne that nibbled and nipped off the seam just enough to catch the edge.

But that was as good as it got for Karunaratne and Sri Lanka who, whittled bare to the bone by injuries, suffered a torrid first day in the field, dropping catches as a triple century partnership between Joe Burns (180) and Travis Head, with a maiden 161, powered Australia towards an eventual 534-5 and a massive 366-run victory.

Karunaratne, who scored 450 runs and took 16 wickets for Andover two summers ago, went for 130 of his 22 overs and made up for a first innings duck by making 22 in Sri Lanka’s second dig.

He had been playing for Sri Lanka A and club cricket for Nondescripts before his surprise call-up to join the beleaguered Test party in Australia.

His solitary wicket, a catch to keeper Niroshan Dickwella, had a bizarre twist.

His victim, Marnus Labuschagne, was an overseas player for Plymouth during Matt Hooper’s time with the West Country club, so the Andover skipper has actually captained both players at one stage of their career.

Karunaratne has kept his place for Sri Lank's forthcoming series in South Africa.

Meanwhile the cricket fixtures for next season's Southern League Division One have been released and Andover will start with a home game against relegated Ventnor on May 4.

They then have back-to-back away games at Sparsholt and OT and Romsey, before they finish May with a home game against Calmore Sports.

The first game of June sees Andover at Portsmouth, before Sarisbury make the trip to Andover.

Games away at New Milton and Rowledge are scheduled either side a home clash with Hook and Newnham Basics on June 22.

July will see trips to Ventnor and Calmore and homes games against Sparsholt (July 13) and OT & Romsey (July 20).

The final month of the season starts with Portsmouth in north Hampshire, before a trip to Sarisbury

New Milton are the visitors on August 17 and then Andover go to Hook before they finish at home to Rowledge.