Sri Lanka announce squad for first 3 ODIs against England

Thilina Kandamby returns to the Sri Lankan ODI squad after 3-year hiatus

Sri Lanka have announced their squad for the first 3 matches of the upcoming ODI series against the visiting English side. England are touring Sri Lanka for a 7-match ODI series as both teams kick off their world cup preparations. The first 2 ODIs will be held at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo while the third one is to be played in Hambantota.

The Sri Lankan selectors have named a 15-man squad for the series, beginning on the 26th of November. Left-handed middle-order batsman Thilina Kandamby is making a return to the ODI side after a 3-year lay-off, having played his last ODI back in 2011. Jeevan Mendis, the leg-spinning all rounder, and Dilruwan Perera, the off-spinning all rounder, are the other notable inclusions in the squad.

Kandamby averages 48.78 with the bat since 2013 in List A games. He is also a part-time leg spinner who can be handy during certain situations. Mendis had an excellent outing for the Kalabagan Cricket Academy in the Dhaka Premier Division, picking up heaps of wickets and scoring useful runs in the lower middle-order.

Among the absentees are top-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal and opening bowler Nuwan Kulasekera. Ashan Priyanjan, whose poor perform extended into the India series, also finds his place seized. Seekuge Prasanna’s lack of efficacy with both the bat and the ball has prompted the selectors to omit him from the sqaud.

Upul Tharanga seems to be out of the selectors’ thinking for the World Cup as he continues to find himself out of the squad. Niroshan Dickwella, who made his debut against India in the last game of the recent 5-match series, also sits out. Kusal Perera, meanwhile, has been given another chance to prove himself at the top of the order.

The spinning department is bolstered by the return of ace spinner Rangana Herath, while Dilruwan, Sri Lanka’s Test specialist, is expected to be his under study.

The pace bowling unit has Dhammika Prasad returning to the side after he was rested for the last two ODIs against India. Lahiru Gamage and Shaminda Eranga retain their places in the squad.

Sri Lanka squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardena, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Thisara Perera, Lahiru Gamage