Fast bowler Lasith Malinga, opening batsman Upul Tharanga and veteran middle-order batsman Chamara Silva -- the trio who missed the T20 series for different reasons -- have been included in the Sri Lankan squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia.
Published: Aug 09, 2011, 03:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 09, 2011, 03:19 PM (IST)
Lasith Malinga missed two Twenty20s against Australia due to a back injury © Getty Images
Colombo: Aug 9, 2011
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga, opening batsman Upul Tharanga and veteran middle-order batsman Chamara Silva — the trio who missed the T20 series for different reasons — have been included in the Sri Lankan squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia.
Tharanga returns after serving a three-month ban that was imposed on him after he was found positive for a banned substance during the World Cup.
Malinga, meanwhile, has been declared fit and Silva, who was overlooked in preference to the young Dinesh Chandimal, has also made a comeback.
Shaminda Eranga, a 26-year-old right arm fast bowler, is the only uncapped member picked in the squad, released by the Ministry of Sports here today.
The selectors have opted for five specialist spinners with skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan’s off-spin as a back-up option.
Sri Lankan slower bowlers made significant contributions to the team’s 2-0 win over Australia in the T20 series as they caused problems to Aussie batsmen, who showed signs of struggling in conditions advantageous to the home team.
The first One-dayer of the five-match series will be played at Kandy’s Pallekele stadium tomorrow.
Squad:
Tillakaratne Dilshan (c), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Lasith Malinga, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga.
© PTI
