Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd ODI: All-rounder Angelo Perera replaces injured Nuwan Pradeep

SL vs AUS, 2nd ODI: All-rounder Perera replaces injured Pradeep

All-rounder Angelo Perera replaced the injured pacer Nuwan Pradeep for the remainder of the Sri Lanka–Australia One-Day International (ODI) series. Given the star batsman Dinesh Chandimal was hit on the ribs and Kusal Mendis on fingers, drafting backup batsman would benefit them. However, Chandimal and Mendis have been cleared to play for the second ODI at Colombo. Pradeep injured his hamstring during the first match and was later ruled out of the series. He was one of the only two frontlines pacers in the squad. All the same, with all-rounders Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera in their ranks, Sri Lanka is likely to manage without the services of the pacer. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia 2016, 2nd ODI at Colombo

In three ODIs Perera played for Sri Lanka, he got the opportunity to bat only once, scoring a run and going wicketless in the three overs he bowled. On the other hand, his First-Class record is rather impressive, scoring 4,321 runs at 2.39 and scalping 13 wickets. As a matter of fact, his scores against England Lions and Pakistan A read 35, 30*, 35 and 69.

In addition, he is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. Considering Australia’s woes against spin, he will be handy to put the visitors in further enigma. Also read: Mathews blames middle-order collapse for defeat

In the first ODI, Australia edged past Sri Lanka by 3 wickets on a track that was turning square, so much so that six out of seven wickets were scalped by the spinners. With four matches still to be played, Australia will have to play out of their skins to tackle the spin bowling.