Sri Lanka has recalled batting all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana and fast-bowling all-rounder Thisara Perera to their 16-man ODI squad to face Australia in the upcoming five-match series which starts on Sunday at the R. Premadasa International Stadium.
Siriwardana, averaging almost 30 with the bat in One Day International cricket, was surprisingly left-out of the ODI and T20I squads during the England tour but has been recalled for this series after showing good form during the practice-games amongst the ODI training squad.
Perera, on the other hand, has taken only 14 wickets in 19 ODIs played since 2015 and was demoted to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team where he only captured 2 wickets throughout the ‘A’ team tour of England.
Experienced campaigner, Tillakarathne Dilshan, who opted out of the England tour due to personal reasons, has also been added to the squad while off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, who last played an ODI in 2014, has earned a place in the squad due to his exceptional performances in the Test series against Australia, where he captured 15 wickets.
Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya’s vision to push young cricketers into the international stage has been persisted with, with Sebastianite and Sri Lanka U19 opening batsman Avishka Fernando being included in the squad after a successful tour of England with the U19s, where he scored two magnificent match-winning centuries.
23-year old former St. Sebastian’s College captain and left-arm spinner, Amila Aponso’s 13-wicket match bag in the first four-day game with the Sri Lanka Development Squad during the current tour of South Africa has earned him a maiden ODI call-up.
Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof, Suraj Randiv, Dasun Shanaka and Niroshan Dickwella, who featured during the Tour of England, have been left-out of the squad to face the Aussies.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad – Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakarathne Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilake, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dilruwan Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Amila Aponso, Avishka Fernando
