Middle order batsman Angelo Perera has been called up to the Sri Lanka ODI squad for the Australian series replacing injured fast-bowler Nuwan Pradeep.
The 26-year old former Peterite captain last played for Sri Lanka in 2014 against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Since his debut in 2013, Perera has played 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is having gotten the opportunity to bat in only one ODI.
Perera impressed the selectors during the Sri Lanka ‘A’ tour of England last month scoring 169 runs in 4 matches at an average of 56.3 to end up as the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka ‘A’, he even notched up a half-century against England Lions as well.
Pradeep was hampered by a hamstring strain during the Test series and, according to sources, has not fully recovered even though he was named in the original ODI squad.
With the inclusion of Perera, the Australians are guaranteed of facing more spin in the upcoming matches as Sri Lanka seek to level the series when the 2nd ODI starts tomorrow at R. Premadasa International Stadium.
Pradeeps injury means that, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal and skipper Angelo Mathews are the only seamers in the 16-man squad.
In other injury news, Dinesh Chandimal, who took a painful blow to the rib cage off the bowling off Moises Henriques during the 1st ODI has been declared fit after scans revealed that the blow had done no serious damage to the Lankan vice-captain.
