The national selectors have made three changes to the Sri Lanka squad for the fifth and final ODI against Australia which is to be played on Sunday at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
Skipper Angelo Mathews, who has been sidelined for the remainder of the Australian tour due to a calf-injury, will be replaced by left-handed batsman Upul Tharanga. Fast-bowling all-rounder Thisara Perera and left-arm chinaman, Lakshan Sandakan have also been left out of the squad for the final game to accommodate wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella and all-rounder Dasun Shanaka.
All three new additions were a part of the Sri Lanka squad which lost the five-match series against England in July, 3-0.
31 year-old Tharanga’s experience will no doubt bolster the struggling middle-order as he comes in with 187 ODIs under his belt. Dickwella has only played a single ODI (in 2014) against India while Shanaka made a sparkling ODI debut against Ireland in June where he took 5 wickets and scored 42 runs and went onto play five more games in British Isles.
Australia has already secured the series, 3-1 after Sri Lanka lost the must-win fourth ODI by 6 wickets on Wednesday at Dambulla. In the absence of Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal will lead Sri Lanka on Sunday and also in the upcoming two-match T20 series.
Chandimal has led the Sri Lanka ODI team successfully only on two occasions, in 2013 against South Africa recording victories in both games.
Sri Lanka squad for the 5th ODI – Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilake, Dhananjaya De Silva, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Kusal Janith Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachith Pathirana, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Amila Aponso.
