Chandimal axed as T20 captain as Malinga appointed full time

Thursday, 24 April 2014 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lahiru Thirimanne named as new vice captain for all formats of the game

ESPNCricinfo: Sri Lanka’s selectors have relieved Dinesh Chandimal of all his leadership positions, appointing Lasith Malinga as the T20I captain and Lahiru Thirimanne as vice-captain across all formats until March 2015. Chandimal had had a poor run in limited-overs cricket, particularly in Asian conditions, but had maintained a good record in Tests, averaging 63.75 in 10 innings, since being named vice-captain in February last year. His across-the-board demotion, however, is a strong indication the selectors feel Chandimal must devote himself solely to improving his batting.

Though his on-field leadership had reaped positive results, Chandimal has shown little batting promise in T20 cricket, in which he averages 13.30 after 20 innings. He had initially impressed in the ODI team, but his returns even in that format have subsided after he had been named vice-captain. Since Februrary 2013, Chandimal has averaged 25.55, with a strike rate of 72, largely batting from lower in the order than he prefers. Chandimal had chosen to leave himself out of the XI for the semi-final and final of the recent World T20, leaving Malinga to lead the team to victory, and had been replaced in the XI by Thirimanne, who struck an important 44 in the semi-final. The selectors had made Chandimal the youngest Sri Lanka captain in any format, at 23, following largely impressive returns in Australia in January last year. Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya had said at the time that Sri Lanka sought to develop a young leadership core, in preparation for the looming retirements of former captains Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Jayawardene and Sangakkara had in any case indicated they would not accept leadership roles in the twilight of their careers. Thirimanne has impressed with the bat in recent months, picking up a Player-of-the-Tournament award for top-scoring at the Asia Cup. His tournament aggregate of 279 included a century in the final. Averaging 49 from 14 innings in the top three, he has been a more reliable ODI selection than Chandimal, particularly in the past year. Sri Lanka embark on a full away tour of England next month, before full home tours against South Africa and Pakistan follow in July and August. They have six Tests, eleven ODIs and at least two T20 internationals scheduled for the next four months.

Vithanage, Priyanjan get T20 call-ups

Five seniors Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Herath, Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan have been rested for the Ireland leg of Sri Lanka’s tour

Sri Lanka have included batsmen Kithuruwan Vithanage and Ashan Priyanjan in their 15-man squad for the one-off T20 that kicks off their tour of England in May. Slow-bowling all-rounder Chaturanga de Silva, who was initially included in the World T20 squad as cover for Rangana Herath, has also been named. Herath has been rested, while the team will be without the veteran pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who retired from T20 internationals after the World T20. The team will be led by Lasith Malinga, who took over as captain at the World T20 after Dinesh Chandimal had to sit out due to an over-rate offence and was then dropped on form. Lahiru Thirimanne, who was appointed vice-captain across formats earlier on Wednesday, will deputise. Though uncapped in T20 internationals, Priyanjan and Vithanage have been included ahead of Angelo Perera, who played for Sri Lanka in February, against Bangladesh. Both aggressive middle-order batsmen, Priyanjan and Vithanage have had encouraging starts to their international careers in other formats. Priyanjan averages 33.33 after seven ODI knocks and Vithanage has scored at 69.66 in four Test innings - all against Bangladesh. Priyanjan also bowls part-time off-spin. Sri Lanka’s selectors have officially relieved Dinesh Chandimal of the T20 captaincy and ODI vice-captaincy but did not omit him from either squad. Five seniors - Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Herath, Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan - have all also been rested for the Ireland leg of Sri Lanka’s tour, which features two ODIs in Dublin. Opener Upul Tharanga, 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, and fast bowler Dhammika Prasad are in that squad, after encouraging performances for Sri Lanka’s A team and in domestic cricket. Sri Lanka play Ireland on 6 May and 8 May before going to England. The selectors are expected to name the ODI and Test squads for the England tour over the next few days. England T20 Squad: Lasith Malinga (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna and Ajantha Mendis. Ireland ODIs Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad and Ajantha Mendis.