Chandimal, Dimuth back in Sri Lanka ODI squad

Saturday, 13 December 2014 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ESPNCricinfo: Batsmen Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne have been called up to the Sri Lanka squad for the sixth and seventh ODIs against England, while Kusal Perera and Ajantha Mendis have been dropped. Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna has also been named, in the absence of injured left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Chandimal has been in and out of the top team over the past year, and was most recently let go after two single-figure scores in the series against India. He has been picked in the squad for Sri Lanka’s Test tour of New Zealand, and remains a contender for a World Cup spot, particularly as he averages 49.80 in ODIs in Australia. Opener Karunaratne, meanwhile, is a straight-swap for Kusal Perera at the top of the order. Karunaratne has not had success in six ODI outings so far, but has been moderately effective in Tests, where he is expected to feature in the forthcoming New Zealand series. He comes off a 73 in Sri Lanka’s List A tournament, against Ragama, on Thursday. Prasanna had also been among those dropped after the 0-5 whitewash in India. He returns to strengthen an already-packed slow-bowling contingent in the squad, and he will have to earn his spot in the XI from among Jeevan Mendis, Sachithra Senanayake, Dilruwan Perera and chinaman Lakshan Sandakan. Ajantha Mendis was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the series, with nine scalps, before being dropped. His two mediocre outings in the matches in Pallekele and Hambantota, and doubts about his effectiveness on the decks Sri Lanka are likely to encounter in New Zealand and Australia helped the pave way for his exit. The sixth ODI will be played in Pallekele on Saturday, and the seventh in Colombo on Tuesday. SL squad for the sixth and seventh ODIs Angelo Matthews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, TM Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Sachithra Senanayake, Seekkuge Prasanna, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera