Malinga injury lifts Australian hopes in Sri Lanka

Australia’s hopes for the limited overs matches in Sri Lanka have received a boost with star paceman Lasith Malinga in doubt for at least some of the one-day series.

Malinga was left out of the hosts’ squad named on Friday for the two Twenty20 matches against the touring Australians in Kandy and is facing a battle to be fit in time for the start of the five-match one-day series starting on 10 August in the same city.

Sri Lanka’s chairman of the national selection committee Duleep Mendis says Malinga was struggling with a back injury and needed to rest “at least for one week”.

“We are monitoring his condition,” Mendis told The Sunday Times newspaper in Sri Lanka when asked if the slingy, right-arm quick would be available for the one-dayers.

“However, we cannot definitely say at this stage how his condition will be.”

Malinga’s absence would be a major lift for Australia given the fiery quick is a renowned limited-overs bowler with his lethal yorkers.

The 27-year-old is retired from Test cricket and won’t feature in the three-match Test series starting on 31 August, meaning his injury could see him not play against the Australians at all on this tour.

Hard-hitting all-rounder Angelo Matthews was named as vice-captain in Sri Lanka’s 16-man T20 squad while young quick Shaminda Eranga earned a call-up after encouraging displays for Sri Lanka A in England recently.

Tillakaratne Dilshan will captain the team.

The first T20 will be held in Kandy on 6 August.

Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chamara Silva, Shaminda Eranga.