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ESPNCricinfo: Angelo Mathews’ calf tear has ruled him out of the remainder of Australia’s tour, while allrounder Thisara Perera and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan have been released from the Sri Lanka squad for the fifth ODI. In place of these three players, Sri Lanka have drafted in batsmen Upul Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella, as well as seam-bowling allrounder Dasun Shanaka.
Mathews has not undergone a CT scan for the injury he sustained during the fourth ODI, but the team management has already confirmed he will be unavailable for the remaining ODI and two T20Is. Mathews had hobbled off the field during his innings on Wednesday and, though he returned to bat towards the end of the innings, had been substantially hampered by the injury.
Perera had played all four ODIs as the primary seamer but, although he claimed 3 for 33 in Sri Lanka’s sole win, at Khettarama, he has since been less effective. Perera had also been dropped for the England tour, following a long stretch of modest returns. He is effectively being replaced by Shanaka, who had some success in that tour of England and Ireland - he claimed three wickets in the first innings of Test at Headingley, and also took a five-wicket haul in an ODI against Ireland, in Dublin.
Tharanga had also been somewhat effective in England, making a 53 not out and 40 from the lower middle order. Following Dilshan’s retirement, the selectors may wish to bat him at the top of the order again, though Dickwella is also a candidate for the opening spot. In his last three List A innings, against England Lions and Pakistan A, Dickwella hit 51, 44, and 60.Sri Lanka have already lost the ODI series. The final match is set to be played in Pallekele, on Sunday.
Reuters: Australia fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will miss the tour of South Africa to rest ahead of a busy international programme at home, Cricket Australia said on Friday.
Captain Steve Smith was also sent home last week from Sri Lanka to rest before South Africa, where his side will play six one-day internationals, including one against Ireland, before returning home to face the Proteas in three tests in November.
“Both Mitchell and Josh have had big tours of Sri Lanka and have a heavy workload ahead of them with 10 tests to be played this summer,” chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said in a statement.
“As such, it is important they are managed appropriately and we believe missing the tour of South Africa is the right time for them to take a break.
“This also provides a good opportunity for some of our up-and-coming fast bowlers to push for selection.”
Hazlewood will return to Australia from Sri Lanka immediately, Marsh said, and miss the final one-day match and the Twenty20 series.
Starc will remain with the team until the end of the tour.
Australia, who were hammered 3-0 in the test series in Sri Lanka, have wrapped up the one-day series with an unassailable 3-1 lead.
The final ODI is on Sunday in Kandy before two T20 matches.
