AAP: Australia head coach Darren Lehmann wants T20 leader Justin Langer to settle some scores with the visiting Sri Lankans this week

Darren Lehmann has urged stand-in coach Justin Langer to ensure Australia exacts some revenge on Sri Lanka in the three-match T20 home series starting this week. 

Lehmann will leave the well-credentialed Langer to his own devices as he focusses his own attention on getting the Test squad ready for the series in India. 

But ahead of Friday’s T20 opener at the MCG there has been one piece of advice, with the head coach still smarting from Australia’s 3-0 Test series loss in Sri Lanka last year.

“I’ve had a few emails from Boof (Lehmann) and he said we owe the Sri Lankans a couple,” Langer told AAP. Langer has already got a pretty good idea of who he wants in the XI from the 13-man T20 squad, including his veteran West Australian and Perth Scorchers’ batsman Michael Klinger, who is set to debut at age 36.

“I’d be amazed if he (Klinger) is not in the first XI,” Langer said. “If you look at his numbers, the system we use in Western Australia, he and Aaron Finch are easily the two leading players in Australian T20 in that squad. “You pick someone like Michael Klinger, in my view he’s got to play.” 

Despite noting Klinger’s influence in the recent Big Bash season and more broadly in T20 cricket, Langer said it’s likely to be a short-lived period in the spotlight. 

“Whilst his age is probably against him for a long, bright future in Australian colours I’m sure he’ll play these games and he should, he deserves to,” Langer added. 

While the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc fulfil Test commitments in the subcontinent, the T20 side is filled with potential and eagerness, Langer insists. “If you’re talking about Michael Klinger he would cut both his legs off and he would’ve for the last few years to play cricket for Australia,” the coach said.

“To see Tim Paine get an opportunity – a couple of years ago before his finger injury (he) was touted as a future Australian captain so a ripping bloke and there’s plenty of really good blokes there so I’m sure they will be looking forward to it.” 

Malinga ‘best in world’ and primed for PMs XI

Sri Lanaka superstar Lasith Malinga ready to make international comeback in Australia, starting with Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s XI clash

Sri Lanka bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake has declared Lasith Malinga the best T20 bowler in the world as he prepares to make his return to international cricket in a three-match series against Australia. Malinga is set to face the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, with the match live streamed on cricket.com.au. It will be Sri Lanka’s only warm-up match before Friday’s KFC T20 series opener against Australia in Melbourne. The 33-year-old withdrew from last year’s T20 World Cup and IPL with knee soreness. He was set to make a comeback in the recent limited-overs series against South Africa until a bout of dengue fever put the brakes on his return. Ramanayake said Malinga was a brilliant addition to any Sri Lankan side. “He’s the best bowler in the world in this format,” Ramanayake said. He is counting on Malinga to form a lethal partnership with lively seamer Nuwan Kulasekara who played in Sri Lanka’s 2-1 T20 victory over South Africa. “Those guys have done wonderfully well for Sri Lanka the last decade,” Ramanayake said.

While Malinga’s return is a major boost, the Sri Lankans have suffered a blow with regular skipper Angelo Mathews absent from the tour with a hamstring injury. “He’s a very experienced player but unfortunately he got injured,” Ramanayake said. “We have managed to win without him. Hopefully the youngsters will do the job.” Opening batsman Upul Tharanga will captain Sri Lanka on the tour that moves to Geelong on Sunday before concluding in Adelaide on Wednesday.