Sri Lanka off today for one-day series:

A real challenge to beat Australia - Sangakkara

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: Allrounder Angelo Mathews will play purely as a batsman and will not bowl due to a knee injury in Sri Lanka’s ODI tour of Australia.

Sri Lanka will take ‘wing’ to Australia late this evening (Sunday) to meet their counterparts in three warm -up ODIs and three official one-dayers and a T20 from October 22 to November 7.

The team is studded with a blend of youth and experience in the quest of finding the ideal combination for the 2011 World Cup which will be held in the sub-continent next February.

Promising players of the calibre of left-hand batsman and right-arm-leg spin bowler Jeevan Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Thisara Perera will get the opportunity to prove their worth. All these players at some stage have represented the country at the under 19 level and have toured with the Sri Laka’A’ teams. The selectors have thought that the time is appropriate to expose them at the highest level.

Former Thomian cricketer Jeevan Mendis, a more than useful left-hand batsman, and a orthodox right-arm leg-spinner, another strongly built left-hander and right-arm medium pacer Thisara Perera and Dinesh Chandimal have already represented the country at ODIs. Jeevan Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal were members of the Sri Lanka team which toured Zimbabwe in June.

Missing from the tour party is spinner Ajantha Mendis who has paved the way for Jeevan Mendis to join the veteran Muthiah Muralitharan and the other off-spinner Suraj Randiv. Without the services of Mathews as a bowler, Sangakkara has the option of the three fast men in the country today Dilhara Fernando, Dammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekera with Thisara Perera to support them.

“Australia is a really good side and probably the best one-day side in the world at the moment, and it is a challenge to go out there and beat them. Playing in their home conditions it is going to be tough, but, hopefully we should do well and win in Australia.” said Sangakkara.

“Any tour to Australia is a tough assignment, and the players will have to bring out their best to be on par with the home team.

It will also be an ideal Test for the youngsters Jeevan Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal who have previously toured Zimbabwe.” said Anura Tennekoon the Manager.

The Sri Lankan captain Sangakkara further said that he would have preferred if Angelo Mathews was able to bowl, but unfortunately he cannot participate as a bowler, but he will be going as a batsman.So, there will be a change of combination to try and cover the loss of an allrounder.

The Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Mahela Jayawardene (V.Captain), T.M. Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal, Stand by Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Thilan Thushara and Farveez Maharoof.

Tour itinerary

Warm up matches: October 22 Vs Queensland at Wooloongabba, Brisbane. October 24 Vs NSW XI at Sydney Cricket Grounds. October 27 Vs NSW at Black Town, Olympic Park, Oval, Sydney.

October 31 (official) T20 Vs Australia at Western Australia Cricket Association Grounds (WACA) Perth. November 3: First official ODI Vs Australia at Melbourne Cricket Grounds, November 5 Second official ODI Vs Australia at Sydney. November 7 third ODI Vs Australia at Brisbane.