5 players who should be axed from the Sri Lankan ODI side 

Sri Lanka have struggled in one-day internationals for a few years but their record in 2017 is the worst they have ever recorded. 21 out of the 26 ODIs they have played so far have ended in defeats, resulting in a win/loss ratio of a dismal .190. According to a study by Cricinfo, it is the worst ratio recorded (minimum 20 ODIs) by a recognised Test nation in a calendar year.

As is quite evident, Sri Lanka are in dire straits and players will have to be axed if they are to stem the bleeding. A majority of the players in the Sri Lankan side have not covered themselves in glory during this wretched run of defeats that saw the team being blanked 5-0 in three separate ODI series, and some of them are almost certain to be dropped.

Here is a look at five players who do not deserve a place in the ODI side for upcoming series.

#5 Lasith Malinga

This might come as a bit of a shock since he is the only member of the bowling attack regarded as world-class in limited overs cricket. However, Lasith Malinga is on the decline and his poor returns this year have been one of the key factors in the team's shocking run of results.

He might not have been a part of the ODI team in Pakistan but he did play in the other series this year and his performances paint a grim picture. Malinga leaked runs at the rate of one per ball in the 103.5 overs that he bowled this year and picked up only 10 wickets, each of which cost the team 62.30 runs.

Dropping a player of his stature will be tough, but Sri Lanka need to support the next generation of fast bowlers and make difficult calls before things get out of hand.

#4 Dinesh Chandimal

Dinesh Chandimal

He is one of the mainstays of the Sri Lankan Test side but as far as batting in one-day internationals is concerned, Dinesh Chandimal has not quite been able to come up trumps. 2017 has been a particularly horrid year for him.

Among batsmen who have batted at least 10 times in this calendar year, Chandimal has the worst average. He has batted 14 times till date and averages a dismal 18.21, with a highest score of 59.

The recently-concluded five-match ODI series against Pakistan was particularly dismal. In the five games, he faced 87 deliveries in total and scored just 41 runs, at an average of 8.20. These numbers are quite underwhelming and it will be a big surprise if he manages to hold on to his spot in the ODI side.

#3 Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis is one of the most promising young batsmen in Sri Lanka at the moment, but his recent returns have been extraordinarily poor. Perhaps a break from the one-day international side would help him get his form back. He scored a century against India in the 2nd Test of the home series but since then, has not crossed 40 in any form of the game.

In ODIs, his highest score in the four games he played against India at home was 36 and in the recent series against Pakistan, he played two games, managing scores of 2 and 10. Needless to say, he is struggling and a break from the ODI side will be the best course of action.

#2 Thisara Perera

Thisara Perera

All-rounder Thisara Perera has been a regular member of the Sri Lankan team for half a decade now but his performances over the past year or so have left a lot to be desired. Perera's displays in the latest five-match series against Pakistan suggest he is on the decline as both a bowler and a batsman.

As a lower-order power-hitter, he can throw his bat around without a second thought, but when the top order collapses regularly, someone of his experience must be able to show a bit of caution. In the five games against Pakistan, Perera averaged 18.20 and totalled only 91 runs. Additionally, he didn't bowl his full quota of overs either, delivering just 28 overs. He might have taken four wickets, but he was the most expensive bowler from his side, leaking runs at the rate of 5.64 runs per over.

#1 Milinda Siriwardana

Milinda Siriwardana

Among batsmen who have played at least 10 times this year, Milinda Siriwardana has the 2nd worst average (Chadimal's is the worst) of 18.45 and has scored only 1 fifty so far. His strike rate of 84.58 is immaterial since he simply doesn't stay at the crease long enough.

On the other hand, Siriwardana's part-time bowling isn't too much to write home about either. He has failed to take a wicket in the last seven matches he has gotten to bowl. In the series against Pakistan, he played in all five games and averaged a dismal 4.8. It really won't be a surprise if the team management and the Sri Lankan selectors decide to dump him.