After playing three tests and five ODIs, Sri Lanka and Australia will conclude the tour with two T20 games, which are to be played on 6th and 9th September respectively. Sri Lanka won all the 3 Test matches. Australia, one the other hand, levelled scores by winning 4 of the 5 ODIS.
There have been a few changes in the Sri Lankan team squad for the T20s. All-rounders Milinda Siriwardana and Thisara Pereira, spinner Sachithra Senanayake and batsman Chamara Kapugedara have been recalled, while Kasun Rajitha has been picked in the playing 11. The list of omissions include Niroshan Dickwella, Danusha Gunathilaka, and Ramith Rambukwella.
Another discard is left-arm spinner Amila Aponso, who played the first three ODI matches of the series, but has been overlooked for this format.
Kasun Rajitha is also in the team. He made his debut in the bilateral T20 series against India in February. Rajitha took 3-29 in his first match in Pune,but went wicketless and conceded 45 in the next game. Suranga Lakmal and Rajitha make it to the T20 squad, but Nuwan Kulasekara has been overlooked once more.
Owing to injury, Angelo Mathews will be replaced by Dinesh Chandimal, who will lead the side. The 29-year-old limped off during his knock in the fourth one-day international.
The only specialist spinner was Senanayake, but in Siriwadana, Pathirana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dilshan, the skipper has enough slow-bowling options to call upon and torment the Australians, who were very average against spin bowling.
The first T20 will be played in Pallekele on Tuesday, and the second at Khettarama on Friday.
Dilshan, famous for his explosive batting and the Dilscoop, has a last chance to play the audacious shot which bears his name in these two Twenty20 internationals, which is his final outing in international cricket.
Few cricketers have shots named after them and Dilshan's trademark shot has guaranteed his place in the history of cricket. Dilshan’s career has been a memorable one and Sri Lanka will have a huge gap to fill after this series against Australia when he leaves international cricket.
T20 squad: Dinesh Chandimal (capt.), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Dananjaya de Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Milinda Siriwardana, Kusal Mendis, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Sachith Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka.
OUT: Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Farveez Maharoof, Ramith Rambukwella, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews (injured), Nuwan Pradeep (injured)
