Sri Lanka pick Ajantha Mendis in ODI squad for West Indies series

File picture of Mendis during the Sri Lanka-South Africa series in 2013

Sri Lanka have recalled mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis in their 15-man squad to face the West Indies in the 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting November 1, reports ESPNcricinfo. The other far-fetched names to be called up are Shehan Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay and Danushka Gunathileka.

The selectors have also stuck with tried medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekara in a team skippered by all-rounder Angelo Mathews. They have opted for young blood in the squad as they dropped established names like Upul Tharanga, Thisara Perera and Nuwan Pradeep. Tharanga had been struggling for form and his exclusion comes as no real surprise.

Inclusion of Gunathilaka and Jayasuriya

The 24-year-old left-handed batsman, Gunathilaka who has not yet experienced the essence of ODI cricket has been picked up because of his impressive performance against New Zealand. He scored 66 and 106 in the warm-up match against New Zealand A.

Jayasuriya delivered a good show in his international debut recently against Pakistan in a Twenty20 match where he batted at number 3 and scored 40 off 32 balls. He has been a top performer for Colts Cricket Club.

Mendis comeback

Mendis, 30, last played One-Day cricket in December 2014 against England at home, while Kulasekara would be in line to don National colours for the first time since the World Cup quarterfinal against Australia.

The first two matches of the ODI series will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on November 1 and 4 before the teams travel to Pallekele for the final ODI. They will then face off in two T20Is.

An interesting battle in the Test series

Meanwhile, having taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 200 on the first day of the second Test match, played at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday. Skipper Mathews’ decision to bat first backfired as the home side failed to put up a sizeable total on the board.

For the Windies, slow left arm bowler Jomel Warrican was the destroyer in chief as he scalped four Lankan batsmen on Day 1. For Sri Lanka, debutant Milinda Siriwardana top-scored with 68.

The ODI squad: Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Danushka Gunathileka.