Mendis back in Test squad, Sri Lanka leave for Bangladesh today

The national cricket team will leave for Bangladesh today on a six week tour. Sri Lanka will play two Tests, two T-20s and three ODIs against Bangladesh and will remain in that country for the Asia Cup tournament that gets underway on the 25th of February.

Sri Lanka’s selectors have recalled spinner Ajantha Mendis for the Test series in place of off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake. Batsman Lahiru Thirimanne was ruled out of the series with an ankle injury and has been replaced by Kithruwan Vithanage. Those are the only changes from the squad that played Pakistan in the just concluded Test series.

Sri Lanka have so far played four Tests in Bangladesh and won all four games. Altogether there have been 14 Tests between the countries and 13 of them have been won by Sri Lanka with one Test being drawn.

Mendis was urgently recalled from the Big Bash League, Australia’s domestic T-20 tournament, to prepare for the Test series.

Sri Lanka will have little time to adjust to conditions in Bangladesh as they will play the first Test three days after landing without any warm-up games. The first Test starting on the 27th January will be played at Mirpur followed by the second Test at Chittagong starting on the Independence Day.

Sri Lanka will remain at Chittagong for the two T-20s Internationals and will return to Mirpur where the three ODIs will be played.

The Asia Cup will get underway in Mirpur, three days after the last ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

This will be new coach Paul Farbrace’s first assignment with the national cricket team.

The tour is an ideal opportunity for Sri Lanka as the World T-20 will take place a week after the final match of the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka are strong contenders in the championship having reached the finals in the 2009 and 2012 editions of the tournament.

Sri Lanka Test Squad: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Vice Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Prasanna Jayawardena, Kithruwan Vithanage, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando and Ajantha Mendis.

Source: The Islands (Sri Lanka)