Sri Lanka Squad For 2 ODIs vs Australia Revealed; Seam Bowling All-rounder Axed

Sri Lanka didn’t enjoy a decent time during the two-match Test series against Australia at home, as they lost their first red-ball series at home against this opponent after 14 years. The focus for both sides will be different in the two-match ODI series.

For the visitors, it’s the preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on February 19. The home side failed to qualify for the ICC event and will begin to start fresh and focus on their next ICC ODI World Cup.

Sri Lanka leaves out Chamindu Wickramasinghe vs Australia

The SLC has named a 16-member squad for the two 50-over encounters against the current ODI World Champions. It’s largely an unchanged eleven from the one that toured New Zealand in January this year for three games.

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The only change is the seam-bowling all-rounder, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who is out as the board has trimmed the side from 17 to 16. From their point of view, there is no real context to the two games. But these two clashes can draw a platform of where they stand in the ODI format.

Sri Lanka looks solid, keeping in mind the venue for the two games., R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. They have a decent depth in batting, with captain Charith Asalanka. The southpaw, who has smashed 2169 runs in 63 innings at an average of 40.16 and a strike rate of 90.41, with 14 half-centuries and three centuries, struggled in New Zealand with scores of 00, 04, and 00.

Their opening batter, Pathum Nissanka, who is the only batter of the side to celebrate a double-century in the 50-over format, has found it tough of late. The right-handed batter cracked only 76 runs in three innings against New Zealand. Apart from him, Kusal Mendis, who grabbed two half-centuries in the second Galle Test against Australia last week, has been added.

There was no doubt in Sri Lanka's spin-heavy bowling attack. Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Theekshana will be the leaders of the pack, while Dunith Wellalage’s all-round contribution will be vital for the side. All of these players are coming into the format after going through several T20 leagues.

Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumar, Mohammad Shiraz, and Eshan Malinga are the main fast bowlers of the squad, Hower, it will be interesting to see how many of these players take part in these two games.

Hasaranga was the leading wicket-taker of the ODI format last year, with 26 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 15.61. He hopes to start the new in the same fashion. Matheesha Pathirana’s injury could be a reason for him not playing the two games.

Sri Lanka aims to save superb home ODI series record

The last bilateral ODI series defeat for Sri Lanka at home came in July 2021 against India. Since then, they got the better of South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, and all other sides. Even last year, the Rohit Sharma-led side failed to earn success against the home spinners.

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They will hope to carry the same rhythm against the injury-hit Australian side. The tourists will miss their captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and many frontline bowlers for the eight-team event.

Sri Lanka Squad For 2 ODIs vs Australia

Charith Asalanka (captain), Nishan Madushka, Nuwaindu Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga, Mohamed Shiraz, Mahesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage