Colombo: Sri Lanka picked five new-ball bowlers for the three-Test series in Australia starting next month, but once again ignored unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis. Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welegedara, Nuwan Pradeep and Dhammika Prasad will make up the pace attack in the 16-man touring party named by the national selectors on Wednesday.
Mendis, who has 62 wickets from 16 Tests, continues to be on the sidelines in the five-day format since the Cardiff Test against England in May last year, despite being a regular in limited-overs games.
The squad includes left-handed opener Dimuth Karunaratne, 24, who made 0 and 60 not out on his debut in the recent Galle Test against New Zealand which Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets. The prolific Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv are the two specialist spinners for the tour.
Sri Lanka open the tour with a three-day match against the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI in Canberra from December 6-8.
The three Tests will be played in Hobart (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).
Sri Lanka’s squad for five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games after the Tests will be named later.
