Mid-Wicket
1) Lahiru Thirimanne
2) Danushka Gunathilaka
3) Kusal Mendis
4) Kusal Janith (WK)
5) Angelo Mathews (C)
6) Dhananjaya de Silva
7) Thisara Perera
8) Wanindu Hasaranga
9) Suranga Lakmal
10) Lasith Malinga
11) Nuwan Pradeep
12) Niroshan Dickwella (WK) / Upul Tharanga
13) Dasun Shanaka / Kamindu Mendis / Asela Gunaratne
14) Dushmantha Chameera / Isuru Udana / Lahiru Kumara
15) Lakshan Sandakan / Akila Dananjaya
Considering young and inexperienced Wanindu Hasaranga’s potential I picked him as the 1st choice leg spinner ahead of Sandakan. Sandakan can still be fitted into playing XI in the place of a fast bowler. Young Dushmantha Chameera can be also tested as experienced Test seamer, Suranga Lakmal hasn’t played ODIs recently.
Niroshan Dickwella was picked as he has been Sri Lanka’s regular wicketkeeper for past couple of years. With the presence of Kusal Janith and Kusal Mendis in the squad Dickwella can be replaced with an experienced batsman like Upul Tharanga.
You can also suggest the best available SL ODI squad for South Africa tour focusing on upcoming ODI world cup 2019 .
– 12 / 01 / 2019
@Sajeewa Aoushada Rathkarawwa Although Jeevan Mendis performs well in domestic matches and sometimes in T20 leagues he’s a kind of ‘bits and pieces’ player in international level. Taking him for the world cup in 2015 was one of the selection blunders. May be we can think of Jeevan if Akila Dananjaya is not considered for the world cup this year.
@Ninth : Roshen Silva hasn’t played any ODIs and his career List A strike rate is 70. Kamindu Mendis should be considered.
@ Rehan Jayasuriya : I agree that Dananjaya de Silva’s batting needs to be improved in ODIs (his last 5 innings 36*, 3, 17, 19*, 36). However, his all-rounding skills can still earn him a place in the world cup squad ahead of Chandimal, Sadeera etc. Also Tharanga has performed well in England in the past. Considering his experience and our recent batting collapses Tharanga should be given another chance though Tharanga’s fielding and inconsistency matter.
@Dattatray Kharade: Inform Kamindu Mendis should be definitely considered for his all rounding skills . Both Sadeera and Wanidu Hasranga are exciting young prospects but we can’t take too many young players for the world cup.
1.Niroshan Dickwella
2.Dhanushka Gunathilaka
3.Kusal Janith
4.Angelo Mathews
5.Kamindu Mendis / Charith Asalanka
6.Asela Gunaratna
7.Thisara Perera
8.Dasun Shanaka
9.Shehan Madushanka / Lahiru Kumara
10.Kasun Rajitha
11.Lasith Malinga