Sri Lanka retain ‘suspect’ spinner Senanayake for South Africa ODIs

Reuters /Colombo

Sri Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake, who was reported for a suspect bowling action during the one-day international series against England last month, has been included in the squad for the first two ODIs against South Africa.

After being reported, Senanayake underwent testing at the Cardiff Metropolitan University on June 29 and is allowed to play until the results are known. Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who had to return home from the tour of England due to a hamstring injury, was also named in the 16-man squad.

Lakmal suffered a grade-two tear on his right hamstring while running between the wickets in the first ODI against England and took no further part in the tour.

Opener Kusal Perera has also been selected but his place is subject to fitness. There was, however, no place for wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal and all-rounder Chaturanga de Silva, who both toured England.

The duo have been replaced by batsmen Upul Tharanga and Kithuruwan Vithanage. The first match of the three-ODI series is scheduled on Sunday while the second will be played on Wednesday. The series will conclude with the final game on July 12.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Upul Tharanga, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal.

Broad glad to have Stokes back on board

Stuart Broad has backed Ben Stokes to have as big an impact on the England scene as he did on a Barbados dressing-room locker after the young all-rounder was recalled to a 13-man squad for next week’s first Test against India.

Stokes missed England’s recent 1-0 home loss to Sri Lanka in a two-Test series after the selectors decided he needed to get more overs under his belt after a freak wrist injury. 

So angry was Stokes at being dismissed for a golden duck against the West Indies in Barbados, he punched a dressing room locker at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown and promptly broke a bone in his hand.

That forced the 23-year-old to miss the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and the start of the English season. Since then the seamer has taken a career-best seven for 67 for Durham against Sussex—and 10 wickets in the match—although his batting has been less impressive with 172 runs at 28.66 in four Championship matches.

However, Stokes has already shown his ability at international level by providing England with rare highlights during their 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia when he scored a maiden hundred in his second Test at Perth and took eight wickets in Sydney

“We know the quality Stokes has got—he’s a raw talent but he is a player you want to play with and not against,” said England new-ball bowler Broad, speaking before the squad was announced at the London headquarters of series sponsors Investec.

“He can get in players’ faces and he has already got a Test match hundred and Test match ‘six for’ at Sydney. He is obviously a very talented guy. He was not in the Sri Lanka Test match squad in order to get more overs.”

Clarke quits Thunder to focus on Oz

Australia captain Michael Clarke has decided not to put his name forward for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League at the end of the year, saying he would not be able to give them enough attention.

With the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand following straight on from the BBL, and a number of international fixtures in that time too, Clarke felt he would be taking a slot away from a younger player.

In the build up to the World Cup, the Aussies will play a tri-series against India and England, as well as an ODI series against South Africa, and Tests against India, all in the space of three months.

Clarke said in a statement: “Having looked at the fixture list for the upcoming summer it became apparent that my opportunities to play for the Thunder would be extremely limited.

“I think it is in the best interests of the club if I make myself unavailable for selection this season and allow the Thunder the chance to offer a contract to a younger player who would really benefit from the opportunity.

“I will continue to support the club and monitor the situation in future seasons regarding availability.”

A slight consolation for the Thunder fans will be the signing of South Africa veteran Jacques Kallis, who may or may not be in the Proteas side for the World Cup.