Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka skipper, has been ruled out of the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) and the upcoming two-match Twenty20 International series against Australia due to a calf tear.
The all-rounder suffered an injury on his calf while batting in the 27th over of Sri Lanka’s innings in the fourth ODI on Wednesday (August 31). He left the field retired hurt while on 28, but returned to bat towards the end of Sri Lanka’s innings and added 12 more runs.
He hasn’t undergone a CT scan for his injury, but the team management has confirmed that Mathews would be unavailable for the remainder of the Australia series. Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s vice captain, is expected to lead the side in Mathews’s absence.
Sri Lanka’s think-tank have also left out Thisara Perera and Lakshan Sandakan from the squad for the fifth ODI. Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella and Dasun Shanaka get a look-in as the hosts look to test different possible combinations in the dead-rubber clash.
While Perera, who had a lean patch before being recalled to Sri Lanka’s side ahead of the ODI series, has modest returns in the four ODIs so far, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s mid-series retirement has opened up a spot at the top of the order. All-rounder Shanaka will serve as a replacement for Perera’s spot in the side, with Tharanga and Dickwella potentially vying for the opener’s position.
Australia, after losing the Test series 3-0 and remaining at par after two ODIs, have taken an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the 50-over series. The final ODI is set to be played in Pallekele on Sunday (September 4).
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