Sri Lanka’s in-form Kamindu Mendis is ready to remain at quantity seven within the batting order as his facet tries to keep away from a 3-0 sequence whitewash by England.
The customer heads into the third Check at The Oval beginning Friday already 2-0 down within the sequence after final week’s 190-run loss to England at Lord’s, which adopted a five-wicket defeat at Previous Trafford.
The 25-year-old Kamindu, nonetheless, has been a shining gentle for Sri Lanka, topping its sequence batting averages with 203 runs, together with a century in Manchester, at a formidable common of greater than 50.
Initially finest often known as an ambidextrous spin bowler, the left-handed batter has now scored three a whole lot in his 5 Exams.
In opposition to England, he has typically been batting down the order and regardless of Sri Lanka’s top-order struggles, is prone to keep there.
“If he’s scoring runs there, let him rating runs at quantity seven,” Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva stated at The Oval on Thursday.
“We must always not upset his momentum as nicely. We’ll see whether or not we will make modifications sooner or later. That might be a tricky name for him, to ask him to bat early. If he will get out early, the blame will come on me. He’s doing nicely at quantity seven. For now let him play at quantity seven.”
The sequence could also be misplaced however De Silva stated victory, which might finish a run of seven straight Check defeats by England, would nonetheless be worthwhile.
“Successful a Check match will probably be superior,” he defined. “The principle factor is we want factors for the World Check Championship.”
De Silva was talking earlier than Sri Lanka named its facet for the match, with two modifications from the crew that performed throughout London at Lord’s.
Kusal Mendis returns as wicketkeeper and quantity three batter after Nishan Madushka, who had the powerful job of each opening and being behind the stumps within the second Check, was dropped.
And left-arm paceman Vishwa Fernando was recalled rather than left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka opted for a four-man seam assault.
“If there’s left-arm selection, that’s nice,” stated De Silva. “It will likely be useful for the assault. Vishwa has some expertise right here (taking part in for Yorkshire).”
England may even have a left-arm fast in its facet, with towering 20-year-old Josh Hull given a Check debut.
The 6 ft, 7 inches (2 metres) tall Hull replaces Matthew Potts regardless of having taken simply 16 wickets in 10 First-Class matches.
Sri Lanka got here throughout Hull in its lone warm-up match towards the second-string England Lions final month, with the rookie fast taking 5 wickets.
“He was good,” stated De Silva. “Tall, fast and swinging the ball each methods.”
SRI LANKA PLAYING XI
Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando.