Mathews to play unofficial ODIs against England Lions

Former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews will return to 50-over cricket, nearly after two years during the unofficial three-match ODI series against England Lions in a bid to revive his limited over career.

Mathews, though has the best average among current Sri Lankan cricketers (41.67) the second only to legendary Kumar Sangakkara among Sri Lankan batters, was among several senior players who were sacked from limited over cricket in 2021.

The major overhaul was part of a youth based long term strategy introduced by the Pramodya Wickremasinghe led selectors upon taking over the job in April 2021.

However, call for Mathews’ inclusion grew stronger following Sri Lanka’s 3-0 thrashing at the hand of India in the recent series where lack of stability in the middle-order hurt the team in abundance.

With Sri Lanka’s next ODI assignment in New Zealand, Mathews has been offered a chance to revive his ODI career and earn a place in the side to New Zealand in March.

Mathews, 35, a veteran of 218 ODIs, had so far scored 5835 runs with three centuries and 40 half centuries, sitting ninth in the top ODI run scorers in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka must win the series against New Zealand to earn a direct entry into the 50-over World Cup to be played later this year in India, a failure will result in them playing a qualifying tournament to earn one of the two remaining slots in the 10-team tournament.

Meanwhile seamer Dushmantha Chameera will also feature at least in one limited-over games during the A series against England Lions starting February 15 at R Premadasa Stadium.

Chameera has fully recovered from an ankle surgery and the selectors have named him in a supplementary list of players for the England’s Lions tour.

Kusal Janith, who went under the knife to correct a troubled shoulder, though in the supplementary squad is unlikely to return to action as he is yet to get the full medical clearance. Avishka Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan and Pathum Nissanka are all set to feature the unofficial ODI series.

Kusal Janith Perera, though underwent a knife to treat a troubled shoulder, and in the supplementary squad, is still unlikely to return to action since he is yet to get the full medical clearance.