Tharanga makes welcome return to one-day squad:

Lanka go out with confidence

Dilanka MANNAKKARA from Pallekelle

Sri Lanka won the Twenty20 series fair and square against the Australians and are now ready for the next big test - the five match ODI series. Sri Lanka have named a 16 man squad for the first three ODIs and are bolstered by the return of star paceman Lasith “Slinger” Malinga and opening batsman Upul Tharanga while still there is no place for prolific off spinner Sachithra Senanayake who took a five wicket haul and scored some handy runs against a strong England Lions side last week. Nuwan Kulasekara also secures his place in the squad despite a poor showing in England taking just one wicket in five games.

Malinga who missed the Twenty20 series was carrying an injury and his return will definitely be a boost to the Lankan pace attack led by Nuwan Kulasekara which looks a bit out of gas and venom. But unfortunately Malinga will miss the first ODI at Pallekelle which would commence on Wednesday. Chairman of cricket selectors Duleep Mendis said that although Malinga has been named in the squad, he has been advised to rest. “We have been advised by the team physio to rest Malinga for the first ODI,” Duleep said. “We will consider him for the remaining matches.”

Tharanga returns following a three-month suspension after testing positive for banned substances. Tharanga’s ban ends today, making him available for the first match of the series, and he is likely to join captain Tillakaratne Dilshan at the top of the order. Dhammika Prasad and Dilruwan Perera, who were a part of the Twenty20 squad, surprisingly misses out. Dhammika Prasad showed some pace and aggression in the last ODI in England and he bowled quite well while Perera who foxed the Australian batsmen in the first Twenty20 squad also is axed. Uncapped paceman Shaminda Eranga hopefully will play a part in the team after bench warming in the two Twenty20s.

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Upul Tharanga, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chamara Silva, Shaminda Eranga

Tharanga returns

Tharanga will be opening along with Dilshan allowing Mahela Jayawardene to slot back into the middle order with Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews the new vice captain and Jeevan Mendis completing the rest of the batting order. Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis are certainties while Rangana Herath or Suraj Randiv will take the other spinners spot. Sri Lanka might be tempted to bring in Shaminda Eranga to accompany Kulasekara or might opt for Suranga Lakmal. Sri Lanka will hope that Nuwan Kulasekara who so far has been in a decline will step up and get the dangerous Shane Watson early.

Australia team Big Three return

If Australia are to survive Sri Lanka they have to find a way past the tweakers, and the return of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey for the ODIs should be a source of great relief in their camp.

The trio’s absence from the Twenty20s presented a worrying glimpse into the future of Australian batting. For a brief while during the second match, Ajantha Mendis was as unplayable as he was in his debut summer of 2008, before the world woke up to his assortment of tricks but as Cameron White said the more you play Mendis the more you read him plus the Aussie batsmen will try to play him straight.

With David Warner returning home, Brad Haddin will open for Australia in Shane Watson’s company, freeing up space for the returning middle-order troika. Shaun Marsh and David Hussey looked suspect against spin in the Twenty20s, but Australia may be forced to play both in an attempt to delay the start of their tail. Doug Bollinger’s return will further strengthen the pace attack of Brett Lee, Mitchel Johnson and John Hastings.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Jeevan Mendis, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Suranga Lakmal / Shaminda Eranga, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Rangana Herath/Suraj Randiv

Australia (probable): 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk) 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Michael Hussey, 6 David Hussey / Shaun Marsh, 7 Steven Smith / Xavier Doherty, 8 John Hastings, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Doug Bollinger.