Sri Lanka change batting line-up for NZ tests

Sri Lanka has rewarded Kamindu Mendis for his profitable tour of England by moving him up the batting order for the two-test series against New Zealand starting today in Galle.

Mendis reaped a century and two half-centuries from his fourth, fifth and sixth career tests over the past month in England, where he was Sri Lanka’s player of the series lost 2-1. In his brief test career, he has three hundreds and four fifties.

It was time to move him from No 7 to No 5 in the line-up, Sri Lanka coach Sanath Jayasuriya said yesterday.

“There was lot of discussion that Kamindu has to move up the order when we were in England. Too often he was batting with the tail and we felt that we need to make the best use of him,” Jayasuriya said.

Former captain Dinesh Chandimal, who occupied the No 5 slot, has been moved to No 3 and stripped of wicketkeeping duty. Kusal Mendis, no relation to Kamindu, will keep wickets and bat at No 7.

Sri Lanka is expected to make two more changes from the side that beat England in the third test last week at the Oval. Seam bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Milan Ratnayake are expected to make way for spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis.

“Our fast bowlers have done well, but it’s horses for courses and we have to back spin in Galle,” Jayasuriya said.

Source: AP
--Agencies