Lasith Malinga returns to squad for England T20I

There are a host of changes from the squad that took part in the one-off fixture in August when South Africa were over, a low-scoring match that Sri Lanka won by three wickets at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.

Angelo Mathews, the captain then, is out, as are Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando and Shehan Jayasuriya, though Jayasuriya has been named among the four stand-bys for the 15-member party.

In their place, the players who have been drafted in are wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella, ambidextrous spinner Kamindu Mendis, and fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Lasith Malinga.

Malinga, eight wickets behind Shahid Afridi’s 98 at the top of the list of most wicket-takers in T20I cricket, hasn’t played a T20I since September 2017, and now gets a chance to add to his impressive tally.

The game will be played at the end of the five-match one-day international series between the two sides – England lead 3-0 after four games – and will be followed by three Test matches.

**Squad:**Thisara Perera (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Dishmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan.

***Stand-bys:***Amila Aponso, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shehan Madushanka