COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Tuesday recalled wicket-keeper/batsman Kusal Perera to a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against Australia starting later this month.

Injuries kept Perera out of the New Zealand Test series which Sri Lanka lost 1-0, but he was included in the shorter formats of the game.

He takes his place back in the Test squad for Australia as selectors dropped Danu­shka Gunathilaka over his poor form in New Zealand.

Following the Test defeat, Sri Lanka also lost the just concluded three-match One-day International series to New Zealand 3-0. A one-off T20 International is due to be played on Friday in Auckland.

The first Test against Australia opens on Jan 24 in Brisbane and the second starts on Feb 1 in Canberra.

Squad: Dinesh Chandi­mal (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019