- Italy seek Nations League consistency as Germany continue rebuild
- From boom to budgeting as reality bites for Saudi football
- Stock markets diverge as Hong Kong sinks, oil prices fall
- US trade gap narrowest in five months as imports slip
- Stay and 'you are going to die': Florida braces for next hurricane
- England 96-1 after Salman's century lifts Pakistan to 556
- Hollywood star Idris Elba champions African cinema in Ghana
- Djokovic rolls Cobolli to make Shanghai Masters last 16
- Milan's Hernandez receives two-game suspension after referee rant
- Geoffrey Hinton, soft-spoken godfather of AI
- Ex-Barcelona and Spain great Iniesta retires aged 40
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for 'foundational' AI breakthroughs
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free in 2025 after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China slaps provisional tariffs on EU brandy imports
- Ex-skipper Skelton eyes Wallabies November return
- Spanish great Iniesta leaves indelible legacy after retirement
- Indian Kashmir elects first regional government in a decade
- Hong Kong stocks crash, oil prices retreat on fading China boost
- Man City accuse Premier League of 'misleading' claims after legal case
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for key breakthroughs in AI
- Agha defies England as Pakistan post 515-8 in first Test
- September second-warmest on record: EU climate monitor
- Pastor wanted by US for sex trafficking to run for Philippine senate
- Mozambican writer Mia Couto dreams future leaders set an 'example'
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free soon after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China says to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports
- German suspect in 'Maddie' case cleared in separate sex crimes trial
- Israel expands offensive against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
- China stocks rally fizzles on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Bangladesh's Yunus says no elections before reforms
- England strike twice as Pakistan reach 397-6 at lunch in first Test
- China stocks rally peters out on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Taiwan's Foxconn says building world's largest 'superchip' plant
- Kenya's deputy president faces impeachment vote
- N. Korean soldiers 'highly likely' killed in Ukraine: Seoul
- 'Appeals Centre' to referee EU social media disputes
- US Supreme Court to hear 'ghost guns' regulation case
- 'Small' oil leaks detected in Samoa after NZ navy shipwreck
- Nobel literature jury may go for non-Western writer
- At Istanbul church, blessed spring offers hope to Christians and Muslims
- From Bolivia to Indonesia, deforestation continues apace
- Myanmar to send rep to regional summit for first time in three years
- Prabowo set to lead bolder Indonesia on world stage
- Tampa zoo rushes Chompers the porcupine and others to safety as Milton nears
- Shanghai stocks pare early surge on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- New Japan PM to hold talks on ASEAN sidelines
- Record number of climbers chase 14-peak dream in Tibet
- Former South Korea clinic for US 'comfort women' to be demolished
- China holds off on fresh stimulus but 'confident' will hit growth target
- Chiefs battle past Saints to stay unbeaten
RBGPF | -0.46% | 60.52 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.15% | 6.87 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.04% | 24.58 | $ | |
SCS | -0.62% | 12.87 | $ | |
RELX | 0.9% | 46.459 | $ | |
VOD | -0.28% | 9.663 | $ | |
NGG | 0.29% | 65.67 | $ | |
GSK | -1.02% | 38.24 | $ | |
RIO | -4.93% | 66.35 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.16% | 24.751 | $ | |
BTI | -0.14% | 35.15 | $ | |
JRI | 0.11% | 13.195 | $ | |
BP | -3.61% | 31.985 | $ | |
BCC | 0.49% | 141.96 | $ | |
BCE | -0.51% | 33.36 | $ | |
AZN | -0.09% | 76.8 | $ |
Kamindu Mendis stays down order as Sri Lanka seek to avoid England whitewash
Sri Lanka's in-form Kamindu Mendis is set to stay at number seven in the batting order as his side try to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash by England.
The visitors head into the third Test at The Oval starting Friday already 2-0 down in the series after last week's 190-run loss to England at Lord's, which followed a five-wicket defeat at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old Kamindu Mendis, however, has been a shining light for Sri Lanka, topping their series batting averages with 203 runs, including a century in Manchester, at an impressive average of more than 50.
Initially best known as an ambidextrous spin bowler, the left-handed batsman has now scored three hundreds in his five Tests.
Against England he has generally been batting down the order and despite Sri Lanka's top-order struggles, is likely to stay there.
"If he is scoring runs there, let him score runs at number seven," Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said at The Oval on Thursday.
"We should not upset his momentum as well. We will see whether we can make changes in the future.
"That would be a tough call for him, to ask him to bat early. If he gets out early, the blame will come on me.
"He is doing well at number seven. For now let him play at number seven."
The series may be lost but De Silva said victory, which would end a run of seven straight Test defeats by England, would still be valuable.
"Winning a Test match will be awesome," he explained. "The main thing is we need points for the World Test Championship."
De Silva was speaking before Sri Lanka named their side for the match, with two changes from the team that played across London at Lord's.
Kusal Mendis returns as wicketkeeper and number three batsman after Nishan Madushka, who had the tough job of both opening and being behind the stumps in the second Test, was dropped.
And left-arm paceman Vishwa Fernando was recalled in place of left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka opted for a four-man seam attack.
"If there is left-arm variety, that's great," said De Silva. "It will be handy for the attack. Vishwa has some experience here (playing for Yorkshire)."
England will also have a left-arm quick in their side, with towering 20-year-old Josh Hull given a Test debut.
The 6 feet, 7 inches (2 metres) tall Hull replaces Matthew Potts despite having taken just 16 wickets in 10 first-class matches.
Sri Lanka came across Hull in their lone warm-up match against the second-string England Lions last month, with the rookie quick taking five wickets.
"He was good," said De Silva. "Tall, quick and swinging the ball both ways."
Sri Lanka team:
Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wkt), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando
O.Karlsson--AMWN