Sri Lanka selected ambidextrous cricketer Kamindu Mendis for the one-off T20 against England on Monday.
The hosts face the Englishmen in the T20 in Colombo on Saturday and are almost certain to field Mendis, who has already played against the opponents in a warm-up match in the ongoing tour.
Playing for SL Board XI, Mendis first made 61 from 72 balls before showcasing his ability to deliver both right-arm off-breaks and slow left-armers, doing so in mid-over.
After that warm-up match, England all-rounder Moeen Ali said it was incredible to see a player manage that at the higher levels of the game.
“I’ve never seen someone do that live but it’s great and fantastic for the game,” Moeen said of Mendis.
“It’s amazing he was so accurate with both arms and really it will be the way cricket is going to go. I’ve tried bowling left-arm but I was so bad…you just don’t have that same feel.
“You hear rumours about these guys being around but for him to bowl to that standard and be that good is fantastic.”
Mendis has mainly been picked for his lower-order striking abilities with his bowling seen as a bonus. The team selected for the T20 is led by all-rounder Thisara Perera and also sees the return of veteran pacer Lasith Malinga.
Sri Lanka T20 squad: Thisara Perera (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Akila Dhananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep
