SL vs NZ 2024: Sanath Jayasuriya explains reason behind Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis’ change in batting position

Veteran Sri Lanka batter Dinesh Chandimal has been promoted to No. 3 in the first Test against New Zealand in Galle. Kusal Mendis, who made the position his own in the last couple of years, has been demoted to No. 7. Explaining the reason behind the move, interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya noted that Chandimal won’t be keeping in Test cricket anymore and instead will have a bigger responsibility of batting at three.

He mentioned that the team management did not want Chandimal to keep wickets for longer spells and then go out to bat at a critical position. Mendis has been trusted with the keeper’s role, which is why he has been asked to bat lower down the order. Jayasuriya stated that the goal is to give the keeper plenty of time to recover for batting sessions and believes that it suits their batting combination as well.

“Chandimal won't keep, and that's the team's decision. We had to figure out who will come out at No. 3, and it's very tough for a No. 3 batter to keep wickets. Chandimal has taken the responsibility to bat at No. 3, and he's doing that for the team and for the country. We have to look after him and give him that confidence,” Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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“We talked a lot about how we go about this, because it's a complicated decision. We talked to Chandimal. Moving him up meant we had to bring someone else into the middle order. If we can bring a wicketkeeper to the lower middler order, that's the best for this team in terms of balance,” he added.

We can only play two quicks' - Sanath Jayasuriya on Milan Rathnayake's exclusion

Pacer Milan Rathnayake, who has done extremely well for Sri Lanka in the three-match series against England, has been dropped from the playing XI against New Zealand. Explaining the move, Jayasuriya mentioned that the team can afford to play only two seamers and added that he has personally spoken to Milan justifying the reason of him missing out.

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“We have to mention Milan specifically, because the things he did on his first tour should be appreciated. He played like a mature cricketer. Unfortunately, we can't bring Milan into this XI. We can only play two quicks. Everyone knows what the Galle pitch is like. We already have filled those spots with our two best quicks: Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara. But Milan doesn't go out of the side having done anything wrong. I've spoken to him personally and impressed on him that these are the reasons, so that he knows for sure,” Jayasuriya said.