Sri Lanka recall Mendis, Gunathilaka for Aussie tour

Top-order batters Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka have returned from their suspensions to make Sri Lanka's 20-player squad for the Dettol T20 Series against Australia.

The duo, along with Niroshan Dickwella, copped a 12-month ban last year for breaching the team's bio-bubble anti-coronavirus protocols during their tour of England in July.

They were caught on camera during a night out in Bristol in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK last year.

Their suspensions were lifted earlier this month and Mendis and Gunathilaka were included in the Dasun Shanaka-led squad which will play five Twenty20 matches across three venues in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Eleven of the 15 players chosen for last year's T20 World Cup were retained.

Only Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Akila Dananjaya are missing.

De Silva pulled out of the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe after his wife gave birth to their first child, while Perera was also absent due to injury.

Rajapaksa retired from international cricket in January citing family commitments, but there was speculation the 30-year-old was unhappy with the new fitness benchmarks he would have to meet.

In a bizarre twist, Rajapaksa backflipped on his retirement decision a week later, saying he wants to play for the national team for years to come, but was not selected.

Sri Lanka have been without a head coach since Mickey Arthur's two-year stint ended last month.

Reports suggest Englishman Paul Farbrace will be named as coach ahead of the team's India tour in February-March.

Australia named their 16-man T20 squad on Tuesday, with David Warner and Mitchell Marsh the biggest omissions to allow the pair to rest up ahead of the multi-format tour of Pakistan.

The T20 series against Sri Lanka begins on February 11 at the SCG. Australia beat Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup on the way to winning the title. 

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando

February 11: First T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 13: Second T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 15: Third T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT

February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand