Dimuth and Lahiru Kumara for Monday’s Aussie game

It’s been a tough two days in office for the Sri Lanka team as they were at the receiving end of heavy defeats in their first couple of games.

In the second game, Pakistan successfully chased down a record total, reaching 345 for the loss of only four wickets. This left Sri Lanka in a tough position with seven more games to go in the tournament.

However, Perera has failed to fire at the top, scoring only 24 runs in last five games since coming back to the side following injury. In his last two games at the World Cup, Perera had scores of 7 and 0 and is said to have a fitness issue.

Meanwhile speedster Lahiru Kumara who returned to the World Cup side, having missed the Asia Cup through injury, was not considered for the first two games.

The toss up is between him and Kasun Rajitha because left-armer Dilshan Madushanka has been impressive so far in the tournament.

Thrown into the deep end at the young age of 20, Pathirana felt the effect of high-octane international cricket with some brutal batting in the first two games. He conceded as many as 185 runs off the 19 overs he bowled against South Africa and Pakistan.

Mendis missed the entire second half of the match on Tuesday, as he was taken to the hospital due to cramps and breathing difficulties following his record-breaking knock.

The training is to resume on Saturday ahead of the Monday’s clash against the Australians.

 (Champika Fernando in Lucknow, India)