Sri Lanka squad - Twenty20 & NatWest Series 2011

Tillakaratne Dilshan, captain
Appointed captain after Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to stand down, Dilshan is the man charged with shaping Sri Lanka’s fortunes. It is as a batsman, however, that he remains best known, and there are few international bowlers who have been spared by one of the most devastating strokemakers around.

Thilina Kandamby, vice-captain
Viewed by many in his homeland as an unfulfilled talent, Kandamby had won 33 one-day caps in seven years when he was recalled to the limited-overs squad - as vice-captain, no less - for the tour of England. A left-handed batsman who also bowls serviceable leg-spin, he will be keen to seize the opportunity.

Kumar Sangakkara
One of the finest batsmen Sri Lanka has produced, and amongst the best of those currently playing the game regardless of nationality, Sangakkara has combined elegance, productivity and reliability during more than a decade at the top. His statistics are nothing short of incredible, and that is before you even consider the value he adds as a wicketkeeper.

Sanath Jayasuriya
Despite knowing he would turn 42 during the NatWest Series, the Sri Lanka selectors saw Jayasuriya as the temporary solution to their top-order problems. His pedigree is beyond doubt: more than 21,000 international runs stretching back to 1989. Whether he is still capable of the sort of explosive hitting that helped redefine the boundaries of one-day cricket remains to be seen.

Mahela Jayawardene
Jayawardene remains the most classical of batsman. He has grown immeasurably as a one-day player in recent years - witness his sublime century in the World Cup final - and is living proof that there is room for touch and technique in the muscle-laden modern limited-overs game.

Dimuth Karunaratne
Karunaratne, a left-handed batsman who progressed through the Under-19 and Sri Lanka A ranks to win a place in the senior limited-overs squad, headed to England having scored three centuries in 10 matches for Sinhalese Sports Club in Sri Lanka’s domestic first-class competition. He also bowls occasional medium-pace.

Dinesh Chandimal
Chandimal, 21, is a wicketkeeper who has scored heavily for Sri Lanka Under-19s as well as in domestic cricket. He hit a maiden first-class century against New Zealand at the age of the 19, but his one-day international experience heading into the England tour was limited to a week’s worth of games in Zimbabwe last year.

Jeevan Mendis
A leg-spinning all-rounder, Mendis attracted attention when he claimed the man-of-the-tournament award at the 2001 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. His career subsequently stalled at Sinhalese Sports Club, but a move to Tamil Union sparked a revival and he won his first ODI cap against Zimbabwe last June.

Thisara Perera
Perera has enjoyed considerable success since breaking into Sri Lanka’s limited-overs team at the end of 2009. He bowls no more than brisk seamers but is capable of fireworks with the bat, as evidenced by a strike-rate of 122.81. He made his Test debut against England in the opening npower Test at Cardiff.

Angelo Mathews
Mathews is regarded by many - not least illustrious team-mate Kumar Sangakkara - as the future of Sri Lankan cricket, although injuries have stalled his progress lately. A skilful seam bowler capable of operating with the new ball and at the end of the innings, a meaty middle-order batsman and an athletic fielder, he is not lacking in all-round credentials.

Dilhara Fernando
Fernando is the most experienced member of Sri Lanka’s attack in the absence of the retired Muttiah Muralitharan, yet many feel the paceman has never quite fulfilled his potential. A series of injuries, including two stress fractures of the back, have hampered his career, but he is now in favour again after being overlooked for the World Cup. England will be wary of his well-disguised slower ball.

Suranga Lakmal
A tall seamer capable of generating plentiful bounce, Lakmal is looking to establish himself in the Sri Lanka set-up. The 24-year-old has shown glimpses of his ability in the npower Test series against England but now faces the challenge of bringing additional consistency to his game.

Lasith Malinga
One of the most feared bowlers in the international game, Malinga can now concentrate solely on the shorter forms after retiring from Test cricket this year. His slingy action allows him to deliver yorkers with almost unparalleled accuracy and he is sure to be key to Sri Lanka’s hopes this summer.

Nuwan Kulasekera
Kulasekara topped the ICC ODI bowling rankings in March 2009, but struggled to find his best form in the recent World Cup and conceded 64 runs from 8.2 wicketless overs in the final defeat to India. However, he remains one of his country’s more reliable seamers and averages almost a wicket a game in one-day internationals.

Ajantha Mendis
Mendis’ star has fallen gradually since he shot on to the international scene amid much hyperbole three years ago. His mixture of off-breaks, leg-breaks and the fabled ‘carrom ball’, all delivered with an unorthodox action and flick of the fingers, are no longer the mystery they once were, and his experience of English conditions this summer – for both club and country – has been far from encouraging.

Suraj Randiv
A tall, canny off-spinner who has featured heavily for Sri Lanka since making his debut in late 2009, Randiv’s standing is reflected in the fact he was preferred to Ajantha Mendis for the World Cup final in April. He relies on accuracy and variations in flight rather than excessive turn, while an ODI fifty suggests he is no rabbit with the bat.