Cricket: Perera dropped for ODI series against NZ

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara is back in favour, but opening batsman Kusal Perera is not for Sri Lanka. Photo / Getty Images.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara is back in favour, but opening batsman Kusal Perera is not for the seven-game ODI series against New Zealand starting next week.

Kulasekara's last ODI, his 159th, involved being flayed by Indian Rohit Sharma en route to his fantastic 264 when he took one for 89 off nine overs on November 13 in Kolkata.

However decent domestic form in Sri Lanka has won him back his spot.

Perera is not so lucky. He has been struggling for runs and patience has worn out.

Dimuth Karunaratne, who hit his maiden test hundred in Christchurch, has been preferred.

Although that was a slow, conscientious crawl, made necessary by the state of the match, lefthander Karunaratne has a reputation for scoring at a good clip.

Key fast-medium bowler Lasith Malinga is also in the squad, but likely only to figure in the second half as he continues his return from ankle surgery.

It is expected, barring injury, this will be Sri Lanka's squad for the World Cup, which must be named before the New Zealand series starts, which is in Christchurch on January 11.

Sri Lankan squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga (subject to fitness), Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Shaminda Eranga.