Sri Lanka have left out spinning all-rounder Dunith Wellalage for the upcoming three-match T20I series in New Zealand, starting next week. It is the only change from the Lankan squad that faced New Zealand at home in their previous bilateral assignment. That series featured a 17-man squad for Sri Lanka who have named a 16-member touring party for the return T20I series.

Charith Asalanka continues to lead the side, which has a good mix of pace and spin in their team balance. All-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who debuted in the last series, retains his pace by being the lone seam-bowling all-rounder in the squad. It was arguably the competition for this spot that saw Wellalage being left out, given the nature of conditions in New Zealand.

The prominent all-rounder in the squad, Wanindu Hasaranga leads the spin unit alongside Maheesh Theekshana and leggie Jeffrey Vandersay. Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana and Asitha Fernando head the pace department with tall left-arm pacer Binura Fernando being the support option.

The first two T20Is of the series will be played on December 28 and 30 respectively, at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, while the final game will be held at Saxton Oval, Nelson. The T20Is will be followed by a three-match ODI series between the two sides.

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal. Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana.

Australia and India will go into the Boxing Day Test level on the scoreline after the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw after more bad weather reduced play on the fifth day to just 24.1 overs. The decision was made shortly after the Tea break, which was advanced as players went off the field due to poor light and impending rain. India were 8 for 0 in the fourth innings after being set to get 275 in about 54 overs.

In all, the Gabba Test saw only 216.1 overs of action, which, in normal circumstances, should have been midway through the third day of the Test. But the game was severely affected by the weather right from the get go with only 13.2 overs of play possible on Day 1, and just 33.1 on the third day. Australia still found themselves windows to push for a series lead after they racked up 445 in their first innings and had India down to 74 for 5 in response.

The visitors though were rescued by the weather, and the fact that Australia were down to just two frontline fast bowlers after Josh Hazlewood pulled up with a calf strain. They were also bailed out by crucial half-centuries from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja as well as a dogged and rousing 47-run 10th wicket stand between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah that helped the visitors avoid the follow-on late on Day 4.

Australia still tried to turn their overall dominance into a win that was constantly being thwarted by the elements. In a manic post-lunch session on the final after only four overs were possible in the morning, their batters tried to go hard at the bowling and in the process even allowed India a little peek at an outlandish victory. After Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja for the fourth time in the series by ratting his stumps from around the wicket, India quickly reduced the hosts to 33 for 5 as Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj got among the wickets against Australian batters happy to swing for the fences.

Travis Head and Alex Carey added a quickfire 27-run partnership off 22 balls before Pat Cummins clubbed two sixes and as many fours in his 10-ball 22. Ultimately it came down to how many overs Australia thought was enough to force a result with their three-man attack. They eventually declared at 89/7. But India’s openers serenely saw off 2.1 overs before bad light forced the players off for one last time in the Test.

Brief scores:
Australia 445 (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101; Jasprit Bumrah 6-76) and  89/7 dec. (Pat Cummins 22; Jasprit Bumrah 3-18) drew with India 260 (KL Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 77; Pat Cummins 4-81) and 8/0.