Fit-again Mendis joins Sri Lanka squad in Bangladesh

Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis joined the squad in Bangladesh Monday after a quick recovery from an ankle injury that was expected to keep him out of the test series.

Mendis, 23, suffered severe soft tissue damage in his right ankle during a domestic game early this month and was replaced by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for the two-test series.

"My ankle is alright now as I am feeling no pain," Mendis told reporters on his arrival in Dhaka Monday.

He is now expected to play in the second test starting in Chittagong Saturday.

Sri Lanka are in command in the first test in Dhaka after taking an overall lead of 406 runs after the third day. Monday is rest day due to parliamentary elections.

The unorthodox finger spinner was declared Man-of-the-Series on his test debut against India in July-August, taking 26 wickets at 18.38 runs apiece to help clinch the three-game series 2-1.

If he plays in Chittagong, it will only be his fourth test.

No missing Mendis | says Mashrafee Mortaza

Vice captain Mashrafee Bin Mortaza says they are relieved that sensational Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis is missing the two Test home series starting on Dec. 26.

"Mendis is now a quite good bowler and his absence must relieve us," Mashrafee said to reporters during the Tigers' first practice session on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Mendis, who grabbed 26 wickets in three matches to help his side to a 2-1 Test series win over India in July-August, was ruled out of squad at the last moment due to knee injury. Rangana Herath replaced him in the 15-member squad.

The Bangladesh pace spearhead, however, believed Sri Lanka still had a good bowling attack with spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan still a big threat.

"There is no Mendis in the Sri Lankan squad, but Muralitharan is still there and he may cause the main problem."

The 25-year-old said they had been working on how to deal with Muralitharan and hoped to play better cricket in home condition.

Off-spinner Muralitharan has grabbed 76 wickets, including 10 five-wicket hauls, in nine Tests against Bangladesh.

Mashrafee said his side needed to do better in batting, bowling and fielding.

"We could not continue with the performance we had put up against New Zealand at home to South Africa last month, but this time we are confident of doing well against Sri Lanka.

"We first think of whether we can win the Test. For this, we need do well in four innings with both the bat and the ball.

"If we can play well in two innings, then we can go close to them, but it is not possible to win the match without doing better in all four innings," said Mashrafee.

He praised left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan for the way he was coming up.

"He has been bowling consistently since the World Cup in the West Indies as he pitches the ball in specific areas as [Mohammed Rafique] did and it is probably the reason for his success."

Ajantha Mendis out of Bangladesh tests

An ankle injury has forced star spinner Ajantha Mendis out of Sri Lanka's squad to tour Bangladesh this month, Sri Lanka Cricket said on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was picked as a replacement for Mendis in a 15-member squad for the two Tests starting December 26.

However, Mendis will play in a three nation one-day international tournament involving Zimbabwe as the third team, the statement said.

Mendis made his debut for Sri Lanka this year and had quickly established himself as a strike bowler in both Tests and limited overs cricket.

In July he broke a 62-year record for the most number of wickets in a three-match debut series, beating England's Alec Bedser's previous best of 24 wickets.

Herath, who has taken 35 wickets in 13 Tests, played his last Test against the West Indies in March.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Malinda Warnapura , Michael Vandort Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardena, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Dammika Prasad, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara.