Jayawardene to miss third ODI

Mahela Jayawardene is unavailable for the third ODI against England, in Hambantota on Wednesday, after requesting the match off for personal reasons, Sri Lanka Cricket said.

Jayawardene did not travel out of Colombo with the team, and has been replaced in the squad by Ashan Priyanjan, the 25-year-old right-hander who had been in Sri Lanka's squad for the recent tour of India.

Batsman Thilina Kandamby, the 32-year-old who has not played an ODI since 2011, is also in contention to replace Jayawardene in the middle order.

Team manager Michael de Zoysa said Jayawardene would be back for the fourth ODI in Colombo in Sunday "if he is picked".

Jayawardene has two fifties in the series so far, and won the man-of-the-match award for his unbeaten 77 from 80 balls last Sunday which gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Sri Lanka's current squad is only in effect for the first three ODIs. The selectors may make changes following the Hambantota game.