Captain Dinesh Chandimal is confident Sri Lanka will recover from a two-nil Test series whitewash at the hands of Australia, come this month’s visit to South Africa.

The Sri Lankans were heavily defeated in Brisbane and Canberra – and will soon arrive in South Africa for two Tests in Durban and Port Elizabeth.

‘We are a young team and always learning how to play, especially in these tough conditions. We will bounce back in South Africa,’ said Chandimal.

‘I mean, these are three tough tours, we have finished two and now South Africa. South Africa is similar to these conditions and with very good bowlers. We know that as a team we have to play in tough conditions and we need to adjust to those conditions and step up as a team.

‘We all know what went wrong as a team and I’m sure the boys will learn from that and they will come good in South Africa.’

The tourists fielded a relatively inexperienced XI in Australia, after seamers Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep – and all-rounder Angelo Mathews – were sidelined by injuries.

‘If you get the chance to play for your country, you have to take it with both hands. Now as a team, we have to step up,’ added Chandimal.

‘In our young group, some of them have played more than 30 Tests, so that means they are still very young, but in the international arena they are really experienced. So now this is the time to play your game and play for your team.’

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