COLOMBO — Sri Lanka pace spearhead Lasith Malinga is recovering well from his ankle surgery and should be back in action during the later stages of the One-Day International series in New Zealand next month, according to coach Marvan Atapattu. The mercurial Malinga underwent surgery on his left ankle in September and missed the team's one-day series against India and England. The 31-year-old, whose yorkers delivered with a sling-shot action at times makes him almost unplayable, will be crucial for Sri Lanka's chances in the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. “Malinga is still recovering from surgery and everything is going well according to plan,” former Sri Lanka batsman Atapattu said. “He will return for the last two ODI games in New Zealand.” Malinga, who has taken 271 wickets in 177 ODIs, has been named in Sri Lanka's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup. Sri Lanka, which finished runner-up to India at the 2011 World Cup, will play seven one-dayers in New Zealand to warm up for the Feb. 14-March 29 tournament. The Island nation will also play two warm-up matches, against South Africa and Zimbabwe, before its opening match of the tournament against co-host New Zealand on Feb. 14. WI adds Deonarine to squad Left-handed batsman Narsingh Deonarine has been added to the West Indies Test squad for the final two matches in South Africa, the country's cricket board has announced. Deonarine comes in for Assad Fudadin, who fractured a finger in the warm-ups ahead of the first Test in Pretoria that ended in an innings and 220-run defeat for the tourists Saturday. Deonarine, 31, also a right-arm off-spin bowler, has played 18 Tests, the last of which in New Zealand a year ago. The second Test starts in Port Elizabeth Friday, with the final game to be played in Cape Town from Jan. 2. — Reuters
