Sri Lanka are unlikely to make major changes from the line-up which played in the three one day internationals in India last month. Sri Lanka are likely to have fast bowler Chaminda Vaas who was suffering from flu. Twenty-year-old right-hand batsman Mahela Jayawardene who made an unbeaten 87 in yesterday's match will make his one day international debut if Sri Lanka decide to go for an extra batsmen. If Sri Lanka decides to have another specialised slow bowler, they will drop Jayawardena and play Upul Chandana. Sajeeva de Silva and Kumara Dharmasena will also return to the side after being overlooked for the second Test. Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga who was nursing a back injury is expected to undergo a late fitness test, but the chances are that he will play tomorrow.
* Vice captain Aravinda De Silva heads the batting averages of the recent two-test series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The Lankan vice captain aggregated 249 runs in four innings with an average of 124.50.
De Silva scored one century and a fifty. In the second place of the Sri Lanka batting honours list is Marvan Atapattu (277 runs averaging 92.33 - one double century) and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga (166 runs averaging 83.00 with two half centuries). But the rest of the Lankan batsmen failed. Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillakaratne and Sanath Jayasuriya painted a poor picture. However Jayasuriya returned to firm in the last of his four innings scoring 68 runs. Andy Flower, the only centurion for the visitors, was the boost outstanding batsman for Zimbabwe. He aggregated 188 runs with an average of 62.66. Murrey Goodwin was placed second in the Zimbabwe batting averages list (184 runs - ave.46.00), followed by Gavin Rennie (139 - 34.75).
* Sri Lanka's ace off spinner Muttiah Muralithan had a rich haul of 17 wickets to become the best bowler at the recent two-Test series against Zimbabwe. His outstanding performance won him the man of the series award as the home team won the series 2-0. Muralitharan's 17 wickets cost him only 262 runs averaging 15.41. He has now taken a total of 152 Test wickets. In the second place of the Sri Lanka's bowling averages is Jayantha Silva who got just three wickets with an average 20.66. Don Anurasiri and Chaminda Vaas had four wickets each while Ravindra Pushpakumara bagged five wickets. Paceman Heath Straek was the most successive bowler from the Zimbabwe camp. he heads their bowling averages with 10 wickets (ave. 21.20). Paul Strang had seven wickets.
* Maristonian Dhammika Gunawardena hit a fine century in their drawn schools cricket match with Isipatana at the BRC grounds, Havelock Park. In reply to Isipatana's 260 for 7 declared, Maris Stella made 210 and Isipatana in their second turn, were 61 for 2 at close.
Chief scores: Isipatana: 260 for 7 declared. and 61 for 2 at close (Milinda Wickremesinghe 21, Gayan Randiligama 17). Maris Stella: _ 210 all out (Dhammika Gunawardena 100, Gayan Mendis 3 for 33, Gayan Randiligama 3 for 34, Krishantha Jayawardene 2 for 38, Nilantha Atpattu 2 for 8).
* Sri Lanka Test opener Marvan Atapattu will lead Sri Lanka 'A' in the first four-day unofficial cricket Test against England 'A' starting at the Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala on January 30. Atapattu, a regular opener of the Sri Lanka national team, scored a monumental double century to set up Sri Lanka's eight-wicket win in the first Test against Zimbabwe at Kandy.
This is not the first time that Atapattu is leading a Sri Lanka 'A' team. He captained Sri Lanka 'A' in the series against West Indies 'A' in 1996-97. The national selectors will review the situation from thereon before appointing a captain for the rest of the series. England 'A' are scheduled to play two other 4-day unofficial Tests at Kandy (from February 6-9) and Matara (February 19-22) in addition to three unofficial one-day internationals.