Sri Lankan selectors draft in six players for one-day series
Charlie Austin - 14 November 2002
Sri Lanka's selectors have drafted in six fresh players for the five-match
one-day series against South Africa that follows the second Castle Lager/MTN
Test at Centurion starting Friday.
As expected, veteran batsman Aravinda de Silva, who retired from Test cricket
in October, joins the 16-man squad along with one-day specialists Upul
Chandana and Pulasthi Gunaratne, both of whom were in the ICC Champions
Trophy squad.
Off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera is called up as a replacement
for Muttiah Muralitharan, who will undergo a hernia operation shortly after
final Test and will be out of action for between four and six weeks.
Avishka Gunawardene, a powerful left-handed opening batsman discarded after
Sri Lanka's tour of England, earns a recall as a straight replacement for
Sanath Jayasuriya, who injured ligaments in his right ankle on Tuesday and
is doubtful for the early games.
In the pace bowling department, the final place goes to 22-year-old Prabath
Nissanka, who won the last of his four caps in December 2001 and gets
another chance after his impressive form in this year's domestic
competition.
Kumar Sangakkara is the only specialist wicket-keeper in the squad. Jehan
Mubarak will deputise if he is injured.
Chairman of the selectors, Guy de Alwis, currently in South Africa with the
team, said: "We have a picked a balanced side. This series will be a good
test for the youngsters. We are looking particularly closely at the fast
bowlers as we look forward to the Australian series and the World Cup."
Fast bowlers Sujeewa de Silva, Tharanga Lakshitha, Thilan Thushara Mirando
and Ruchira Perera all return home, along with left-handed middle order
batsman Hashan Tillakaratne and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
The players are due to arrive in South Africa on Monday.
Sri Lanka have one practice game in Potchefstroom before ODIs in
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Benoni, Kimberly and Bloemfontein.
Full squad:
Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold,
Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Avishka Gunawardene,
Hasantha Fernando, Upul Chandana, Thilan Samaraweera, Pulasthi Gunaratne,
Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage Lakshitha, Prabath Nissanka
© CricInfo
