Jayasuriya recovers from injury

CRICKET: Seasoned campaigner Sanath Jayasuriya looked set to return to the Sri Lanka side from a thigh injury and will open the innings with fellow left-hander Upul Tharanga in the first cricket Test against Pakistan starting at the SSC grounds tomorrow.

Jayasuriya missed out on the three-match one-day series due to injury but his recovery will give the wobbly Sri Lankan batting order the much needed experience and strength to counter the experienced Pakistani attack.

Although Jayasuriya has come through Sri Lanka will still be without fast bowler Chaminda Vaas who has yet to recover from a side strain.

Sri Lanka's main selection dilemma is whether to play a specialst batsman at no. 7 (Chamara Kapugedera) or an all-rounder (Farveez Maharoof).

It is more likely they will go with a conventional line up of six batsmen and five bowlers which would then lessen the workload on champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

With a fit Jayasuriya the Sri Lankan squad will be trimmed down to 15 ahead of the Test match with Ian Daniel, Vaas and Dammika Prasad being released from the provisional squad of 18.

Sri Lanka's likely line up for the first Test is: Jayasuriya, Tharanga, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Dilshan, Samaraweera, Maharoof (or Kapugedera), Bandara, Fernando, Muralitharan and Malinga. - [S.T.]