Vaas declared fit for England tour

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

CRICKET: Sri Lanka team physio Tommy Simsek said that fast bowler Chaminda Vaas would be fit for the tour of England later this month, but questions marks remained on the fitnesses of skipper Marvan Atapattu and fast bowler Ruchira Perera.

All three players missed out on the recently concluded one-day international and Test series against Pakistan at home due to injury.

Vaas (32) suffered a strain on his left side, but according to Simsek has return to full fitness and would be available for selection for the England tour. He said that Vaas had begun to bowl with his full run up and was back to full fitness.

Without Vaas, Sri Lanka struggled in the two-Test series against Pakistan, which they lost 0-1 (1 drawn) where the pitches at the SSC and at Kandy would have suited his style of left-arm seam bowling.

Vaas is the second highest wicket-taker for his country after Muttiah Muralitharan with over 600 wickets in both forms of the game.

Simsek said that Atapattu had got a big disc bulge that when it touches his nerve gave him great discomfort.

"With time the bulge becomes a little smaller and the pressure on the nerve ceases. He is presently undergoing treatment for it and we are hoping it will be successful. But there is no guarantee," said Simsek.

"This happens to people between the ages of 50-60 but in Marvan's case it is due to wear and tear. He is improving slowly, but if he doesn't respond to the treatment he may need surgery. We should get a better picture of his condition within the next couple of weeks," he said.

Atapattu (35) has been playing international cricket since 1990 and has appeared for his country in 88 Tests and 252 one-day internationals.

Left-arm fast bowler Perera has yet to recover from a recurring hamstring injury.

"Ruchira needs to rehabilitate the injury very thoroughly. He is getting better but is not 100 percent fit. He might have to pass a fitness test by early next week," said the Melbourne based Simsek who holds a masters in sports physiotherapy.

Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma said that he expected a report on the injuries from Simsek on Monday (April 6), the day the selection committee is expected to meet to pick a squad of 16 players for the three-Test series against England. He said a separate squad would be picked for the five one-day internationals that will follow the Tests.

The Test series starts at Lord's on May 11 followed by the one-day series also starting at Lord's from June 17.

Kaluperuma said that in the case of Atapattu they would leave their options open till until at least April 16 to ascertain his fitness. He said the squad would be picked with Atapattu subject to fitness. The team is due to leave for England on April 19.

In Atapattu's absence Mahela Jayawardene led the team in the series against Pakistan where Sri Lanka lost 0-2 in the one-dayers and 0-1 in the Tests.

With Sanath Jayasuriya announcing his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the Pakistan series and doubts centering on the fitness of Atapattu, Sri Lanka may find themselves going to England with a totally inexperienced opening pair of batsmen.

They will have to pick at least three for the Test series and those in the running apart form Atapattu are Upul Tharanga (5 Tests), Jehan Mubarak (7 Tests), Michael van Dort (4 Tests) and Ian Daniel (no Tests). Following Jayasuriya's retirement Van Dort has been drafted into the 25-member pool.

Jayasuriya (36) who cut and dislocated his right thumb while fielding in the second Test against Pakistan at Kandy is expected to be fit in time for the one-day series against England. Sri Lanka's highest run-getter in both versions of the game has earmarked the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean for his farewell appearance from international cricket.

Sri Lanka's young all-rounder Farveez Maharoof is also recovering from a chest infection, which troubled him during the Pakistan second innings at Kandy. Simsek said that Maharoof was on antibiotics and that he was recovering well.