Lanka take on National League champs Essex today

CRICKET: The strength of Sri Lanka's one-day squad will depend on how well left-arm fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa recovers from his niggling hamstring injury which kept him out of contention for a place in the third and final cricket Test against England at Trent Bridge which Sri Lanka won by 134 runs.

Although a squad of 14 has been picked for the up-coming Twenty20 International and five one-day Internationals against England, it is most likely that the lanky left-armer is favoured to be part of Sri Lanka's one-day plans.

Zoysa's name did not figure in the 14-member squad released from Colombo early this week but he was named in the Lankan twelve for the third and final Test subject to a fitness test on his injury. He failed to pull through and was left out. Zoysa's progress would be monitored closely in the practice matches and if he pulls through he will be kept as part of the squad.

A request has been made to Colombo for the retention of Zoysa and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene till June 16. Jayawardene is expected to remain in the Sri Lanka squad until the one-day practice matches are over to give regular wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara a rest from his duties.

Sri Lanka have three practice games before their inaugural Twenty20 international match against England at the Rose Bowl on June 15 after which they will go straight into a series of five one-day internationals beginning at Lord's on June 17.

The first of those practice games begins Friday against Essex, the current National League champions at Chelmsford.

The other matches are against Somerset at Taunton on June 11 and against a Players Cricket Association (PCA) Masters XI at Arundel on June 13. Prasanna Jayawardene will leave for home after these matches along with Jehan Mubarak, Michael Vandort, Nuwan Kulasekera and Tilan Samaraweera.

Batsman Russel Arnold and fast bowlers Ruchira Perera and Dilhara Fernando who were expected to arrive here Thursday would replace these players.

Essex is led by former England all-rounder Ronnie Irani and has the Flower brothers from Zimbabwe Andy and Grant. The county is also strengthened by the presence of two former England fast bowlers Darren Gough and Alex Tudor. Alastair Cook who played against Sri Lanka in the recently concluded Test series is also from Essex.