Malinga and Dilhara in Sri Lanka Test squad

Chris Dhambarage

The national cricket selectors yesterday recalled speed star Lasith Malinga and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando and left out mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis from the 16 member squad for the home Test series against India which begins on July 18 at the Galle International Stadium.

The national selectors have also dropped pace bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Tilina Thushara and have named three uncapped players namely off spinner Suraj Randiv and two left hand batsmen Thilina Kandamby and Lahiru Thirimanne.

Lasith Malinga played his last Test against England at Galle in 2007 before a knee injury laid him low and forced him out of cricket for nine months.

Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who is due to retire at the end of Galle Test has also been named in the squad along with left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and young off-spinner Suraj Randiv.

The veteran of 132 Tests, Muralitharan needs eight more wickets to reach the magical 800-wicket mark. After the Test in Galle, the action shifts to Colombo where the second Test will be played at the SSC grounds from July 26 and the third and final Test at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval from August 3.

Meanwhile Thilan Samaraweera will captain the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in the three day practice match against India which commences on July 13 at the NCC ground in Maitland Place.

The team also includes first-choice Test wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene and promising batsmen Lahiru Thirimanne, Ashan Priyanjana and Dinesh Chandimal.

The Sri Lanka Test squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan (vice captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Dammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka Welegedara, Lahiru Thirimanne.

The Sri Lanka Board President’s XI: Thilan Samaraweera (captain), Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thilina Kandamby, Prasanna Jayawardene, Ashan Priyanjana, Kaushal Silva, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Chaminda Vidanapathirana, Sachitra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Kusal Janith, Dinesh Chandimal.