Four promising players to England

Chris DHAMBARAGE

The national cricket selectors headed by Duleep Mendis yesterday recalled four promising players to the Sri Lanka team’s Test tour of England starting next month.

The recalled players are opening batsman Lahiru Thirimanna, wicket keeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal and fast bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep. They will be joined by experienced fast bowler Dilhara Fernando while forming a four prong pace attack. However injured all rounder Angelo Mathews was not considered for selection for this series. Chairman national selectors Duleep Mendis said that Mathews may be sent to England to play in a warm up match before drafting him into the Test squad.Mendis a former Sri Lanka captain also stated that a vice captain was not named for the series but Kumar Sangakkara who resigned recently is expected to take over the reign in the absence of Dilshan.

Mendis believes that Sri Lanka will probably play three fast bowlers and two spinners in the Test series but all depend on the conditions and their current form. Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis are the three spinners in the squad with Thisara Perera as the bowling all rounder. The Sri Lanka team for the Test series against England:

Tillekeratne Dilshan (captain), Tharanga Paranavithana, Lahiru Thirimanna, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardena, Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welagedera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep.