Selectors pick best to face England

Mathews fit and returns to strengthen side:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

The good news for Sri Lanka is that vice captain Angelo Mathews has been passed fit and will be in line for selection to play against England in the First of Two Test matches beginning at the Galle International Stadium on Monday.

Mathews suffered a calf injury on the tour of Australia, but for the good of Sri Lanka cricket, has recovered and he will add the necessary muscle to the team.

The selectors comprising Asantha de Mel, (chairman), Amal Silva,Hemantha Wickremaratne and Don Anurasiri met on Thursday night and picked a 14-member squad from which Captain Mahela Jaywardena and Coach Graham Ford will pick the final 11 after a look at the wicket and the conditions on the morning of the match.

Now that Mathews will be available, he will do well not to bowl,but to concentrate on his batting and fielding. If he attempts to bowl, he could aggravate the injury and do damage to his career that promises a lot.

Mathews 24, is a punishing batsman. When in the mood he can take any attack apart with his power packed stroke play.

As a fielder he is one of the best going in the business and could be an inspiration to the other fielders. He is important to the team as vice captain, batsman and fielder and it is hoped that he realizes this. It is also satisfying to note the return of wicket keeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardena. He is back after surgery and should strengthen the middle batting and is safe behind the wickets.

The Lankans have been playing a surfeit of one-day cricket.Test cricket is a different ball game and the selectors have picked a squad that could deliver in the longer version of the game.

Off spinner Suraj Randiv also returns. He had not been in the one-day teams. He is better suited for Test cricket and is likely to be in the playing eleven. Left arm paceman Chamara Welegedera who did not get a game in Australia also returns and is likely to share the new ball.

Right hand, heavy scoring batsman Thilan Samaraweera has also been recalled and will prop the middle order.

He has the ideal temperament and technique for this style of game and should make big scores in the Two Tests.

Opener Tharanga Paranavitarne also comes back and will be Tillakaratne Dilshan’s opening partner. With the wicket likely to favour spin, it is best that the Lankans go in with two pacemen, two spinners, six batsmen and a wicket keeper in Prasanna Jayawardna who could also bat.

Sri Lanka squad:

The 14-member squad: Mahela Jayawarena (C), Angelo Mathews (VC), Tillakartne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitarne, Kumar Sangakkara,Thilan Samaraweera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Prasanna Jayawardena, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welagedera, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal.