da premier bet： Sri Lanka’s five-man selection panel has picked two uncapped players in a14-man squad for the Janashakthi National Test series against Zimbabwestarting next Thursday
Charlie Austin23-Dec-2001Sri Lanka’s five-man selection panel has picked two uncapped players in a14-man squad for the Janashakthi National Test series against Zimbabwestarting next Thursday.Matara born fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, 21, who made his limited oversdebut in Sharjah in October and played in one game during the recentlycompleted LG Abans tri-series, comes into squad in place of fast bowlingall-rounder Suresh Perera.Middle order batsman Chamara Silva is introduced into the squad afterMichael Vandort broke a finger in his left hand whilst training with hisclub. Vandort is expected to be available for selection in time for thesecond Test in Kandy.The 22-year-old right-hander, who has played eight One-Day Internationals,celebrated his call-up with a brilliant century (127 from 118 balls) againstthe Zimbabweans in their three day warm-up game, but will only play in thefirst Test if there is an injury to one of the established top six.Leggie Upul Chandana is left out, partly because he failed to impress duringthe LG Abans series, but also because the selectors, with one eye on theupcoming overseas tours, are keen to return to a fast bowler focusedstrategy during this series.So, left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratillake, who remains in the squaddespite claiming just four wickets in the West Indies series, is unlikely toplay.Nissanka and Charitha Buddika will compete for the third fast bowlers slot,but Buddika, who made his Test debut against West Indies in Galle, remainsthe leading contender with his recent good form and greater reliability.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, RusselArnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Chamara Silva, ThilanSamaraweera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, CharithaBuddika Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Niroshan Bandaratillake