Aravinda de Silva placed on standby for NatWest series

Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka's leading run scorer in Tests and One-Day Internationals, has been put on standby for the NatWest triangular series after a finger injury to Marvan Atapattu.

Atapattu is still awaiting specialist advice to ascertain whether he sustained a fresh fracture on his right index finger or aggravated an old injury on Saturday - either way, his participation in the NatWest triangular series is in doubt.

De Silva, 36, has not played in the one-day side for over 16 months, but his expertise in English conditions and the appointment of a new chairman of selectors, who believes experience will be an important ingredient for success in the 2003 World Cup, has paved the way for his return.

De Silva has played 275 ODIs and scored 8,430 runs during a career spanning 18 years.