Murali to play for Lancashire vs Sri Lanka 'A' (25 June 1999)

25 June 1999

Murali to play for Lancashire vs Sri Lanka 'A'

Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is set to play for Lancashire in the English county's four-day match against the visiting Sri Lanka 'A' team to be played from July 9 to 12.

It will be interesting to see what tactics Lancashire coach Dave Whatmore adopts against Sri Lanka 'A'.

Muralitharan, who became only the second Sri Lankan Test cricketer to play English county cricket after Aravinda de Silva (who play for Kent with distinction), has already made his presence felt.

The world's best off break bowler has so far captured 24 wickets in just two matches for Lancashire.

Apart from this game, Sri Lanka 'A' are down to play another two important games - a one day match against the World Cup semi finalists New Zealand on July 7 and a five-day game against ICC associate member Denmark from August 4 to 8.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka 'A' team will play a total of 13 matches during their seven-week tour of England starting early next month. Naweed Nawaz is tipped to lead Sri Lanka 'A' team which will be touring England from July 2 to August 21.

The tour will give Sri Lanka an ideal opportunity to test their future national prospects under English conditions. The Lankan second X1 cricketers will be playing a series of matches against some of the leading English counties.

The itinerary include six four day matches against Lancashire (July 9-12), Essex (July 21-24), Gloucestershire (July 30- August 2), Worcestershire (August 10-13) and MCC (August 17-20), their final match on tour.

Sri Lanka 'A' will open their tour of England with a three-day game against a strong England Cricket Board side from July 4 to 6. The visiting side will also play four more one day limited over matches against Gloucestershire (July 19), Durham (July 26), FCC Select X1 (July 28) and Somerset (August 15).

Since this tour will go on until August 21, it is unlikely that Sri Lanka could field any of its national level cricketers who stand in line for selection of the 15-member Sri Lanka team for the Triangular home series against India and the new World champions Australia to be played from August 22 to 31.

But the future Test prospects for Sri Lanka could be tested during the tour of England as the three-Test series between Australia and Sri Lanka will be played in September.

Source :: The Daily News