Sri Lanka players back in action after long lay-off

Sri Lanka's leading cricketers will return to action after a 10-week break as the Premier League Limited Over Tournament (PLOT) commences on the weekend.

The first 56-match round of this year's tournament has been crammed into just 16 days. The 16 Premier League teams have been spilt into two groups of eight. The top two in each will qualify for the semi-finals, which along with the final are to be played after the England tour on January 6,7 and 9.

All the national players are expected to participate, giving John Dyson, the new Sri Lanka coach, a good opportunity to see for himself the talent at his disposal as he prepares for England's arrival in November.

Muttiah Muralitharan, once he returns from Kent and assuming he recovers from a groin injury, will take over the club captaincy at Tamil Union. Mahela Jayawardene will lead the Sinahalese Sports Club. Russel Arnold captains Nondescripts CC, but he will miss some of the tournament because of Sri Lanka A's tour to South Africa.

Several players have moved clubs this year. Tamil Union are the most affected having lost Upul Chandana, Malintha Gajanayake and Gayan Wiyekoon. Chandana has joined NCC.

Bloomfield Sports and Athletic Club, lead by Kumar Dharmasena, are the reigning one-day champions.