Sri Lanka Test Squad: Seven new faces (6 August 1999)
Sri Lanka 'A' team cricketers, batsman Tuwan Dilshan, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, fast bowler Indika Gallage and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene along with Russel Arnold, Nimesh Perera and Suresh Perera were named in the 16-member squad
06-Aug-1999
6 August 1999
Sri Lanka Test Squad: Seven new faces
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka 'A' team cricketers, batsman Tuwan Dilshan, left-arm
spinner Rangana Herath, fast bowler Indika Gallage and wicket-keeper
Prasanna Jayawardene along with Russel Arnold, Nimesh Perera and
Suresh Perera were named in the 16-member squad announced by the
national selection committee for the three Test series against
Australia starting at Kandy on September 9.
All seven players merited recognition having shown excellent form
with both bat and ball on the present tour of England.
Dilshan, a 22-year-old right-hand bat/wicket-keeper from
Sebastianites in particular, has been outstanding scoring two
centuries on the tour.
The selectors retained veteran cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga and
Aravinda de Silva in the Test squad, but there was no place for two
other experienced stars Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillekeratne who
don't figure in the one-day squad either.
Left-arm fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa finds a place in both squads.
Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Marvan Atapattu,
Arnold, Nimesh Perera, Muthiah Muralitharan, Suresh Perera, Chaminda
Vaas, and Romesh Kaluwitharana, are the other players who figure in
both one-day and Test squads.
In picking two squads, chairman of selectors Sidath Wettimuny stated:
"Having two squads will make a broader pool of resources available
for selection in the different types of games that we will encounter
going forward".
The selection committee has made full use of the Sri Lanka 'A' team's
tour of England by selecting ten of its 15 members for the one-day
and Test series at home.
These players are expected to fly home by August 14 to prepare
themselves for the two series. They will be replaced in the Sri Lanka
'A' team for the final two matches in England by Singha SC batsman
Saman Jayantha and Colts all-rounder Bathiya Perera.
Sri Lanka Squad
Squad of 16 for 3-Test Series v Australia
Sanath Jayasuriya (captain, 30 years, Bloomfield),
Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain, 22, SSC),
Marvan Atapattu (28, SSC),
Aravinda de Silva (33, NCC),
Russel Arnold (25, NCC),
Arjuna Ranatunga (35, SSC),
Tuwan Dilshan (22, Sebastianites),
Rangana Herath (21, Moors SC),
Nimesh Perera (22, Sebastianites),
Muthiah Muralitharan (27, Tamil Union),
Suresh Perera (21, SSC),
Chaminda Vaas (25, Colts),
Romesh Kaluwitharana (29, Colts),
Nuwan Zoysa (21, SSC),
Indika Gallage (23, CCC),
Prasanna Jayawardene (19, NCC).
Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain, 22, SSC),
Marvan Atapattu (28, SSC),
Aravinda de Silva (33, NCC),
Russel Arnold (25, NCC),
Arjuna Ranatunga (35, SSC),
Tuwan Dilshan (22, Sebastianites),
Rangana Herath (21, Moors SC),
Nimesh Perera (22, Sebastianites),
Muthiah Muralitharan (27, Tamil Union),
Suresh Perera (21, SSC),
Chaminda Vaas (25, Colts),
Romesh Kaluwitharana (29, Colts),
Nuwan Zoysa (21, SSC),
Indika Gallage (23, CCC),
Prasanna Jayawardene (19, NCC).
Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)