The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : First Test from today

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Sunday, Mar 26, 2006

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First Test from today

COLOMBO : Sanath Jayasuriya looks set to play his first Test match in six months on Sunday when Sri Lanka meets Pakistan in their series opener.

``There is a good probability of him making into the XI,'' Sri Lanka stand-in skipper Mahela Jayawardene said during a practice session. ``He batted really well, he has done his fitness test and the fielding schedules as well.''

Nagging injuries and poor form have kept Jayasuriya on the sidelines in recent months.

Jayasuriya, 36, a veteran of 100 Test matches and 357 limited-overs internationals, has been in and out of the national team since aggravating a shoulder injury last August.

He last played a Test match against Bangladesh in September. He was dropped for a three-match Test series against India because of poor performance in the limited-overs series.

Earlier this year, Jayasuriya was rested for the Test series in Bangladesh after playing the limited-overs series.

Sri Lanka goes into the Test series without regular captain Marvan Atapattu and seam bowler Chaminda Vaas because of injury.

Having lost the three-match limited-overs series 2-0, Jayawardene said his aim in the Tests would be to deny Pakistan an early advantage.

Pakistan's strength has largely been its batting, but Jayawardene said he expected a disciplined performance from his bowlers. However, he added that his own batting form has been inconsistent with many good starts not converted to big scores.

Jayawardene scored his last Test century in New Zealand in April last year and has since got out six times after scoring a half-century.

``It remains that I just have to be a bit more tightened in my approach and try and plan my innings a bit more and occupy the crease,'' he said. — AP

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