Sri Lankan team for first Test

COLOMBO, AUG. 10.In- form opener Michael Van Dort, veteran middle-order batsman Hashan Tillekeratne, promising left-arm paceman Ruchira Perera, and off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera find a place in the 16- member Lankan squad for the first Test at Galle starting on August 14.

Van Dort's magnificent 116 for the Board XI against India clinched a place for him in the side, while Tillekeratne's case was strongly backed by Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya.

The left-hander has been in prolific form during the domestic competition and his inclusion does bring experience into the side.

Interestingly, there is no place for the classy Aravinda de Silva, who has for long been the bugbear of the Indian attack. De Silva, recently cleared of the match-fixing charges by the BCCSL interim panel, is reportedly short of match practice.

Interestingly, there are five pacemen in the squad, with left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas being the senior bowler in the pack. The others are, the genuinely quick Dilhara Fernando, Suresh Perera, Dulip Liyanage and Ruchira Perera, who can be pretty sharp.

And Thilan Samaraweera, whose non-inclusion in the team for the Coca Cola triangular series, angered the Sports Minister here, at last finds a place, ahead of veteran off- spinner Kumara Dharmasena.

lSri Lankan squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Michael Van Dort, Avishka Gunawardene, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillekeratne, Kumara Sangakkara, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Suresh Perera, Ruchira Perera and Dulip Liyanage.

- Our Special Correspondent.

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