Why Jayasuriya & Vaas are essential for World Cup 2011

With the dawn the New Year, players of all countries contesting the 2011 World Cup are hard at practice. The countries have named their provisional squads of 30 players, from which the selectors will pick a squad of 15 by January 15 according to the rules of the International Cricket Council.

The Sri Lanka 30-member squad is being put through their paces by the coaches comprising Trevor Bayliss, Stuart Law, Champaka Ramanayake and Ruwan Kalpage.

Bayliss and Law are concentrating on the batting techniques, while Ramanayake and Kalpage are watching the bowling and fielding drills.

The squad is made up of tried and tested players who have been in the constellation of either Test, one-day or Twenty20 cricket. So there is not much to correct in them except the fine tuning of techniques for the Tests and the psychological finesse that goes with the terrain.

Talking situations

No doubt the preparations within the training squad should include discussions on various scenarios that range from the strategies of our teams and those of our opponents, from the type of wickets the curators will prepare and those that they will not prepare, from the quality of bowling to aggression of batting and …of course in these times of the effects of global warming, the vagaries and impacts of the weather.

Having played the game and being involved in writing about the game for over four decades, and having followed the failures and successes of our cricketers, we make bold to hazard a guess of the likely squad of 15 should be for the 2011 World Cup. We do so with all due respect to the selectors led by former batting great Aravinda de Silva, Ranjit Fernando, Amal Silva and Shabir Asgerally who when they sit to pencil the final squad will do so with none to fear.

Their target is to pick the squad that will deliver and bring the big prize in one-day cricket home. They have been in selection game before and are thick skinned enough to receive bouquets or the brickbats that await them after selection with equanimity. These selectors are gentleman of repute and neither fear nor favour affects them.

Arm chair critics

The brickbats will come from arm chair critics many of whom may not have handled a bat or know neither a chuck from legitimate delivery. And so thick skins and a sense of humour is what the Selectors and Sri Lanka Cricket led by D.S. de Silva need.

The selectors have made it known that they will look for the complete team. Translated, this means that they will mix youth with experience. With the World Cup not a pitch for the timid, there is no substitute for experience.

That is where the experience of Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas is essential. The selectors are all men of honesty and great integrity and who knows what it is to play a straight bat. Like in a team where only 11 can play, the ICC rules require that they name only 15. They would love to name more. But it is 15 and that’s it!

So here we go and here’s our 15. Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Matthews, Thisara Perera, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitheran, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga.

The one player we would have loved to include was Dinesh Chandimal. But with only a squad of 15 allowed, it was with great reluctance that we had to leave him out of our radar.

J and V essential

Jayasuriya and Vaas are essentials in the team. They have been in World Cups and finals before and know the frying pan heat that exists and are the ideal foam and hoses to douse the fire.

Jayasuriya need not allow the political tag that he is carrying worry him. As usual he will have the green-eyeds baying for his ouster. Cricket is a different ball game and he has the all round experience and the talent to prove his worth, value and necessity in the team.

Jayasuriya has been tops at training. He has shown that age has not slowed his reflexes nor dimmed his enthusiasm and hunger. He is performing every drill like he did a decade ago and is looking ferocious like a lion in hunger and waiting to pounce and devour. He must be let loose.

Chaminda Vaas too has shown that he has not lost his ability, although he has slowed in pace. He is now concentrating on line, length and movement and pushing batsmen into the run drought zone. His batting skills have improved tremendously and he has shown an opening batsman’s flair in recent times.

Different stroke

The choosing of the final eleven to take the field we leave that to those who will have to execute a different stroke which will be no easy task, because they will be on a sticky wicket. However the playing eleven will be known, only after a look at the wicket. If it is a green top then it is obvious that Sri Lanka will go in pace heavy. If it is a dry strip, then it will be spin-heavy.

However everything will depend on the winning of the all important toss. What ever the playing eleven, if skipper Sangakkara has luck with the toss everything could be fine. But losing the toss could put us in a tricky situation. Sub continent pitches are notorious for assisting spin. With this in mind Sri Lanka will go in with spin reducing the pace battery. Sri Lanka will be playing most of their matches on home soil. With this being the case, with the home advantage of preparing the wickets, although there is no written law, it is likely that the curators will concentrate on wickets assisting spin. The home team must take advantage when preparing pitches. We have the world’s best spinner in Muttiah Muralitheran and the other spinners in the squad are equally good and the opposing batsmen will not find it easy coping with them.

With final 15-member squad picking time nearing all eyes will be focused on the four-member selection panel waiting to see the squad that they will toss out to carry Sri Lanka’s challenge in winning the biggest one-day cricket prize the 2011 World Cup. We have made our informed guess and prediction, but like all should, we shall take the selectors’ decision with grace as we have confidence in their collective wisdom. We wish them well.

(Source)

Jayasuriya will be considered as a specialist batsman for WC 2011 - Aravinda

Chairman of National Selectors Aravinda de Silva stated that his committee will weigh more on experience when naming the final squad of 15 players for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The national selectors on Monday named a 30 member preliminary squad in preparation for the World Cup and it will be pruned down to 15 by the first week of January next year in keeping with the ICC regulations.

Strong combination

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup will be worked off from February 19 to April 2 and will be co-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Aravinda de Silva a member of the 1996 World Cup winning team said that all players in the preliminary 30 member squad have justified themselves to be in this position as they look to form a powerful combination of youth and experience.

Specialist batsman

He said that veteran Sanath Jayasuriya will be considered as a specialist batsman and experienced left arm seamer Chaminda Vaas as an opening bowler. However their selection for the final 15 member squad will depend on how well they could balance the team.

De Silva regretted the fact that they missed out a great opportunity of seeing some of the players in action who were earmarked for the probable final squad following the postponement of the five match one day international series against the West Indies.

As a result they were forced to consider the past performances and the international experience of some of the players before naming them in the preliminary 30 member squad.

De Silva stressed the importance of the players having some exposure at international level ahead of the World Cup and said that Sri Lanka Cricket are exploring the possibilities of playing at least a couple of matches against Bangladesh.

Training sessions

He noted that with no competitive cricket at the moment the players have organized a series of training sessions both at day and night at all World Cup venues namely Hambantota, Pallekele and R Premadasa International Stadium.

No passengers

De Silva further noted that there will be no passengers in the final 15 member squad and each player will need to play a specific role given the occasion.

He recalled an example how Upul Chandana even as 12th man played a decisive role on the field during the 1996 World Cup quarterfinal match against England.

Chairman national selectors also believed that the final 15 member squad should include a variety of players who are capable of turning around the game during different match situations.

(Source: Dailynews.lk)

Jayasuriya, Vaas in list of WC 2011 probables

Sri Lanka has picked veterans Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas in a preliminary squad for next year's World Cup.

Sri Lanka Cricket released a list of 30 players on Monday, of which 15 will be selected for the final squad.

If selected, Jayasuriya will be playing in his sixth succesive World Cup. The dashing opener took the world by storm in the 1996 edition, when he along with Romesh Kaluwitharana took the opposition bowlers to the sword during the field restrictions. Jayasuriya was declared the player of the tournament on that occasion.

Out of favour medium pacer Vaas has been a useful contributor for the Lankans over the years and at 36 will be hoping to feature in yet another World Cup.

List of probables:

T M Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Taranga Paranavithana, Lahiru Thirimanna, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Tissara Perera, F. Maharoof, Jeewan Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Hearth, Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Chaminda Vaas, Chamara Wellagedara, Nuwan Pradeep, Thilan Thushara

Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas included in World Cup final thirty

Sidelined veterans Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas have been included in the World Cup final thirty which the Sri Lanka Cricket has to forward to the ICC by the 10th of this month, the Sunday Times learns.

Vaas, the 36-year-old left arm seam bowler who had a brilliant stint with Worcestershire during the English summer this year, was a strong contender for a comeback with the slacking fast-bowling arsenal in the local stores.

Vaas who has 400 international one-day wickets to his credit played his last ODI against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium on August 8, 2008 and has been overlooked since. Vaas was a member of the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lankan squad.

He played his first ODI also against India in Rajkot way back in February 1994. The other veteran, Sanath Jayasuriya, is a champion of 444 ODIs and has scored 13,428 runs in 432 innings and was named the Most Valuable Player at the 1996 World Cup which Sri Lanka won.

Jayasuriya made his ODI debut against Australia in Melbourne on December 26, 1989 and played his last ODI against India in New Delhi on December 27 2009. A left arm orthodox spinner, Jayasuriya in his 444 appearances bagged 322 wickets with his best being 6/29 against England. In his last stages with the national team he was used more as a stock left arm spinner and a lower middle order batsman.

The Sunday Times exclusively revealed that both Vaas and Jayasuriya were back at training with the Lankan squad in September 2010. From the very inception both cricketers made it very clear of their intentions of being a part of the 2011 World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, the selectors have named a probe-in-the-dark squad of sixteen for the first two one-day Internationals against the West Indies to christen the Sooriyawewa Stadium on Thursday and Saturday. 
Still trying to get their final combinations ready for the World Cup 2011, the selectors have left out their champion match winner Muttiah Muralitharan, thus depriving the legend some much-needed match practice.

The top heavy Lankan batting line up has been cushioned with the inclusion of dependable Thilan Samaraweera, but the unproven talents of Chamara Kapugedera and Chamara Silva have been persisted with while futuristic Dinesh Chandimal has been sidelined again. However the inclusion of Samaraweera should take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Dilshan, skipper Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, a batsman who has been going through a lean patch lately.

Once again, the lower middle order has been beefed up by Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera. One also wonders how leg-spinning batsman Jeewan Mendis could fit into the final XI in these two games with the top seven reading Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Mahela, Thilan, Angelo and Thisara Perera who has more than proved his worth with some telling contributions in the recent past.
Jeewan also may not be opted only as a bowler as the selectors have put their faith on Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herat and Suraj Randiv.

The three seamers in the side are Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando. Nevertheless the selectors have left a door open for themselves by naming the squad only for the first two games.

(Source)

Sanath, Vaas off to the Caribbean

Batting maestro Sanath Jayasuriya and veteran all-rounder Chaminda Vaas are among hosts of Sri Lankan ex-cricketers who will represent Sri Lanka at the four-nation CLOBI Cup World Master’s Cricket Tournament to be held in Barbados, West Indies.

The tournament, a brainchild of Cricket Legend’s of Barbados is aimed at brining the legends of cricket together for the purpose of providing a world class, exciting and entertaining tournament to Barbados, the region and the world. All matches will be played at the Kensington Oval, formerly known as Pickwick Cricket Club.

The one-week event will commence on October 30 while the finals is to be played on November 5. 

Sri Lankans legends will be up against the likes of Mohammed Azharuddin and Javagal Srinath from India, Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe from England and Courtney Walsh, Courtly Ambrose and Carl Hooper from West Indies. Former Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu will captain Sri Lanka legends team.

Though Sri Lanka is yet to finalize the team, players Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana, and Indika de Saram have all confirmed their participation for the tour.

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Life without Murali, Jayasuriya and Vaas

Sri Lankan cricket is bracing itself for life without three of its greatest ever players.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan retired from Test cricket after taking his 800th wicket in a victory over India, while Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas - who have already ended their Test careers - are on the verge of bowing out of international cricket for good.

These three veterans, along with Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva, were responsible for transforming Sri Lankan cricket.

Their collective performance brought an unexpected victory at the 1996 World Cup and persuaded the established powers to arrange extended Test tours in Sri Lanka.
In particular it was Murali, under Ranatunga's captaincy, who led the evolution from underdog to formidable cricketing force.

"I think Sri Lanka will be extremely lucky if it gets another Muralitharan within the next 100 years," Ranatunga told the BBC.

Kent spinner Malinga Bandara agrees, saying: "I think Murali's achievements with bowling are equal to Sir Donald Bradman's remarkable achievements from the bat."

Sanath Jayasurya, meanwhile, has harvested his natural talents with bat and ball.

"I think Jayasuriya is a natural player, both batting and bowling, who actually does not need any coaching," said Champaka Ramanyake, Sri Lanka's bowling coach.

Nicknamed "Master Blaster", Jayasuriya was instrumental in introducing an aggressive batting style - together with Romesh Kaluwitharana - as the opening batsman. His unpredictable batting helped Sri Lanka to win the World Cup and made him player of the tournament.

"There have been occasions that fans left the ground when they learnt that Jayasuriya was not playing," said Ramanyake.

Rating Vaas as the best-ever fast bowler Sri Lanka has produced, Ramanyake believes his contribution has been key to Murali's record success.

"In cricket we talk about pairs. Since 1996, it was Vaas who supported Murali from the other end, while Murali was taking wickets," said the bowling coach.
Vaas also contributed with his patient batting style.

"I think Vaas, with his overall performance, was unlucky not to be appointed as a captain. That is what happens when you are surrounded by a very talented group," said Channaka de Silva, sports editor of the Daily Mirror English.

The trio may yet be re-united, for the last time, at the 2011 World Cup, which will be hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

Both Murali and Jayasuriya are still members of the national team for the shorter version of the game, while Vaas faces an uphill battle despite his good form for Northamptonshire.

"I have been knocking on the door to get back to the ODI team but the selectors have been coming up with different excuses," Vaas told the BBC Sinhala service.

Beyond that tournament, how will Sri Lanka cope without the presence of three legends in the dressing room?

"I think Sri Lanka won't notice a huge impact in the short term," says de Silva.
"Australia, for example, went through a downward tendency long after the departure of many senior players," he said.

Mahela Jayawardene's 10th Test hundred at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Tuesday may be a clear example of the team's new direction.

"The game won't disappear just because players retire," says Ramanayake. "But of course we may not see similar records and performance in the near future."

While Sangakkara and Jayawardene may feel the absence of three veterans in the dressing room, the younger generation will be assigned with the difficult task of carrying on.

For the moment, though, it seems it is business as usual for the Sri Lanka squad.

Jayasuriya, Vaas to be considered for WC 2011 - Aravinda

Not only Sanath Jayasuriya, even Chaminda Vaas will be considered for the World Cup 2011, said Aravinda De Silva, Chairman of National Selection Committee. He added they are keeping a close eye on them and if the need arises they will definitely be given a chance to play.

Aravinda De Silva made this statement speaking exclusively to Ada Derana yesterday. He also said that this decision would not hinder the opportunities for younger players as they have enough and more time before them.


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Jayasuriya to replace Vaas at Winchmore Hill cricket festival

Chaminda Vaas has cancelled his special guest appearance at the Festival of Cricket at Winchmore Hill Cricket Club, this Sunday.

Organisers announced that Vaas is now not able to attend the event at the Paulin Ground, in Ford's Grove as he has a cricket game to play which clashes with the festival.

So organisers have enrolled Sri Lanka cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya to appear instead.

For more information, call organisers: 020 8952 2105

[PIC] Sanath Jayasuriya celebrates 41st birthday with a cake

Sanath Jayasuriya celebrates his 41st birthday with a cake. Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas to his right are currently in England playing in the English county season.

(Source)

Jayasuriya, Vaas can come in any moment - Aravinda de Silva

Speaking exclusive to Gulf News in an interview, Sri Lanka Cricket's Chairman of the selectors Aravinda de Silva has said that Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas may make a comeback to the national squad anytime as long as they keep themselves fit and keep on paying.

When asked on, How tough was it as a selector to drop your team-mate Jayasuriya. Do you think there is still cricket ahead of him?

Aravinda answered : It was a tough decision to take as he had done so much for the country. He was putting a lot of pressure on him and the team to keep him in the system. However, we haven't put him completely out of the combination for the 2011 World Cup. We need to see how the current players perform and position themselves in the team. Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas are two players who can come in any moment and do the job as long as they keep themselves fit and keep on paying competitive cricket.


De Silva admitted leaving out former teammates Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas from the current squad had been hard, but said: "Whatever decision you take, you have to do the right thing. I can't see any problem as long as you do it with a clear conscience. I'm sure they will accept what I say for the simple reason that I played with them and they know me well enough to know I would do them no injustice."

Jayasuriya, Aravinda & Vaas launching Six Runs Sports Merchandise

The flamboyance of Sri Lanka's big-hitting cricketers, an inspiration to many aspiring batsmen around the world, has now found articulation in a unique Sri Lankan brand seeking to slake the enthusiasm of fans through an extensive new offering.

Six Runs,' a label floated by fashion icon Otara Gunewardene for a range of 80 to 100 items including sports and casual wear and fun accessories, hit the shelves last week promising high quality products at value-for-money prices, in the same way that six runs represents the maximum a batsman can score off a single delivery on the playing field.

Commencing with its own display section Sports Section at Odel’s flagship store at Alexandra Place, 'Six Runs' plans to make its way in to all leading clothing outlets and malls in Sri Lanka and India in the months ahead, Ahamed Bary, Team Manager for the new brand said.

Explaining the rationale behind the brand name, he said: "While product quality, pricing and distribution are key to its success, the name must find resonance in the target market. We believe 'Six Runs' captures the thrill and buzz that people like Sanath Jayasuriya have brought to the game and that the brand will spark even further interest in cricket."

Designed in Sri Lanka, the products in the 'Six Runs' portfolio include T Shirts, caps and sun visors, kit bags, arm and head bands, stationery items, mugs and drinking glasses, ties, umbrellas, rubber slippers, cuff links and tie pins, pens, key tags, bottle openers and even soft toys. There is something for everybody who is a cricket fan and proud to flaunt it," Mr.  Bary said.

For those who like to start early, 'Six runs' even has a baby range of products including branded rompers and bibs.

The range will be extended to include jewellery and other accessories in the near future and the possibility of opening exclusive 'Six Runs' outlets in malls is being looked at, he added.

And, for those who like to personalise their sports wear, like their heroes do on the field, a facility is available at the outlet at Odel to have the buyer’s name printed on items like T shirts, while he or she waits. The Six Runs outlet at Odel will also stock official 'Sri Lanka Cricket' wear manufactured under licence by MAS Holdings.

Source

Jayasuriya participates in 'Walk for Life 2009' to create diabetes awareness among Sri Lankan public

(Pictures by Udesh Gunarathne)

 

Commemorating the World Diabetes Day today, 'Walk for Life 2009' a walk organized by the Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine in University of Colombo and the Tharunyata Hetak youth organization took place this morning.

The walk commenced at the Colombo Municipal Council Grounds in front of the Vihara Maha Devi Park and ended at the Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.

General public, school children, medical students, officials from the Health Ministry, athletes and celebrities came together to create awareness on diabetes.

One in ten adults over 20 years and one in five in the urban areas in Sri Lanka are affected by diabetes. The walk aims to create awareness of the controllable disease and to establish a diabetes research fund in Sri Lanka, the organizers said.

Cricket legends Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Akalanka Gamage, 'Tharunayata Hetak' Chairman Namal Rajapaksa and Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva were among the participants.

Participating at the event world famous Sri Lankan cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya said, "My mother is also a diabetic patient. So I very well know the suffering of a diabetic patient as well as its complications. Therefore, I wanted to raise an awareness of this disease among the people in our country and in the world."

(Source)

Zimbabwe lesson or Zimbabwe mess? | Why Sanath & Vaas are need to be in the Team

Zimbabwe lesson or Zimbabwe mess?

Notwithstanding the pokerfaced developments in the general governance of the game, Lankan cricket shone like a beacon in World cricket until the last fortnight.

It was not so long ago that Sri Lanka zoomed into the Asia Cup final and won it without much hesitation and then followed it up by gobbling up the plucky Indians in the Test series and narrowly going down in the ODI series.
Until then Lankan cricket looked as good as any other in the World and were a member of that elite group in every sense.

At the same time I remember a year ago Sri Lanka took a Lankan ‘A’ side to Zimbabwe under the leadership of the then out of form T.M. Dilshan who took the opportunity with both hands and batted his way back into the national side. In that tour too the Lankan ‘A’ team players won with consummate ease, but the difference was that like true professionals they scored heavily and always looked the better side by miles rather than mere centimeters.

For instance Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene managed to score just 19 runs in four innings at 4.75 per inning with a highest score of fifteen runs in the five-match ODI series. But a few games prior to that this very same man was the best in the Lankan ranks to finish with an average of 46.2. This clearly depicts the Jayewardene’s present batting predicament is a short one and he would comeback to his true form with a few mental adjustments.

However what caused Jayewardene’s mental stress is also a small matter which is worth probing. Generally the high chairs of the governing body of the game lets their national captain run the mile, in spite of a few hiccups that he may come across from time to time. The best example is how the Indian Cricket hierarchy stood by their skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni when he had a difference of opinion with the national selectors that saw its way into the media. In the aftermath the BCCI handled the issue very professionally and advised the people concerned to be vigilant when they come across situations that nature.

Ironically here in south of the Palk Strait the people in power at times choose to pick on the cricketers on certain issues that could be resolved in some other forum but tend to set upon their lap dogs at them when things go radically wrong through sheer bad handling. The result of such developments could be devastating to some individuals. Then the aura of uncertainty and stress that builds up could result in a drop in personal performance. Besides that personal problems of an individual could be overcome with the remedial applications and one should probe into to see what ailed Sri Lanka cricket during this tour.Firstly, there were three notable absentees in this line up. They are namely – Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas and T.M. Dilshan. One could not blame the national selectors for taking such a stance for the plain and simple reason of “The changes will have to happen one day”.

However things went horribly wrong with the experiments.

At the top neither of the opening batsmen Upul Tharanga or Mahela Udawatte batted even with semblance of any confidence. Even in Sri Lanka you come across many slow low dead tracks that you have to wait for the ball. But, despite the skills and the potetial that they possess, they were more concerned in consolidating their slot in the line up and one of them would have to make way upon the arrival of Sanath Jayasuriya.

Here the ideal situation should have that both openers taking the opportunity and put enough runs on the board against their names and for the country posing a real problem for the return of Jayasuriya. But, that was not to be. Now even at the age of thirty nine Jayasuriya knows he can dictate terms.

The demise of the top two and struggling skipper at number four early in the innings in turn put added problems on the shoulders of Kumar Sangakkara. In the first game Sangakkara batted with a lot of confidence and to a lesser degree in the second. But, when he saw the domino collapsing round him in the rest of the innings he batted under severe pressure – just to keep himself intact to avert a complete disaster. The reason the trusted number five Chamara Kapugedera a batsman with immense potential failed to live up to expectations once again.

Unexpectedly the only middle order inning came from outside. That too came in the very last game. The composure that Thilina Kandamby (a batsman whom some of the top match management is reluctant to try out even after the selectors have put him into the final squad) batted with in his only inning was commendable. Walking in at 3 for 28, the way Kandamby batted was commendable. At times it gave a glimpse of the way Arjuna Ranatunga in his days at the crease used to get about things. He comes in as a player who should get very close scrutiny. He has it in him. Another player who impressed was young Angelo Mathew. If given the correct guidance he too has the potential of remaining at the top. In batting, now that Jayasuriya is there, once again the mean Sri Lankan look should be back in the fold. Veteran Chaminda Vaas now must be a very relaxed man. This tour proved that Sri Lanka really missed the initial Vaas burst at the top. Even the Zimbabwe top order took the Lankan seam attack by the scruff and belted it at will in the initial overs. Both Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda showed no respect to the Lankan seam attack nor did they deservedly command any. Zimbabweans on their part did not know how to finish a game in their favour. If not the final result would have read somewhat different. This 5-0 win maybe one of the worst that any the team would have achieved when they beat another by a margin so big. So, next to Bangladesh along with another go at the Zimbabweans and the Lankans are expected to overcome the challenges posed here with ease. However a performance akin to the Zimbabwean ordeal would spell disaster even though Bangladesh too have inculcated the habit of losing more than winning. Maybe by that time most of the dark clouds looming above Lankan cricket would have passed on and the cricketers will only have the task of performing at the middle.

Sanath Jayasuriya back in ODI squad for Sri Lanka's Tour of Bangladesh

Sanath Jayasuriya, rested for the recent Zimbabwe ODIs, returns to the one-day set-up while Farveez Maharoof and Dilhara Fernando, part of the Zimbabwe tour party, make the Test squad after missing the team's last Test series, at home against India, due to injuries.

Vaas, however, has been included in the squad for the two-Test series. There is also no limited-overs recall for Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was dropped for the five ODIs in Zimbabwe, but he retains his Test spot.

Sri Lanka will play two Tests and a tri-nation tournament, also involving Zimbabwe, in Bangladesh. The tour begins with a three-day warm-up game on December 21, followed by the Tests.

Jayasuriya's return, in place of Mahela Udawatte, will be a handy boost for Sri Lanka, who surprisingly struggled in Zimbabwe. Openers Upul Tharanga and Udawatte both averaged below 20, and Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, opened in the final game instead of Udawatte, who scored 60 in four innings. Jayawardene too did not have a great time in Zimbabwe, with 19 runs in four innings, including two ducks.

Nuwan Kulasekara, whose three late strikes denied Zimbabwe a win in the fifth ODI, keeps his ODI spot but is replaced by Fernando in the Test squad. Newcomers Angelo Mathews, an allrounder, and batsman Thilina Kandamby have been retained in the ODI squad. Both teams have five fast bowlers, with Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis the two spinners.

Sri Lanka Cricket also announced a new manager for the tour. Continuing with the policy of having different managers for tours, Nishantha Ranatunga, who went to Canada and Zimbabwe, has been replaced by Jayantha Paranathala, a former Sri Lanka cricketer and manager who's now a policeman.

Sri Lanka Test squad:

Malinda Warnapura, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Chaminda Vaas, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dammika Prasad, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara.

ODI squad:

Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandamby, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Farveez Maharoof, Dammika Prasad, Thilan Thushara, Angelo Mathews.

Sanath Jayasuriya haunted me when I was playing - Stephen Fleming

England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has no intention of pulling on his pads and walking out to bat at this weekend’s Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.

For the Yorkshire pace ace is part of an All-Stars team that boasts the best batting line-up in the history of the tournament.

Leading the way will be the world’s highest ranked batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies.

Also featuring for the All-Stars will be the great Australian opener Justin Langer, Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and big-hitting Twenty20 king Tyron Henderson from South Africa.

And captain Fleming is hoping his new teammates play as well as they did when he faced them during his illustrious 111-test career.

“If they don’t bowl like they used to bowl to me, or bat the way they used to bat when I was fielding against them, I’ll be disappointed,” he said.

“Sanath Jayasuriya haunted me when I was playing and Chaminda Vaas used to get me out with his eyes shut, so if we don’t get wickets and runs then I’ll be upset!”

The All-Stars have been drawn in the Sobers group alongside defending champions Sri Lanka, Australia and hosts Hong Kong.