 Samaraweera will not get a chance to repeat his 2004 innings |
Sri Lanka have dropped middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera from their first Test squad to face England in Kandy, starting on 1 December. Samaraweera, who featured on the recent Australia tour, hit 142 against England in the Colombo Test in 2004.
Left-arm seamer Sujeewa de Silva replaces Farveez Maharoof (ankle) in the 14 but is not expected to play unless further injuries hit.
Four openers have been named after the retirement of veteran Marvan Atapattu.
Two of Sanath Jayasuriya, Michael Vandort, Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak will occupy the opening slots, with a third batting down the order, perhaps at five.
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The indications are that the bowling will be done by Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Leg-spinner Malinga Bandara has also been selected as one of 14 players in the squad, but is unlikely to feature.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said Muralitharan's quest to overhaul Shane Warne's record of 708 Test wickets would not distract the off-spinner, or the team in general.
Muralitharan starts the series on 704, and Jayawardene told BBC Sport: "We know he is definitely going to do it.
"When he does, it will be a great achievement and we will be very happy when he does it, but I don't think that will be in his mind or ours.
"Our goal is to finish on top at the end of the three Tests."
Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Chamara Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene (wkt), Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Sujeewa de Silva.
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