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| |  Friday, 16 February, 2001, 12:28 GMT Sri Lankan squad profiles  Murali destroyed England at The Oval in 1998 BBC Sport Online's guide to the Sri Lankan squad.
Born: 8.7.72 Left-hand batsman, left-arm orthodox Still capable of the dashing strokeplay that took the world by storm in the 1996 World Cup, Jayasuriya recently blazed his way to 148 from 156 balls in a Test match against South Africa (102 in boundaries). But captaincy and cricketing middle age have led to circumspection with the bat and the heat is on after a number of batting collapses and a disappointing 2-0 scoreline in South Africa. A veteran of England�s last tour to Sri Lanka he hit 213 the last time the sides met. A devout Buddhist, he sleeps with a Bible under his pillow.
Born: 22.11.70 Right-hand batsman, right-arm leg-spin Thankfully things have improved for this well-ordered right-hand batsman since he managed just a single in his first six Test innings (rumour has it that even that single was a leg-bye). Absent from the side for six years as a consequence, Atapattu returned in 1997 and gradually established himself, often as Jayasuriya's opening partner. Nevertheless, a batting average of 32 is a disappointment for a player of whom so much was expected, even if he has a Test match double hundred to his name.
Born: 27.5.77 Right-hand batsman, right-arm medium Possesses the tightest technique in the side, and arguably the greatest powers of concentration, attributes which make him Sri Lanka�s most consistent run-scorer. Against South Africa recently he made 511 runs at 51.1 in six Tests, including scores of 167, 101 not out and 98 from number four, the latter out of a total of 216 all out. As the dashing old-timers - Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva et al - are near the end of their playing days, Jayawardene's watchful and mature approach is the new face of Sri Lankan cricket. Only 23 years old, he already has a top score of 242 against India
Born: 25.10.73 Left-hand batsman, right-arm off-break Has struggled to hold down a permanent place in the side, and after averaging just 23 in Test cricket in 2000, he needs to perform against England if he is to keep it. An upright, unadventurous left-hander, he does, however, possess the powers of concentration that saw him start his Test career as an opening batsman. As an off spinner, he has the look of part-timer rather wicket-taker, but on turning pitches he is a valuable addition.
Born: 17.10.65 Right-hand batsman, right-arm off-break Age and the strain of being implicated in the match-fixing saga appear to be catching up with De Silva, normally one of the most graceful batsmen in the world, but increasingly a scratchy presence at the crease. Only one of his 18 Test hundreds has come in the past two years, a far cry from his form four years ago when between April 1997 and August 1998 he hit a staggering nine centuries - eight of them at home - and ran up 1,893 Test runs. But a player of De Silva's proven class can never be written off and he made his Test debut against England as long ago as 1984, and scored a century against them the last time the side's met, at the Oval three years ago. Team: Singha Sports Club A sound player who bats in the middle order and scored two centuries against England for the Sri Lankan President's XI at the start of their tour. Has been a consistent performer in the local club scene but still awaits a prolonged run in the national side due which woulkd give him the chance of establishing a permanent place. Played a memorable innings in Zimbabwe when he made 163 not out. A definite investment for the future.
Born: 24.7.71 Right arm off-break bowler; right hand batsman A very useful all rounder who bowls fastish off-spin, he was a valuable member of the team which won the 1996 World Cup. Has a sound record in both one-day internationals and recently captained the Sri Lanka A team in Kenya, which earned him a recall to the senior side for the recent trip to New Zealand. Likely to partner Muralitharan against England, and has three five-wicket hauls in Test cricket to his credit. Team: Nondescripts Cricket Club Another example of the increasingly common trend of handing the wicketkeeping gloves to a recognised batsman and telling him to get on with it, Sangakkara recently took over from Kaluwitharana in both Tests and one-day internationals. He freely admits that he has had his difficulties keeping to Muralitharan but he came through the challenge well and on being promoted to opener against South African, he scored an impressive 98 in a losing cause in Centurion. He recently thought about packing it in and travelling abroad to finish his law studies, but gained recognition after making 156 not out for Sri Lanka in a one-day match against Zimbabwe, scoring his last 56 runs from just 26 balls.
Born: 17.4.72 Right-arm off-break, right-hand batsman Fitness permitting, Muralitharan will probably end his playing days as the most successful bowler of all time, having already notched 303 victims in only 59 Tests at a strike-rate of a wicket every 62.3 balls. By comparison, Courtney Walsh has taken 127 Tests to make it to 494 victims and Shane Warne, arguably Murali's most likely threat, has taken 84 matches to make it to 366. Furthermore, there is little to suggest that batsmen are finding it any easier to crack the mysteries of Murali's art. Each ball is delivered at a different speed and trajectory, with any number of variations in the amount of spin imparted. Perhaps Murali's greatest strength, however, is his control.
Born:27.1.74 Left-arm fast-medium, left-arm bat Stocky, with a bustling approach to the wicket, Chaminda Vaas relies on accuracy and the advantages of being left-handed to trouble opening batsmen rather than outright speed. All too often on Sri Lankan pitches prepared to help the spinners, Vaas� role has been to do little more than take the shine off the ball for Murali & Co. to get to work. This has not stopped him taking 128 Test wickets, however, comfortably more than any other Sri Lankan bowler after Murali. Capable of the odd flurry with the bat, as testified by four Test fifties. Team: Sinhalese Sports Club The tallest pace bowler to come out of Sri Lanka, Zoysa is a genuinely quick left-arm seamer, but in his brief international career he has shown himself to be prone to injury. Without doubt his most memorable moment came in the second Test against Zimbabwe in November 1999 when, with his first three balls in the match - the first three of the second over - he removed Trevor Gripper, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson for ducks, the first hat-trick by a Sri Lankan. To make the story even more remarkable, Zoysa was a last minute inclusion. A question mark remains, however, over his fitness and when he has played he has been used sparingly by his captain. Team: Sinhalese Sports Club A powerful right-arm fast bowler, Dilhara (or 'Randi' as he is known) Fernando is one for the future. Dropped after his first Test, against Pakistan last year, he was recalled for the tour of South Africa and immediately repaid the selectors with figures of 5-98 in the first Test. An encouraging return was, however, married by the bowling of 15 no-balls and the remainder of the series held few happy memories for the fast bowler. In Cape Town and in Centurion, where Sri Lanka lost the last two Tests heavily, he had first-innings figures of 1-105 from 25 overs and 1-107 from 16 overs respectively. Team: Colts Cricket Club A short and stockily built left arm spinner built in the classical mould. Has had tremendous season for his local club and also for the Sri Lanka A team on their recent tour of Kenya. A player with great potential, who is a genuine spinner of the ball. He also has great variation with clever change of flight. Took five for 84 in England's second innings during the game against the President's XI in Colombo. Born: 26.9.81 One of the brightest prospects to emerge in recent years. He was the first schoolboy to be named in the national squad since former captain Arjuna Ranathunga. Toured Pakistan and South Africa without being given a chance in the Test side, but is a fine all-rounder, who bowls steady off-spin. Dismissed England captain Nasser Hussain while playing for the President's XI at Matara, and scored a half century in the same match. Born: 20.5.82 A schoolboy with a great future ahead of him. Was a member of the Sri Lanka team which finished as runners-up in last year's youth World Cup. Bowled very well for the Colts in the opening game of England's tour, taking three for 39 from 20 overs. Graham Thorpe and Graeme Hick were two of his victims. | |
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