Aravinda de Silva unlikely to play against India

Charlie Austin

August 8, 2001

Sri Lanka's five-man selection committee will select the Test squad for the forthcoming three-match series against India on Thursday night and they look set to omit veteran batsmen Aravinda de Silva.

De Silva, recently cleared by the Sri Lankan board of the match fixing allegations levied against him by Mukesh Gupta in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report, was not awarded a player contract in June, but had been selected in the 26-man training squad for the India tour.

De Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan, both of whom played against England in March, are expected to be dropped, as in form opener Avishka Gunawardene and veteran middle order batsman Hashan Tillakaratne are earmarked for recalls.

This is not the first time that the star batsman has been dumped. He has only played sporadically in Sri Lanka's successful one-day squad since the 1999 World Cup and he was dropped for the three-Test tour of South Africa last December.

Sri Lanka struggled without his experience and he was eventually sent to South Africa for the final Test at Centurion, as a replacement for Upul Chandana, who suffered a hand injury. He stayed with the team for their five match one-day series in New Zealand and was selected for the England series, in which he scored his 19th Test century in the first Test at Galle.

Since then, however, he has played little competitive cricket and questions have been raised by his laissez faire attitude to training. He has been in and out of the country and there is the suspicion that he no longer has the appetite for Test cricket, especially after failing to turn up for a three-day training camp in Dambulla before the Coca-Cola Cup.

Unfortunately, it seems that there has been little communication between the selectors and De Silva. He was understandably disappointed to have not been awarded a player contract and has been left guessing as to his position within Sri Lankan cricket.

A recall and a proper farewell is not out of the question - it has happened too many times before to rule it out - but that depends on the performance of the middle order in the first two Test matches. Certainly, if injuries occur, he can expect a call.

Sri Lanka are likely to play seven batsmen. Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold are automatic selections, but the remaining three places will be the subject of some conjecture at Thursdays selection meeting.

Early indications suggest that Avishka Gunwardene may be rewarded for recent fine form and asked to open the innings, pushing Atapattu down to number three. Jayasuriya may prefer, however, to stick with his erstwhile opening partner in Test cricket.

Hashan Tillakaratne looks certain to play after a two-year absence since the 1999 World Cup, when he and Roshan Mahanama were summarily dropped as the selectors looked to the future. Unlike Mahanama, however, he never gave up hope of playing again and has impressed with a stack of runs in the domestic season and a good attitude. Captain of Nondescripts Cricket Club he topped the averages having scored 665 runs at 110.83 and made three hundreds.

His tenacious batting style has helped to bring him back into recognition too, with Sri Lanka's middle order failing too often in recent times. The 34-year-old used to be one of Sri Lanka's most consistent Test batsmen, averaging 38.59 after 52 matches, and the selectors will be hoping that he can add some steel to the batting line up.

Kumar Sangakkara's position is apparently in doubt after some poor form in recent times, but his omission would be scandalous. He was the third highest Sri Lankan run scorer in the last Test series against England and was the highest run scoring in South Africa. With four half centuries to his name in a relatively short career his name should be penciled in immediately.

Whether he keeps wicket or not will depend on whether the selectors are willing to hand Romesh Kaluwitharana another chance. He was jettisoned behind the stumps after his inconsistency with the bat, but the selectors may look favourably upon him after a more consistent run of form in the one-day game of late. If he plays then Gunawardene would have to make way.

The bowling is simpler. Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan can start marking out their run-ups, but the selection of the third seamer is harder now with Nuwan Zoysa still on the sidelines. Suresh Perera, Ruchira Perera, and Dinusha Fernando are all in the running, with Ruchira Perera being the slight favourite. It could though be decided by who bowls best in the current practice game against India.

© Cricinfo

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