Lanka axe Jayasuriya for Test series

Lanka's most experienced player with 100 Test appearances was dropped on the grounds of fitness and poor form.

Sri Lanka have dropped experienced opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for their three-Test tour of India next month.

HT Image

The 36-year-old, Sri Lanka's most experienced player with 100 Test appearances, was dropped on the grounds of fitness and poor form during the current seven-match one-day international series against India.

The left-hander has struggled after dislocating his shoulder in August, scoring just 85 runs in the first six games of the series which India lead 5-1.

It is the first time in a decade that Jayasuriya, a former captain, has been axed since cementing his place in the team with a century against Australia at Adelaide in 1995-96.

"We decided to drop Sanath on the grounds of poor form and a lack of fitness," chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma told reporters.

Sri Lanka's selectors also changed the vice-captaincy, replacing middle order batsman Mahela Jayawardene with experienced seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Teenage middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedera was called up for the first time and opener Avishka Gunawardene was recalled to the Test squad.

Weerakoon played for the A team against New Zealand and Pakistan this year and Bandara was named Gloucestshire's player of the year after a stint playing county cricket in England.

Sri Lanka return home after the final one-dayer at Baroda on Saturday and travel back to India for a three-day practice match in Bangalore on November 26 before the first test starting on December 2 at Chennai.

Sri Lanka squad:

Marvan Atapattu (captain), Chaminda Vaas (vice-captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga, Avishka Gunawardene, Chamara Kapugedera, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Sajeewa Weerakoon