Second string given a chance to press for places

The 15 cricketers representing Sri Lanka 'A' who left on a five-week tour of India on Saturday will have the home series against England very much on their minds.

The reason for such thinking can be explained by the fact that they have been told by Lalith Kaluperuma, the chairman of selectors, that anyone performing outstandingly well will be given due recognition for the England Test series starting on December 2. Kaluperuma emphasised when the team was picked 10 days ago, that in the event the national team needs any replacements during the England series, players who are in form in India will be given due consideration.

That comment by Kaluperuma is encouragement enough for the players to perform well. "Touring India is not easy. We expect to play tough cricket. If anyone can score runs and take wickets in India he has to be good," explained Hemantha Devapriya, Sri Lanka A's coach. "Our strength is batting and we have a few batters who can fill the middle-order slot in our national team with good performances here."

Among those who are vying for places are Jehan Mubarak, a beautifully balanced player who scored centuries in South Africa and Kenya during Sri Lanka 'A's recent tour, skipper Naveed Nawaz and Lanka de Silva, who batted with tenacity. All of them have had a brief taste of Test cricket some time during their careers.

The tour also affords wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to make amends for his batting failures in South Africa and Kenya and prove to the selectors that he can get useful runs at the highest level. "Prasanna is the best wicketkeeper we have today," said Devapriya. "He kept beautifully on the African tour. It is very unfortunate that he cannot combine his high level of wicket-keeping with some runs on the board."

Devapriya said the bowling was a bit inexperienced and a lot of their success on the tour would depend on how well they bowled. That Kaushalya Weeraratne is the most experienced of the fast bowlers tells a story of how green the attack looks. Others in support are Tharanga Lakshitha, Lasith Malinga and Umesh Wijesiriwardene.

To persist with left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who was one-time Muttiah Muralitharan's spin partner, is an indication that he is still the best spinner available apart from the banned Kaushal Lokuarachchi. Apart from his lack of height which at times is a disadvantage, a lack of confidence has been his main concern.

Batsmen Nuwan Shiroman and Anuska Polonowita and off-spinner Chamara Mudalige are being rewarded for their performances in the Premier trophy competition. Sri Lanka 'A' will play four first-class matches against India 'A' and then participate in the ACF 'A' team one-day triangular with Pakistan and India. Kaluperuma said that changes will be made to the team for the one-day competition.

Sri Lanka A tour party Naveed Nawaz (capt), Lanka de Silva (vice-capt), Ian Daniel, Tharanga Paranavithana, Nuwan Shiroman, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Anushka Polonowita. Thilina Kandamby, Kaushal Weeraratne, Rangana Herath, Chamara Mudalige, Tharanga Lakshitha, Lasith Malinga, Omesh Wijesiriwardene, Officials: Nuski Mohamed (manager), Hemantha Devapriya (coach), Chris Clark (physio).