New fast bowler Welagedera in Sri Lanka squad for Australian tour

New fast bowler Welagedera in Sri Lanka squad for Australian tour

Dilshan dumped and Warnapura ignored

Middle order batsman Tillekaratne Dilshan has finally faced the selectors’ axe for a poor show over the past couple of months while promising batsman Malinda Warnapura has been given a raw deal in the formation of Sri Lanka’s Test squad for this month’s tour of Australia.

Dilshan will not be part of the 16-man squad for the tour of Australia after failing to come to grips with rival bowlers during the past two years while he averaged 34.65 which is below par to compete against the best.

He has failed to score a century in his last 15 games and his place has been taken by 31-year old Thilan Samaraweera.

But a surprise omission from the line-up is left-handed opening batsman Malinda Warnapura who is also capable of playing in the middle order batting.

Warnapura replaced an injured Upul Tharanga in the last home series against Bangladesh in July this year and scored an inspiring knock of 82 in the second Test. He was surprisingly dropped from the third Test against the same opposition and replaced by Tharanga who is still struggling to find his feet.

Analysts believe that the treatment meted out to Warnapura would see Sri Lanka lose another of its promising players.

Meanwhile the controversy-ridden Selection Committee has also decided to continue with 38-year old opener Sanath Jayasuriya after failing to win back Marvan Atapattu who shunned a meeting with the selectors on Wednesday evening.

Jayasuriya was to be left out of the Australian tour had Atapattu consented to return. Having turned his back on a second recall Atapattu has effectively retired from Sri Lanka cricket after being a virtual tourist during the World Cup in the West Indies in March-April this year.Chanaka Welagedera a 26-year old left arm fast bowler, is the only new face in the tour party after nudging the selectors with some sound performances for the Sri Lanka A team. In his last match for a Sri Lanka Invitation X1 he captured a match bag of 10 wickets for 95 runs against Tamil Nadu at the Colts ground in Colombo.

Sri Lanka play against Australia in two Tests at Brisbane starting on November 8 and at Hobart from November 16.

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Chamara Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welagedera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.