Dilshan recalled for Third Test

Sri Lanka have recalled batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan for the Third Test against England, and also called-up uncapped seam-bowler Chanaka Welegedera. They replace Jehan Mubarak and the injured Dilhara Fernando, who is about to fly to Australia for ankle surgery.

Mubarak has now played 17 Test innings and is still yet to make a half-century, averaging an appalling 15.87. Dilshan was perhaps a little unfortunate to be left-out at the start of this series after being dropped for the tour of Australia having performed reasonably in his limited opportunities against Bangladesh in June and July. His First-Class form since has been unconvincing, scoring 23 and 3 against England for the Board President’s XI earlier this tour, and he made 3 consecutive single-figure scores on the A-team tour to Zimbabwe in October before redeeming himself to an extent with 85 in the final innings.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Duleep Mendis revealed that Fernando had required pain-killing injections to take part in the first two Tests, and said they had been hoping to postpone the surgery until after the Test series. But the situation finally became untenable on the last day at Sinhalese Sports Club when Fernando was unable to reach anything approaching full pace and was clearly in discomfort while bowling.

Welegedara, 26-year-old left-armer, has 123 First-Class wickets at 24.23 in 7 seasons and opened the bowling with fellow left-armer Sujeewa de Silva for the Board President’s XI. Having been in the squad all series and performed impressively in his 3 Tests against Bangladesh, though, de Silva appears the front-line candidate to take Fernando’s place.

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Sujeewa de Silva, Chanaka Welegedera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Malinga Bandara.