I have just read the Test squad and was pleased that Vaas has been made Vice Captain.
Vaas and Murali are the only two guys in the Team who give 100% all the time even when conditions are adverse and the Team is really down. Vaas's elevation probably reflects a recognition of his hard work and contribution to the Team over several years.
It also sends a key message to Little Mahela that future Captaincy (after Marvan) is not guaranteed and that there are others equally capable of taking over the Captaincy (which must include Sangakkara and of course Murali) .
The selection of Avishka Gunawardene and Chamara Kapugedera are very puzzling.
Avishka is one of those lucky cricketers in SL who has made himself a career out of being an eternal Fringe player. He has been an eternal under performer and under achiever for over 7-8 years but despite this, by keeping the powers that be at SL cricket well oiled
he has remained a recurrent feature of A teams and by scoring heavily against the likes of Bangla and Windies A teams and other weak A teams, has made himself a little career as an eternal (satisfied) fringe Team player. But whenever he has been given an opportunity in Tests or ODIs he has always failed and been found wanting.
Despite this he gets another oppotunity at Test level at the expense of Jayasuriya.
The selection of an 18 year old by the long name of Kapugedera into the Test Team from oblivion means that he is well connected and has the right backers to get him there with ease where others have repeatedly knocked on the door and been refused entry or kept waiting .
Lets hope he can be an even better surprise package than his selection was.
