Chaminda Vass out of first Test

Chaminda Vass is out of the 1st Test against South Africa with a hamstring injury and while he could play it was thought best not to risk him with the heavy schedule ahead of the Sri Lankan team over the coming months.

Vass has recovered well over the past couple of weeks after suffering the injury during the England tour and started bowling again three days ago.

Lasith Malinga will now lead the attack with Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof the others seamers likely to take the field.

Michael Vandort also misses out, to the inform Sanath Jayasuriya who produced his top form on the recent one-day international series against England, leaving the selectors with no choice but to recall him to the Test side.

Kumar Sangakkara will hand the gloves to Prasanna Jayawardene with Sangakkara saying he was struggling to maintain his wicketkeeping standards with the amount of cricket now being played.

Sri Lanka (from)
Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.

South Africa (from)
Ashwell Prince (captain), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Hashim Amla, Abraham de Villiers, Mark Boucher (wk), Nicky Boje, Andrew Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Andrew Hall.