Test squad named

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 40

Test squad named

NZPA Radella, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka placed heavy emphasis on spin bowling when it named its 14-man squad for the first cricket test against New Zealand, beginning at Kandy tomorrow night (N.Z. time). The squad includes three spin bowlers, two of whom seem chosen to be included in the test eleven.

The spin assault is led by the vastly experienced legbreak artist, D. S. De Silva, and complemented by the addition of a young leftarmer, Jayanth Amerasinghe, and an off-spinner, * M. Yusuf.

Incredibly, M. Yusuf has never played in a first-class match.

The composition of the Sri Lankan test eleven and the shape of the bowling attack is still clouded by injuries to key players. The gifted young fast bowler, Asantha De Mel, was unavailable for selection, allowing Ravi Ratnayake, who toured New Zealand last year, to return to the international scene.

The attractive batsman, Ranjan Madugalle, has been named in the Sri Lankan squad although he is carrying a hamstring injury and will be subject to a fitness test.

If Madugalle is not passed fit, the all-rounder, Sanath Kaluperuma, is tipped to enter the test side both as a batsman and exponent of off-spin. The team is: Duleep Mendis (captain), Roy Dias, Ranjan Madugalle, Sidath Wettimuny, Susil Fernando, D. S. De Silva, Guy De Alwis, Vinodhan John, Jayantha Amerasinghe, Rajuna Ranatunge, Ravi Ratnayake, Rumesh Ratnayake, S. H. Uvais Karnanin and Mumtaz Yusuf.