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ESPNcricinfo staff
November 22, 2011
Ajantha Mendis has been included in Sri Lanka's 16-man Test squad for the tour of South Africa in December ahead of the offspinner Suraj Randiv. There was no place for senior batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who continues to be ignored after having been left out of the squad to face Pakistan in UAE as well.
The squad also includes fast bowler Dilhara Fernando - who last played a Test against England in June - in place of Dhammika Prasad, who was ruled out of the limited-overs series against Pakistan with an injury. Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal complete the Sri Lanka pace attack with Rangana Herath the second spinner.
Mendis missed the home Test series against Australia because of a back injury he sustained during the preceding ODI series and was not part of the squad that played against Pakistan in UAE. Randiv played the Sharjah Test against Pakistan, taking 2 for 95 in the match.
Samaraweera's omission for the second straight tour puts a question mark over his career. He has not been selected since being dropped for the third Test against Australia. Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors, had earlier said that Samaraweera would not figure in the long-term plans of the selectors who intended to give more opportunities to youngsters. Samaraweera has been a solid performer for Sri Lanka, especially at home, and they adjusted to his absence against Australia by batting the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan in the middle order while Lahiru Thirimanne opened with Tharanga Paranavitana. They persisted with the same opening combination against Pakistan for the first two Tests, before Dilshan returned to the top order as Thirimanne was dropped for the Sharjah Test.
Wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva, who made his Test debut against Pakistan recently, has been included in place of the injured Prasanna Jayawardene. Allrounder Kosala Kulasekara lost his spot to Thisara Perera while Dimuth Karunaratne was also included.
Sri Lanka play three Tests in South Africa followed by a five-match ODI series. The first Test starts in Centurion on December 15.
Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt.), Angelo Mathews (vice capt.), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath
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