Sri Lanka eyeing whitewash

Vaas recalled for Colombo Test

Last updated: 18th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sri Lanka eyeing whitewash

Vaas: Back in contention

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Sri Lanka have recalled veteran fast bowler Chaminda Vaas for the third and final Test against Pakistan in Colombo.

Vaas, 35, has been named in a 16-man squad as the hosts attempt to complete a 3-0 series whitewash at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Media reports had suggested the 110-Test veteran was being eased out of the five-day game and would only play one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

However, Sri Lanka's chief selector Asantha de Mel has dismissed such claims by confirming the left-armer will be considered for Test match selection.

"We did not have any deals or understandings," de Mel told the Daily Mirror. "We did not even speak to him. We just picked him into the squad.

"We have to wait and see if he gets the chance to play when the final 11 is named before the match."

Fantastic achievement

Vaas, who has taken 354 Test wickets since his debut in 1994, could be named as the fourth seamer alongside Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara and Angelo Mathews on a wicket that has taken a lot of rain over the past three days.

That would see unorthodox off-spinner Ajantha Mathews, who has taken just five wickets in the series so far, drop out of the side as a result.

Spin king Muttiah Muralitharan will once again sit out despite recovering from the knee injury which has kept him out of the previous two Tests.

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who stood down in March to concentrate on his batting, has heaped praise on his successor Kumar Sangakkara after wrapping up the series with a seven-wicket win in the previous Test.

"Winning the series was a fantastic achievement and a great effort from all the guys in the team," Jayawardene told Cricinfo.

"To play below par and take a 2-0 lead is really pleasing. But the fact is that we are not playing brilliant Test cricket right now and there is some way for us to get to our best.

"The thing with captaincy is that you need to make bold decisions and you need to think out of the box. Sangakkara has been doing that."