De Silva, Ranatunga axed from ODI team

COLOMBO, AUG 5: Deposed Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda De Silva were today unceremoniously dropped from the ...

COLOMBO, AUG 5: Deposed Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda De Silva were today unceremoniously dropped from the team for the coming triangular one-day cricket series involving India and Australia.

The Sri Lankan selectors, adopting to the Australian line of team selection named two separate squads — one for one-dayers and the other for Tests — and gave some reprive to the two veterans by naming them in the Test team.The two senior batsmen who anchored the Sri Lankan batting for more than a decade, figure in the 16-member Test squad for the three-match series against Australia.

Sanath Jayasuriya, who took over from Ranatunga after the World Cup debacle, has been entrusted with leading both the sides, the new selection committee announced here today.

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The committee which included Jayasuriya and coach Dave Whatmore, who took over the reins of the Lankan team a few days ago, said they opted for two different squads to draw on the wide pool of talent available in the country.

TheSri Lankan Cricket Board said two teams were named by the National selectors for the first time. “Our intention is to create a new energy, a new enthusiasm and greater sense of competitiveness among our players,” it said in a statement.

The selectors have shown extra faith in 10 players by naming them in both the squads. Besides skipper Jayasuriya and his deputy Mahela Jayawardena, Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Nimesh Parera, Muralitharan, Suresh Parera, Vaas, Kaluwitharana and Zoysa have found place in both the teams.

While Kaluwitharana, despite a poor show in the England World Cup, retained his place in both teams, veteran middle order bat Hashan Tillekeratne failed to find any spot.

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One-day squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Mahela Jayawardena, Marvan Atapattu, Avishka Gunawardena, Russel Arnold, Indika De Saram, Chamara Silva, Upul Chandana, Nimesh Parera, Muttiah Muralitharan, suresh Parera, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Nuwan Zoysa, Pramodaya Wickremasinghe.Test squad: Sanath Jayasuriya(capt), Mahela Jayawardena, Marvan Atapattu, Aravinda De Silva, Russel Arnold, T Dilshan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Ranga Herath, Nimesh Parera, Suresh Parera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Nuwan Zoysa, I Gallage, Prasanna Jayewardena.