Lanka mulling changes after losing second Test

Jayawadene did feel the absence of an effective pacer in his side during the second Test.

The drubbing in the second Test at Galle has forced the Sri Lankan cricket selectors to explore changes in the fast bowling department with old war horses Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara in the scanner for their average performance in the match.

It remains to be seen whether the selectors drop the opener Michael Vandort in the third Test beginning in Colombo on Friday after his poor showing in the first two matches.

After seeing India8217;s Ishant Sharma exploding with three wickets in the second Test that added to the Sri Lankan woes as they were capitulating under the spin pressure, the Islanders are also looking for a young fast bowling option.

The 25-year-old uncapped pace bowler Dammika Prasad who troubled the Indian batsmen in the practice game against Lanka Board XI could be one of the options, according to sources.

The axe may fall on Kulasekara, who failed to extract pace in the first two Tests though did manage to force Indian openers to be watchful against him in the initial overs of the previous matches.

Kulasekara was averaging between 114 and 125 kms in the matches against India.

Prasad, capped thrice in One-Day Internationals in 2006, has since suffered a number of injuries before touring England and Zimbabwe with Sri Lanka 8216;A8217; last year.

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8220;The selectors are discussing changes in the pace department and whether to continue with Michael Vandort,8221; a source said.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawadene did feel the absence of an effective pacer in his side during the second Test after seeing Sharma extract pace of around 135-140 kms.

8220;That8217;s something for us to discuss. We felt that in these kinds of conditions, usually the medium-pacers are effective as well. Ishant is an exceptional bowler with his height and everything. He creates a bit of bounce on this kind of wicket. We just need to make a smart choice,8221; the Sri Lankan captain had said after the Galle loss.

8220;We will have a chat with the selectors, we have a few options in our squad. We will see what we can come up with,8221; the dejected Jayawardene had said after squandering the advantage of winning the first Test by an innings and 239 runs at Colombo.

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In the event of Dilhara Fernando getting fit before the third Test he will be in the reckoning for a call up.

The selectors are in a quandary on whether to drop the most successful pace bowler Chaminda Vaas, seeing the 34-year-old slow down considerably in the Galle Test though he got some wickets.

As far as Vandort is concerned, though strong off the front foot through the off-side and leg-side, he was found vulnerable to edging after being unsure on driving head on at the bowlers.

Even as Jayawardene feels the tall 28-year-old left-handed opener has played consistently in the last six months and getting runs, the selectors are not sure of retaining him for the third Test as well.

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The Lankan captain is of the view that there could be a problem in the long run if one keeps 8220;chopping and changing8221; in the opening batting department.

The 27-year-old Thilan Thushara is also a new fast bowling prospect for the third Test having shown steady improvement.

He made his Test debut against West Indies in 2003, but failed to make the Test or ODI squad for the England tour later in the year.

Thushara is also a hard striker of the ball and can fill in the problem of a highly vulnerable Sri Lankan tail.