Sri Lanka ponder keeper change for second test

Thursday, 24 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Sri Lanka may hand a first test cap to 21-year-old wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella as they bid to level the two-test series against South Africa.

Niroshan Dickwella

Dickwella was drafted into the squad for the match in Colombo starting on Thursday after fast bowler Shaminda Eranga was ruled out of the series with a hand injury. Eranga had eight stitches inserted to the webbing between his right thumb and index finger while fielding in the first test at Galle which Sri Lanka lost by 153 runs. Dickwella may replace out-of-form wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. “Chandimal is available for selection but Dickwella also has a good chance of playing tomorrow,” captain Angelo Mathews told a news conference on Wednesday. “We will take final decision after looking at the wicket.” Mathews said the loss in Galle was a wake-up call for his team who had been in a good run since December, winning the Asia Cup, the World T20 and their first test series in England. “If you look at the past six months we have played some good cricket but that is all history and in the past, we have got to move on take one game and series at a time,” Mathews said. “Every series is a challenge for us it is mentally and physically depressing, it can take a lot out of your body as well but that’s the challenge as players we have got to face.” The Singhalese SC track is normally excellent for batting. “It is usually a flat wicket, it does a little bit in the morning session and then turns out to be a batting paradise. I hope it will be different,” said Mathews. “But whatever the pitch we play on we’ve got find ways to beat South Africa. They are a very balanced team in all three departments and we expect a massive challenge from them. We have got to sharpen our game in every aspect to compete with them. It’s all about mental preparation, we need to prepare for it and the toss won’t make a massive difference,” he added.

Marvan’s tenure as Head Coach extended till August

ESPNCricinfo: Marvan Atapattu’s tenure as acting head coach has been extended until the end of the Pakistan tour in August, while SLC call for applications for the position in the interim. Atapattu is among the frontrunners to be appointed in the role, but although the tour of England and the present series against South Africa have served as a long audition, SLC’s executive committee has decided to open the door to other candidates. “We’ll be advertising the position in this Sunday’s paper,” SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva said, adding that SLC would have breathing space to follow the process and appoint a new head coach because the team does not have international commitments between August and November. If a coach from outside the present Sri Lanka system is appointed, he will have fewer than nine months with the side, before the World Cup in 2015. Sri Lanka’s acting assistant coach Ruwan Kalpage will also continue in that position until the end of the Pakistan tour. Former first-class batsman Nuwan Seneviratne will assume the fielding coach position, which has been vacant since Kalpage was made acting assistant coach ahead of the England tour. Atapattu has had some success as head coach, overseeing T20 and ODI series wins in England, as well as Sri Lanka’s first-ever Test series win in that country. Sri Lanka have since stuttered at home against South Africa, losing the ODI series 2-1 and going 1-0 down in the Tests. Former Surrey coach Chris Adams is believed to be among those interested in the job in Sri Lanka, having already worked with the team as a consultant during the England tour. This will be the second time Sri Lanka advertise for the head coach position in 10 months. Paul Farbrace had been appointed head coach in January, but left to take a position with England in April. Atapattu is the seventh head coach - acting or permanent - Sri Lanka have had in the last four years. The board has had trouble keeping its coaches, in part because coach salaries have been driven up considerably since the advent of the IPL and other domestic T20 leagues.

Mahela to sign off at the SSC

ESPNCricinfo: Mahela Jayawardene’s swan song will be at his home ground, after SLC’s Executive Committee decided to move the second Test against Pakistan from the P Sara Oval to the SSC ground. Jayawardene has been prolific at the venue, piling up 2698 Test runs at an average 77.08. Jayawardene also hit the highest score for a Sri Lankan and the highest score by a right-hander, at SSC, when he made 374 against South Africa there in 2006. He has played for SSC since his late teens, following a highly successful school cricket career with Nalanda College. The change of venue means Jayawardene’s final series will be played at his two favourite grounds, with the first match against Pakistan in Galle. No batsman has made more Test runs at any venue than Jayawardene has made at both. SLC said it will celebrate his career with commemorative events at both venues.