SL to bat first

26 March 2012 04:51 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against England at the Galle International Stadium.

The tourists awarded a Test cap to all-rounder Samit Patel, who will bat in the middle-order and bowl left-arm spin, the third slow bowler in the ranks after Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

Patel was preferred over Ravi Bopara, who could have played only as a specialist batsman after a side strain ruled him out of bowling in the series.

Sri Lanka left out Chamara Silva, who hit 163 against the tourists in a practice match last week, to play young batsman Dinesh Chandimal.

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann. 12th man: Ravi Bopara.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suranga Lakmal, Chanaka Welegedara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath. 12th man: Tharanga Paranavitana. (AFP)

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Comments - 6

manike Monday, 26 March 2012 05:21 AM

Best of luck Sri Lanka. This time don;t give lame excuses like that the management of both teams decided before the match that both teams should play twice and that is why Angelo Perera couldn't play his century.

Amila. G Monday, 26 March 2012 05:39 AM

Mahela, What are the odds this time.

Leslie H. Wijesinghe Monday, 26 March 2012 06:51 AM

This time too we made a mistake why chamara silva not in the side he is inform batsman and had a century against England in three day match and this not t 20 or one day match and its test cricket its ok with two spinners as English batting week on spinners and Suraj Randive can bat too

rosh Monday, 26 March 2012 07:52 AM

They are doing everything but batting.

seeya Monday, 26 March 2012 09:10 AM

I think players discussing about the "Excuse"..... And awaiting for Lux IPL 135/5..... :(

Doggie-fruit Monday, 26 March 2012 02:06 PM

The SLC has screwed up again by an astronomical increase in ticket prices to make money out of the British visitors. This is keeping out local fans and angering the British who feel they are being fleeced. Sri Lanka has been considered the greatest cricketing destination in the world up till now. These idiotic officials at the SLC are ruining that.. This is so sad.

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SL to bat first

Comments - 6

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