da prosport bet： Kandy’s reputation for the bizarre and unpredictable was enhanced further onthe eve of the second Test against Zimbabwe when the Sri Lankan selectorsmade two unexpected changes, resting vice-captain Marvan Atapattu andpromising fast bowler
Charlie Austin03-Jan-2002Kandy’s reputation for the bizarre and unpredictable was enhanced further onthe eve of the second Test against Zimbabwe when the Sri Lankan selectorsmade two unexpected changes, resting vice-captain Marvan Atapattu andpromising fast bowler Charitha Buddika Fernando.Captain Sanath Jayasuriya was informed of the decision on Wednesday eveningand is said to be silently fuming. Coach Dav Whatmore, who was alreadyhaving a bad day with a severe stomach bug, was unavailable for comment.Atapattu wants to play but the selectors decided that he should stand downto give middle order batsman Chamara Silva a chance after his match-winningcentury in Zimbabwe’s only warm-up game. But the decision leaves Sri Lankawithout a specialist opener.Jayasuriya, somewhat perplexed, admitted they had been forced into a majorre-think: “We haven’t decided on the opener at the moment. We have to have adiscussion and good think later with the coach. We don’t have a specialistopener, but we have a few options, including Kumar Sangakkara and RusselArnold.”Arnold is the favourite to open. Although unaccustomed to facing to the newball now, he scored both of his Test centuries as an opener, before beingmoved down the order upon the advice of the selectors.Fernando is rested in favour of fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, who is anexciting prospect with the ability to bowl with genuine pace, but he hasbeen short of confidence recently and his selection is a gamble.Jayasuriya, a keen fan of Nissanka, was nonetheless surprised: “Charitha(Buddika Fernando) was starting to bowl really well and needs to gainexperience as we are grooming him for the future.”Zimbabwe will be delighted with the news. Desperately missing a specialistspinner, this Test, on a notoriously lively hill-country pitch, offers thetourists their best chance of securing a win. Suddenly, Sri Lanka, shorn ofan experienced opener and clearly upset by an unnecessary distraction, areunder pressure.”We have to be careful,” Jayasuriya warned. “Especially so in Kandy with theprevailing weather conditions. There is movement and swing here and theconditions are such that the fast bowlers tend to do well here. It’s notgoing to be easy – they might come back and play well. There is now moreresponsibility and pressure on all of us.”Of course, Sri Lanka should still win. Zimbabwe were extremely poor inColombo and the home team have a far superior reserve of talent. But SriLanka have lost three out of their last three Tests in Kandy, all of whichshould have been won according to the formbook.Chairman of the selectors, Tikiri Banda Khelgamuwa, defended the selectorsdecision: “We have made the change in the best interests of Sri Lankancricket. Sri Lanka has a long international calendar leading up to the 2003world cup and we want to try out some new players.”This series and the one against Bangladesh is the only opportunity forexperimentation. We cannot throw youngsters in against England, South Africaand Australia.”According to the chairman Atapattu will return for the third Test in Gallewhere other players will be rested.Stuart Carlisle, who remains as captain with leg-spinner Brian Murphy havingreturned home for treatment to a new hand injury, was optimistic that hisside could comeback strongly.”Its hard being one down but we will fight hard to comeback,” he said.”Everyone is clear as to what they have to do and there is no point lookingat the past. We have two Tests to go. We know about Sri Lanka’s previousrecord in Kandy and we will be hoping that works in our favour.He was also hopeful that his side could capitalise on the disarray in theSri Lankan camp: “I am very surprised if it’s true that they are going todrop Marvan Atapattu, who has two double hundreds in Kandy. That should begood for us – we have got to get in as early as possible.”Muttiah Muralitharan remains the greatest threat. “Against Murali we want tokeep it as simple as possible – we don’t want to over analyse. Guys have gotto be relaxed at the crease, look to take a good stride in and play eachball on its merits.Zimbabwe are considering one change to the side that lost comprehensively inColombo, with off-spinning all-rounder Douglas Marillier included in a12-man squad. The final eleven will be decided upon tomorrow.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, KumarSangakkara, Chamara Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, MuttiahMuralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Prabath NissankaZimbabwe (from):Stuart Carlisle (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, GavinRennie, Craig Wishart, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak, TrevorGripper, Gary Brent, Douglas Marillier