Vaas Won't Play 3rd Test and Other News from Sri Lanka

Sohel · #1 July 2, 2007, 11:26 PM

From The Daily Star-

"Vaas won't play third Test
CricInfo, undated

Chaminda Vaas is returning to England at the end of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh to reunite with his family and also resume his county contract with Middlesex.

Vaas, 33, said that he was being released by Sri Lanka Cricket to resume his contract with the county with whom he has signed to play for 2007. Vaas returned to Sri Lanka for the Test series leaving his family in England.

Vaas will play in the second Test against Bangladesh beginning on Tuesday at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. It will be the 98th Test of his illustrious career. He is expected to make way for another young fast bowler whom the national selectors want to include for the third and final Test in Kandy.

Farveez Maharoof, who is bowling and batting exceptionally well according to Mahela Jayawardene, and fast bowler Sujeewa de Silva are the main contenders to take Vaas' place. Vaas scored his maiden Test hundred in the first Test of the series at the SSC which Sri Lanka won by an innings and 232 runs."

Also from DS-

"Mahela presses for better show
Sports Reporter from Colombo

Although there was heavy rain here yesterday and the weather forecast predicts more, but the Sri Lankans were not taking it up as a major issue as they looked to confirm a series victory against visiting Bangladesh with a match in hand.

The home side captain Mahela Jayawardene understandably had little doubt about his team's success in the second Test which starts today at the P Sara as he expressed determination while talking to reporters at the Nondescript Cricket Club ground under heavy shower.

"I think it is an ideal situation for us to confirm the series. But I feel we can still improve in all three departments. One area that we can definitely improve is converting those hundreds into 150s and 200s. That'll give our bowlers the ideal platform," said Jayawardene, whose side won the first Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) by an innings and 234 runs.

"In patches we bowled off target and gave away too many boundary deliveries. We weren't as consistent as we would have liked. In fielding we can always improve. There were a few catches that went down and we can always create the pressure by a run-out or two," he added.

Praising Bangladesh's third day performance in the first Test, the young skipper said that the Tigers had a lack of purpose in the longer-version game.

"The conditions we played Bangladesh last time were different and the team is also not the same. We had that series over there and since then, we have an improved side. I guess the Bangladeshis are heading in the right direction but they have a lack of determination. A bit more commitment from the players could help them," he observed.

"The positive for them would have been their batting on the third day, having said that the third day was probably the best to bat on that wicket. So they enjoyed the conditions," he remarked.

But the right-hander warned that the condition would not be same at P Sara, the home ground of spin wizard Muttiah Muralidaran, who as usual, was the wrecker-in-chief with a match haul of nine wickets.

"It's Murali's home wicket and he had a brief chat to the groundsman this morning. I also had a look at the wicket. It looks a very hard and firm wicket and hopefully a good one as well. We haven't played much cricket there," he explained."

wiseshah · #2 July 2, 2007, 11:48 PM

no matter who is bowling against BD, its the BD player's mentality. they have to be strong. Even maharoof can cause severe damage in BDline up. It doesnt matter if Vas plays or not. If BD players want, they can give wicket to anyone

fuzzy · #3 July 2, 2007, 11:55 PM

vass is playing. match is abt to start.

Kabir · #4 July 2, 2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy
vass is playing. match is abt to start.

This is his last match for the series.

Rabz · #5 July 3, 2007, 05:36 AM

They way things are going right now, the whole main SL XI should take a "break" for the third test. Sri Lankan U-19 can probably beat our national team in a test match.
Pathetic show.

nahaz · #6 July 3, 2007, 09:00 AM

Man, I heard The SL under-19's don't wanna play the national team.They wanna have some competition.Even Bd-A team is preferrable to them.See Bd-A would get at least 150 against the SL national team.Why, you may ask? Because they're all trying to get into the National team.The ones in the national team-they have everything.So no point scoring.