Aravinda De Silva given hope of England recall by new selectors
Star batsman Aravinda de Silva has been given fresh hope of an international recall after a meeting with Sri Lanka's newly appointed selection committee
Charlie Austin
12-Jan-2002
Star batsman Aravinda de Silva has been given fresh hope of an international
recall after a meeting with Sri Lanka's newly appointed selection committee.
The four-man selection committee, appointed on Thursday by the Sports
Minister and headed by former Ceylon captain Michael Tissera, made immediate
contact with De Silva.
During the meeting the selectors made it clear that the 36-year-old would be
considered for selection for Sri Lanka's tour of England starting in April
providing that he could prove his fitness to physio Alex Kontouri by 31
March.
De Silva, who fell out of shape and out favour after England's tour of Sri
Lanka in March, was also expected to display his commitment by participating
fully in the ongoing domestic cricket season for his club Nondescripts CC.
The selectors believe that a fully fit De Silva, scorer of 5952 runs in his
89 Test career, would be an asset to the squad during a difficult early
summer tour.
But the panel made it crystal clear that there would be no compromise on his
fitness level. If not sufficiently fit for a rigorous tour then he would be
overlooked.
In the nine months since he last played, De Silva had refused to retire,
maintaining that he still had a role to play in international cricket, but
complaining of a breakdown in communication with the old selection
committee.
That committee, headed by Tikiri Banda Khelgamuwa, had tired of De Silva and
instead recalled veteran left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne into the Test team,
who justified their move with a mountain of runs.
Were De Silva to tour then he may still struggle to claim a spot in the
final eleven, with the top seven all scoring runs in recent series against
India, West Indies and Zimbabwe. On current form, Russel Arnold's place
would be under the greatest threat.
Sri Lanka are due to play three Test matches and a one-day tri-series
including India during a two and a half month tour of England.