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Jayasuriya to lead Sri Lanka

Sanath Jayasuriya has been named the new captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, with Mahela Jayawardane as his deputy, for the three-nation one-day tournament between India, Australia and Sri Lanka, starting August 22.

Former Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga found a place in the new team announced by the selection committee today. All the players who were members of team that participated in the recent World Cup tournament are also in the new team.

The selection committee, under the chairmanship of Sidath Wettimuni, finalised the squad after a marathon meeting last night.

Earlier, Ranatunga had presented himself before the committee.

The need for a change at the top became apparent following Sri Lanka's dismal performance in the last five one-day tournaments, beginning with the mini-World Cup in Dhaka in October last year and culminating with their unsuccessful attempt to defend the World Cup title in England last month.

The burly Ranatunga, 35, in an open letter to Sri Lankan cricket fans, expressed regret over his team's defeats and said his future as captain lay in the hands of the selectors.

''What I do wish to say is that it is my firm belief that I do have a few more years of cricket left in me and, if my services are wanted, I am willing to represent my country in whatever capacity,'' he said.

Jayasuriya, 30, took the 1996 World Cup by storm as an opener whose explosive batting brought a fresh dimension to one-day cricket.

A left-hand batsman and useful spin bowler, Jayasuriya holds the World records in one-day cricket for the fastest half-century (17 balls), the highest number of runs in an over (30) and shares the mark for the most sixes in an innings (11) with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.

Jayawardene, 22, a right-hand batsman and medim pace bowler, has played some fine innings since his inclusion in the Sri Lankan team.

UNI