November 16, 2007	Friday	Ziqa’ad 05, 1428

HOBART (Australia), Nov 15: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said on Thursday there’s was “good possibility” of pace sensation Lasith Malinga being recalled for Friday’s second Test against Australia here at the Bellerive Oval.

Sri Lanka made the surprising decision to leave Malinga out of their team for the first Test in Brisbane.

Australia completed a massive win by an innings and 40 runs on Monday after the touring team’s pace attack had little impact on the game with the home side making 4-551 declared after being sent in on a Gabba greentop.

“We have four quicks and (champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan) so we will have to make a decision (which one to leave out),” Jayawardene said.

“Malinga is an attacking option. We need to win a Test match. I think there’s a good possibility he can come into the side.”

Needing a victory in the second and final Test to square the series one-all, Trevor Bayliss-coached Sri Lanka are also keen to recall premier batsman Kumar Sangakkara if he passes a fitness test on his injured hamstring.

“If Kumar is fit he will probably bat at three. Nothing is finalised yet until we get Kumar’s fitness sorted,” Jaywardene said.

Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera could be the player to make way for Sangakkara with left-arm swing bowler Chaminda Vaas in danger of missing out if Malinga is recalled.

It would be a huge blow for Vaas, 33, who has played 99 Tests and is Sri Lanka’s second-leading wicket-taker with 320 wickets, behind Muralitharan’s 702.

Muralitharan needs seven wickets in the Test to break Shane Warne’s world record of 708.

Jayawardene said opening batsman Marvan Atapattu, who made 51 and 16 in Brisbane, would hold his place in the side despite describing Sri Lanka’s national selectors as “muppets headed by a joker”.

“The comments that people come up with is out of frustration sometimes,” Jaywardene said.

“It would have been ideal if he had done that behind closed doors and we had sorted things out.

“But I think people will have to realise we are playing a Test series and a Test match is much more important than anything other than that.

“Marvan is batting really well. His attitude towards the team and the series is very good so I don’t see why he should not take part in the Test match.

“He is working really hard since he came back in the side and he deserves a spot in the team.”

Teams:

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart MacGill.

Sri Lanka (likely): Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Michael Vandort, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.—Agencies