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COLOMBO, Sept 19: Sanath Jayasuriya will become the first Sri Lankan to play 100 Test matches during his team’s second Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday. The 36-year-old left-handed opener, famed for his exuberant and aggressive stroke-play, has been a regular of the Sri Lanka team during the last 14 years after making his debut in 1991.
The former Sri Lanka captain is looking forward to reaching the milestone as his team look to wrap-up a series win against Bangladesh after winning the first Test last week by an innings and 96 runs.
“When I sit back and reflect that I am going to play 100 test matches I begin to wonder whether this is a dream,” Jayasuriya told reporters.
“Representing my country gives me so much joy and I am now really looking forward to my 100th game, which will be a very happy and proud moment.”
Sri Lanka will be able to pick a full-strength team for the second and final game of the series and skipper Marvan Atapattu has called for an improvement from his batsmen.
“The bowlers and fielders did a good job in the first test but I would have liked at least one of the batsmen to have gone on to score a big hundred,” he told reporters.
“We have all set ourselves targets and I hope we will see an improvement in this game.”
Sri Lanka’s only selection dilemma is whether to retain fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who bowled just four overs in the first game, as a third seamer or pick an all-rounder or batsman instead.
Bangladesh took a two-day break after their humiliating two-and-a-half day defeat to help the players relax before the second Test.
The tourists returned to practice on Saturday with a long afternoon net session.
“Our motive was to relax the players and regain mental fitness and I believe the two days rest has worked — today’s practice was very enthusiastic,” skipper Habibul Bashar told reporters.
Bangladesh’s main concern is how to play off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who claimed nine for 60 in the first game, troubling all batsmen with his sharp turn and clever variations.
Teams (from):
SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Russel Arnold, Gayan Wijekoon, Dilhara Fernando, Shantha Kalavithigoda.
BANGLADESH: Habibul Bashar (captain), Javed Omar, Nafees Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Shahriar Nafees, Tushar Imran, Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Enamul Haque Jr, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Talha Jubair, Abdur Razzaq.
UMPIRES: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Steve Bucknor (West Indies).
TV UMPIRE: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka).
MATCH REFEREE: Clive Lloyd (West Indies).—Agencies
