Sri Lanka U-19 Vs England U-19 2nd Youth Test :

 Supechala likely to replace injured Rajaguru

SARANGA RAJAGURU

St. Joseph’s College spinner Supechala Jayathilaka is likely to make the Sri Lanka Under-19 team, while his school captain Chathuranga Kumara is an unlikely candidate for the series deciding second Youth Test against England Under-19 which starts at the P. Sara Stadium today. An injury to leg-spinner Saranga Rajaguru, Sri Lanka Under-19’s most successful slow bowler in the first Youth Test, has created an opportunity for the Josephian spinner, who, if selected, will play his first Youth match for Sri Lanka Under-19 today.

Rajaguru, who picked up three wickets at Galle, is recovering from an injury he sustained during the first Test. "He was injured while fielding during the first match. He has undergone tests and has been advised to rest for at least one week," Jerry Woutersz, the team manager, told ‘The Island’ yesterday.

Sri Lanka Under-19 coach Naveed Nawaz said Jayathilaka will fill the vacancy created by Rajaguru and there might also be a change in the pace department.

Either Lahiru Jayaratne or Ruwinda Shamen, who did not play in the Galle Test, is likely to replace paceman Chathuranga Kumara who went wicket-less at Galle. Kumara, who opened the bowling with Sanitha de Mel, bowled 20 overs which cost 77 runs.

Nawaz expected the batting department to remain unchanged for the second Test. Sri Lanka Under-19’s middle order batsmen failed in the first innings in the first Test, but bounced back with a good performance in the second innings to draw the match.

After the first Youth Test ended in a draw at Galle, the two teams will vie for a result in the second and final Youth Test starting today.

Meanwhile, despite the umpires at the first Test cautioning Sri Lanka Cricket of a suspect bowling action of Maduka Liyanapathiranage, Naveed Nawaz said that the spinner from Lumbini College might still play in the remainder of the series.

He said that the umpires have cautioned only liyanapathiranage’s faster ball and if he doesn’t bowl that, he still has a chance of playing in the remainder of the series. "The umpires have a suspicion only about his faster ball. He has to keep from bowling that," Nawaz said.

Match officials at the first Youth Test cautioned the SLC regarding Liyanapathiranage’s suspect bowling action after the match.

Kumar Dharmasena and Ranmore Martinesz (on field umpires), Basil Perera (match referee), Gamini Dissanayake (reserve umpire) were the officials at the first Youth Test.

Teams:

Sri Lanka Under-19 from: Bhanuka Rajapaksha (Captain), Sanitha de Mel, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dananjaya de Silva, Duleeka Thissakuttige, Yasodha Lanka, Kaushalya Gajasinghe, Lasith Abeyratne, Supechala Jayathilaka, Maduka Liyanapathiranage, Lahiru Jayaratne and Ruwinda Shamen.

England Under-19 from: Lewis Gregory (Captain), Adam Ball, Daniel Bell, Drummond, Christian Davis, Matt Dunn, Ben Foakes (wk), Ateeq Javid, Tymal Mills, Tom Milnes, Jack Parsons, Rammy Singh, Gurman Randhawa, Adam Rossington, Andrew Salter, Jack Sheppard, Shiv Thakor and Sam Wood.