Cricket: Perera rewarded with Test call

COLOMBO: All-rounders Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis and fast-bowler Nuwan Kulasekara were included in Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad for this week’s first Test against Pakistan in Galle. Perera was named  man of the series after the five One-Day Internationals (ODI) against Pakistan that was won 3-1 by Sri Lanka on Monday. He was the highest wicket-taker in the series and also grabbed his maiden ODI hat-trick. Leg-spinner Mendis is the only uncapped player in the squad. “We brought in Kulasekara and Perera because of injuries to our fast-bowlers,” said chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel. Among the pacemen nursing knocks is Dilhara Fernando who hurt his shoulder during practice.  “Mendis is a wicket-taking bowler as he showed in the fifth ODI,” said de Mel.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2012.