India tour chance for fringe players, says Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya has said that the hastily-arranged five-match ODI series in India, to be held in early next month, will help the fringe players prove their worth before next year’s World Cup. After the West Indian players abruptly pulled out of their tour of India last Friday over pay disputes, Sri Lanka Cricket accepted India’s invitation to play a five-match series from November 1. ‘This is an ideal opportunity for some of the bowlers who have been around to grab their chance by performing against a top team like India,’ Jayasuriya told ‘ESPNcricinfo’.

‘These players have been in the system for some time and thrown into the deep end we can see how they cope with the pressures,’ he added. Three Sri Lankan seam bowlers have been recuperating from 

injuries. While Lasith Malinga is recovering from surgery on his ankle, Suranga Lakmal 

has just started rehabilitation work.