Legends of Sports

Tillakaratne Dilshan resigned as Sri Lanka captain from all three formats; the country's new selection panel selected former captain Mahela Jayawardene in his place to lead the ODI squad to Australia for the tri-series in February concerning the hosts and India. Angelo Mathews remains the vice-captain of the 15-member squad which also includes Dilshan.

Jayawardene was ODI captain from 2004 till 2009. He resigned in 2009, saying he wanted his successor to have enough time to build the team for the 2011 World Cup. Kumar Sangakkara took over from Jayawardene but stepped down after leading Sri Lanka to the final of the World Cup. Dilshan led Sri Lanka for nine months after the World Cup, but resigned on Monday following series defeats in both Tests and ODIs in all his four assignments.

Jayawardene has led Sri Lanka in 97 ODIs, winning 57 and losing 35. Farveez Maharoof, the bowling allrounder, and Chanaka Welegedara, the fast bowler, were recalled after having last played an ODI for Sri Lanka back in June 2010. The duo was the only changes from the squad for the recent ODI series in South Africa, in place of Kosala Kulasekara and Dilhara Fernando.

ODI squad

Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chanaka Welegedara, Dhammika Prasad

Boxing Apparel

A hugely proud Kumar Sangakkara hopes Sri Lanka will celebrate his 100th Test appearance with a series-levelling victory over Australia in the final match in Colombo from Friday. "It's a great honour to have represented my country for a period of time, and also a great honour to play 100 Test matches," Sangakkara told reporters ahead of his landmark match at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

"It's not often that a player gets that chance and I'm very, very proud and also very privileged to be given the chance to represent my country and my people for so long.”But the important thing is to contribute as much as I can to the side winning games. It's nice to participate, but you want to say to your team-mates and others that we are winners. "That is what everyone wants, go out there and win matches. It's what the whole team is chasing at the moment, to try to win and be the best."

The elegant left-hander has provided substance and builds to Sri Lanka's batting. His 8,572 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 55.66 with 25 hundreds are second in his country's all-time list, behind Jayawardene's 9,801 runs from 121 matches. Sangakkara said his goal was to compile 10,000 Test runs and score 30 centuries before he hung up his boots, but retirement is still far from his mind.

Other team mates reaches 100th test are:


Agility Chutes

More Sports News