Kaluwitharana, Zoysa recalled for VB Series

Wicket-keeper batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana and left-arm fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa have been recalled for Sri Lanka's forthcoming one-day tour of Australia.

Both players were axed after Sri Lanka's disastrous tour of England but have now been welcomed back into the fold after Sri Lanka's 4-1 humiliation in South Africa.

Kaluwitharana's return comes just days after his international career looked to be over when he was excluded from Sri Lanka's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup.

The 33-year-old, famed for his breath-taking pinch-hitting during the 1996 World Cup, has played 177 games for Sri Lanka, scoring 3463 runs at 22.20.

His exclusion prompted fierce criticism in the Sri Lanka media and when he reeled off five half-centuries in seven domestic games the selectors were forced into a u-turn.

He comes into the 16-man squad in place of veteran left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne, who failed to grab his opportunity to impress in South Africa after winning a recall for the first time in three years.

The 33-year-old right-hander will open the batting with Sanath Jayasuriya and keep wicket, forcing Kumar Sangakkara back down into the middle order. Marvan Atapattu will bat at number three.

Both Kaluwitharana and Zoysa will be under pressure to perform in the first three games or face possible exclusion again for the second leg as Sri Lanka frantically race against the clock to find form before the World Cup.

Should Kaluwitharana score heavily the Sri Lanka cricket board will ask the ICC to allow his inclusion in World Cup squad despite regulations that stipulate that the final squad is picked from the 30-man pool.

However, cricket officials expect that to be a mere formality in light of India's refusal to abide by the regulations and name their provisional pool before November 31.

Middle order batsman Aravinda de Silva, now 37, will miss the first three games of the tournament having requested leave from the selectors for personal reasons. He will rejoin the squad after the New Year.

The Chairman of the Selectors, Guy de Alwis, was happy to grant De Silva leave: "Aravinda has served Sri Lanka cricket so well and when a player like him has personal problems we have to consider that request."

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is recovering well from a hernia operation and is expected to play in Sri Lanka's third game of the tournament against Australia at Perth

Sujeewa de Silva, a 23-year-old left-arm swing bowler who takes the place of Chamila Gamage, is the only uncapped player in the squad.

All-rounder Hasantha Fernando and opening batsman Avishka Gunawardene have been dropped.

Sri Lanka play their first three matches on December 17, 20 and 22 before the triangular recommences again after the last two Ashes Tests.

SRI LANKA TEAM TO AUSTRALIA