Upul Chandana leads Sri Lanka A against Kenyans

The national cricket selectors have appointed Sri Lanka all-rounder Upul Chandana to lead Sri Lanka A in the unofficial three Tests and three one-day international series against Kenya who arrive on Wednesday for a seven-match tour.

Chandana (29) is given the opportunity to captain the side in the hope that he may, like his predecessor Tilan Samaraweera, successfully clinch a permanent place in the national team.

Samaraweera got several opportunities to prove himself as an all-rounder when he captained Sri Lanka A teams against Zimbabwe and Pakistan. His performances in these games eventually saw him graduate into the national Test side where he has done extremely well, mainly as a batsman. It is hoped that Chandana would follow on the same lines.

Being captain gives him a great opportunity to display his right-arm leg-spin in the series against the Kenyans. The national team is in dire need of a bowler of his type and Chandana, with his experience of six Tests and 81 one-day internationals, looks the best bet.

Chandana was recalled to the national side for the final Test against Zimbabwe at Galle and distinguished himself with a Test-best score of 92. He has a Test bowling average of 32.06 for 16 wickets, and 31.08 in one-day internationals for 80 wickets. More than for his batting and bowling, Chandana is renowned for his outstanding fielding.

The Sri Lanka A squad of 20 players are currently undergoing training under the watchful eyes of manager/head coach Roshan Mahanama and coach Hemantha Devapriya. The squad will be pruned down to around 13 players for the unofficial Test series.

The first four-day 'Test' commences at the Sara Stadium on January 31. Kenya, led by World Cup captain Maurice Odumbe, open their tour with a two-day game against a Development Squad captained by Anushka Polonowita at the NCC grounds on January 27.