Jayasuriya returns to squad

Sanath Jayasuriya, the veteran opener, has returned to Sri Lanka's squad for the remaining VB Series matches in Australia after recovering from a shoulder injury, the selectors announced on Thursday. Jayasuriya will join the squad in Sydney and is available for selection for the third game, KM Nelson, a Sri Lankan selector, told AFP.

Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka have posted one victory each out of two matches each side has played in the ongoing one-day series. Sri Lanka take on Australia in their next game at Sydney on Sunday. Sri Lanka lost their opening match against Australia before coming back strongly to trounce South Africa in their second game.

Jayasuriya, 36, was part of Sri Lanka's squad on the twin tours of New Zealand and Australia but had to return home when he aggravated the injury after slipping in the bathroom on the morning of the second match at Christchurch.

He is just the fourth batsman to complete 10,000 runs in one-day cricket after Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The national selectors said Jayasuriya's inclusion strengthens the team as he is now able to bat, bowl and field after passing a strenuous fitness test at home. Sydney is a happy hunting ground for Jayasuriya, who smashed match-winning centuries against Australia and England in his last two matches there as part of the triangular series in 2003.

The Sri Lankan selectors said Akalanka Ganegama, a right-arm seamer, will also join the squad to replace Farveez Maharoof, who was ruled out due to a groin injury. "Farveez has a groin injury and will return home, and after consulting with the physio back in Australia we decided to send a replacement for him," said Nelson. Ganegama, 24, has played in two one-dayers so far.