England in Sri Lanka 2012 - Sri Lanka 2nd Test squad

Mahela Jayawardene (captain)
The most experienced member of the squad with more than 100 Tests to his name, the right-hander has been a fixture in Sri Lanka’s middle order for well over a decade. His average in excess of 50 speaks for itself, as does the fact he has scored more than 10,000 Test runs. Jayawardene was handed the captaincy for the second time in his career earlier this year following Tillakaratne Dilshan’s resignation.

Thilan Samaraweera
A dependable batsman in the middle order where his unspectacular resilience is in contrast to the flair of those above him. The experienced right-hander averages well over 50 in Tests and put aside doubts over his ability to play outside the sub-continent with some impressive efforts in England and South Africa in the last year.

Tillakaratne Dilshan
Having started his Test career as a middle-order batsman, Dilshan now opens - a position from which he is especially dangerous in home conditions - and still bowls occasional off-spin in addition to producing moments of brilliance in the field.

Tharanga Paranavitana
A tall left-hander, Paranavitana impressed with his patient approach at the top of the order in England last summer, but was dropped for the New Year Test against South Africa.

Lahiru Thirimanne
A bright all-round prospect with his left-handed batting and right-arm seam bowling. Thirimanne had appeared in five Tests prior to the series and is an option at the top of the order.

Kumar Sangakkara
Along with Mahela Jayawardene, one of the classiest and most reliable batsmen in Sri Lanka's history, boasting more than 9,000 Test runs. Sangakkara is an accomplished wicketkeeper but has played as a specialist Test batsman - with great success - in recent times. He is an intelligent cricketer yet lacks nothing in terms of competitiveness.

Dinesh Chandimal
The young batsman made his Test debut during Sri Lanka’s last series, against South Africa. Chandimal, who can also keep wicket, played the final two encounters, impressing with half-centuries in each innings on debut, and has since thrived in the one-day international arena.

Prasanna Jayawardene
Sri Lanka’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper. Injury meant Chandimal was given the nod for the final two Tests against South Africa. Jayawardene struck a century in the first encounter against England last summer.

Suranga Lakmal
Seamer Lakmal has struggled to make the desired impact since making his Test debut against West Indies in 2010. He bowled relatively impressively versus England last summer, though, and will be looking to improve upon his poor record.

Dhammika Prasad
A right-arm fast-medium bowler, Prasad was yet to make any real impact in Test cricket having appeared nine times before the series. He and Lakmal are rivals for the second seamer spot in Sri Lanka’s line-up.

Shaminda Eranga
The seamer was uncovered at a fast bowling competition in 2006 and made his senior international debut five years later. He removed Shane Watson with his first ball in Tests but, despite taking five wickets in that game with Australia, had not made another five-day appearance when he replaced the injured Chanaka Welegedara in the hosts’ squad for the second Test against England.

Suraj Randiv
An off-spinner, Randiv was likely to be one of two spinners - alongside Rangana Herath - employed by Sri Lanka. He had taken 21 wickets in six Tests prior to the series.

Rangana Herath
Having stepped out of the shadow of the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan, who retired in 2010, Herath has emerged as the leader of Sri Lanka’s attack. The left-arm spinner possesses the ability to find substantial turn, but it is his nagging accuracy that makes him such a tricky customer, especially in home conditions.

Angelo Mathews
A bright prospect from an early age, Mathews made his Sri Lanka Under-19 debut at 16 and his senior bow at 21. The all-rounder is now Sri Lanka’s vice captain and a regular in all formats with his cultured batting, useful seam bowling and athletic fielding. He missed the first Test due to a calf problem but returned to the squad in place of Chamara Silva.