COLOMBO - Sri Lanka on Monday named dashing opener Sanath Jayasuriya as deputy to Arjuna Ranatunga, replacing former number two Aravinda De Silva for the three test series against New Zealand. Jayasuriya, 28, replaces De Silva who was vice captain since 1992. Also left out was batsman Roshan Mahanama and off spinner Kumara Dharmasena in the 14-member squad named for the first test which opens Wednesday at the Premadasa Stadium here.

The Sri Lankan squad has one schoolboy player in 18-year-old Malinga Bandara, a right arm leg spin bowler. Some of the new faces in the squad are uncapped batsman Pradeep Hewage, fast bowlers Suresh Perera and Indika Gallage and left arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratilleke. Sri Lanka squad: Arjuna Ranatunga (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardena, Aravinda De Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Predeep Hewage, Pramodya Wickremesinghe, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suresh Perera, Indika Gallage, Ruwan Kalpage and Malinga Bandara. (AFP)