Burnley Eyeing Swoop To Sign "Shining" £8.7m Marksman

Burnley romped their way to the Championship title in exciting fashion as they accumulated 101 points to secure their promotion to the Premier League.

Vincent Kompany must now use the upcoming summer transfer window to build a squad that is capable of surviving, and thriving, in the top-flight, instead of suffering an instant relegation back down to the second tier.

One area in which he is reportedly looking to strengthen is the centre-forward position following the departure of Ashley Barnes on a free transfer to Norwich City.

It was recently reported that the Clarets are one of the teams interested in signing Metz number nine Georges Mikautadze, who has been the subject of a €10m (£8.7m) offer from Italian giants AC Milan.

Who is Georges Mikautadze?

He is a 22-year-old Georgian international who has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the second tier of French football this season and the ace could come in as a big upgrade on current Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez.

In the Championship this term, the ex-Southampton man averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 and contributed with ten goals and two assists in 28 appearances – a strike every 2.8 outings on average.

Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez.

Mikautadze, however, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 and plundered 23 goals and eight assists in 36 clashes in Ligue 2 for Metz – a goal every 1.56 matches on average.

This shows that the marksman has been lethal in front of goal as the gem has been able to score more than once every other game, which is far more impressive than Rodriguez's return.

The dynamo also produced 1.5 key passes per appearance and delivered seven 'big chances' on a plate for his teammates throughout the campaign, which shows that the young whiz has the vision and passing range to regularly open up the opposition's defence.

Meanwhile, the Englishman created 0.5 chances per game for his teammates in the second division and this indicates that the Metz star would provide far more creativity in the number nine role, as Rodriguez does not set up his fellow attackers on a regular basis.

Mikautadze, who writer Andres Ramos claimed is "shining" in Ligue 2, could, therefore, come in and provide Kompany's side with far more quality in the final third.

Their respective statistics this season suggest that the Georgian has the quality to score more goals and create more chances for others in comparison to Rodriguez, which is why he would come in as a big upgrade on the English veteran.

Fit-again Grace Harris returns for Sri Lanka tour

Allrounder Grace Harris has returned to the Australia Women’s squad, for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, after recovering from deep vein thrombosis

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2016Australia Women’s squad

Meg Lanning (capt), Alex Blackwell (vice-capt), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani
Schedule:
1st ODI, September 18, Dambulla
2nd ODI, September 20, Dambulla
3rd ODI, September 23, Colombo
4th ODI, September 25, Colombo
Only T20I, September 27, Colombo

Allrounder Grace Harris has returned to the Australia Women’s squad, for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, after recovering from deep vein thrombosis. Harris last played competitive cricket in early March this year, not making it to the Women’s World T20 in India in March-April.Opening batsman Nicole Bolton, who was also not part of the World T20 but was a part of Australia’s previous ODI series, against New Zealand in February, also makes it to the squad. Apart from Bolton and Harris, all the 12 other members of the squad for Sri Lanka featured in the World T20, which was Australia’s last international assignment.”We believe this group contains a good mix of youth and experience that will give us the best chance of succeeding in Sri Lanka,” national selector Shawn Fleger said. “We’ve got a number of options covered with our bowling attack as well as several batters who can produce the attacking game-style we want to play.”The players have had a solid preseason with a number of camps held at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. Grace Harris, Beth Mooney and Holly Ferling all have recent experience in Sri Lankan conditions, having toured the country with the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad last year.”Lauren Cheatle, who made her international debut at the age of just 17 in January this year, will miss out as she aims to complete her final year of high school. Also not part of the squad is Sarah Coyte, who has opted not to take up her contract for the 2016-17 season.This will be Australia’s first bilateral tour of Sri Lanka. The team will fly out on September 12 and warm up with a practice match in Colombo on September 15. They will then play four ODIs, followed by a one-off T20I. The first three ODIs will also have Women’s Championship points up for grabs. Australia currently sit on top of that table, and the top four teams at the end of the year will gain automatic entry into the Women’s World Cup in England next year.

Liverpool Set To Seal Off-Field Appointment In "Next Days"

Liverpool are expected to complete the appointment of Jorg Schmadtke as the Premier League club's new sporting director "in the next days", according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Jorg Schmadtke?

Schmadtke is a German former professional manager turned sporting director and has vast experience off the field, having previously carried out spells with Alemannia Aachen, Hannover 96, FC Koln and most recently Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, and since Julian Ward announced back in November that he would be departing at the end of the season, FSG appear to have identified the 59-year-old as a potential ideal successor.

As quoted by The Telegraph, Jurgen Klopp confirmed during a public interview that he holds an existing relationship with his compatriot, but insisted that any kind of move being completed would not simply be as a result of their friendship, and now, the behind-the-scenes figure is set to put pen to paper on a short-term deal.

Are Liverpool appointing Schmadtke?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Schmadtke, with the appointment likely to be finalised imminently over the course of the next week. The Italian reporter wrote:

"Jorg Schmadtke will be in England in the next days in order to sign the contract as new Liverpool director, as expected. Former Wolfsburg director will work with Jurgen Klopp on strategy and signings — the manager will remain crucial figure to make decisions."

Liverpoolmanager Juergen Klopp

Schmadtke only announced his retirement five months ago, so the fact that he’s willing to come out of it so soon must mean that he believes he can help Liverpool progress over the summer – and there is plenty of work for him to be getting underway with, especially in strengthening the midfield area, which has been highlighted as a priority position.

The Dusseldorf native has a good track record of identifying stars in the making, having signed Wout Weghorst at Wolfsburg, who had a fantastic spell at the club posting 92 goal contributions in 144 appearances, while he is now, of course, playing in the top flight with Manchester United.

Football Insider has already reported that FSG will give the sporting director the opportunity to extend his stay should he impress during his work in the coming months, and a longer-term contract would be fully deserved should he manage to secure the club's top targets alongside Klopp ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Nottinghamshire slump confirms them as relegation candidates

Nottinghamshire are unequivocally in trouble. Without a win since the opening match of the season, they have only five matches remaining, including trips to Scarborough and Chester-le-Street

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge20-Jul-2016
ScorecardJohann Myburgh sealed Somerset’s victory in double-quick time•Getty ImagesSomerset supporters who criticised Chris Rogers in the wake of last week’s agonising last-over defeat against leaders Middlesex might look at the Division One table as it stands and be tempted to reiterate their point.The Somerset captain spoke of “breathing space” at the bottom of the table after watching his side take advantage of Nottinghamshire’s dismal last-day performance to run away with a comprehensive victory. Yet in moving ahead of Yorkshire, Somerset are in a position to be considered as rather more than strugglers.The gap between themselves and Middlesex is just 22 points, with six matches to play. Clearly, then, what happened last week at Taunton, when Middlesex chased down a target set by Rogers with two balls to spare, could yet be hugely significant.By contrast, Nottinghamshire are unequivocally in trouble. Without a win since the opening match of the season, they have only five matches remaining, including trips to Scarborough and Chester-le-Street. Their two home fixtures are against Hampshire and Middlesex and they conclude by meeting Somerset again at Taunton.Moreover, they fell apart here in the manner of a team with considerable momentum pulling them in the wrong direction. After resuming on 58 for 2 overnight, they subsided from 74 for 2 to 99 for 7 in the space of 19 overs before lunch before being dismissed for 135, with Brett Hutton unable to bat because of an injured hand.The deliveries that accounted for Brendan Taylor and top-scorer Jake Libby kept a touch low and Chris Read, himself only recently back from a hand injury, was out in bizarre fashion, pulling a ball from Lewis Gregory over the rope at midwicket but knocking off the bails with the toe of his bat as he swivelled round in his follow-through.Jamie Overton out for season

Somerset seamer Jamie Overton will miss the rest of the season after suffering a stress fracture in his lower back.
The injury was discovered in scans undergone after the 22-year-old went off during the second day of Somerset’s recent County Championship defeat to Middlesex.
Jamie Thorpe, the county’s physiotherapist, said: “Jamie Overton will begin a rehabilitation programme later in the autumn with a view to him making a full recovery and returning to cricket next season.”
The injury forced Overton to pull out of the England Lions squad for 50-over tri-series against Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A. Earlier this year, a foot injury forced him to return home early from Dubai on the eve of the Lions’ opening 50-over match against Pakistan A. Overton tops Somerset’s championship bowling averages, with 17 wickets in six outings at an average of 22.47.

It did not add up to anything like mitigation, however. When Samit Patel casually flicked a ball from Gregory straight into the hands of James Hildreth on the square-leg boundary, he threw back his head partly in disbelief, partly in the grim realisation that the spectre of relegation is looming uncomfortably large.It left Somerset needing just 100 to win, which they were able to knock off in just 16.5 of the 53 overs at their disposal. Johann Myburgh, who had riotously smashed 22 in one over of Imran Tahir’s leg spin, hit the winning runs. At the other end stood his opening partner, 40-year-old Marcus Trescothick, first-innings double centurion, who had been on the field, give or take the odd comfort break, for every baking minute of the match.It meant that Nottinghamshire, having been 196 for 0 on day one and 295 for 2 after 24 overs on day two, had ultimately had their faces rubbed in the dirt. Speaking afterwards, director of cricket Mick Newell was not inclined to pull punches.”We’ve got ourselves into big trouble now,” he said. “We have to face the fact. We’re seventh, which is where we deserve to be and we have to make sure we don’t drop any lower.”To get bowled out for 135 on that pitch is poor but the fact is that 401 should have been 501 in the first innings.”We are getting out of positions of strength too easily and under pressure we have not shown enough fight. Those are the two things you need to do if you want to be a better team and the fact is that we are not playing very well.”Rogers took the opportunity to revisit the debate over the Middlesex defeat, in which he came under fire for making what some perceived as a risky declaration. He was willing to accept the criticisms, but believes the experience of a narrow defeat actually did his young team more good than harm.”I read somewhere that I didn’t have regrets about declaring,” he said. “Of course I had regrets – we lost the game.”It left us feeling low but this group is going to get better by being in tough positions. You don’t learn from playing out boring draws. You learn from being under pressure.”We have a fantastic group of young players at Somerset for whom the sky’s the limit and we have to challenge them.”They responded so well to that loss and to see that response here, in one of the most incredible games I’ve played in, where losing the toss felt like a hammer blow, is so promising.”Of course, we could have been in a tough situation if we had not won so this is a huge result, giving us a bit of breathing space and allowing us maybe to attack the teams ahead of us.”Newell said that Hutton has a broken bone in his right hand as a result of an incident in the field on day three and will be missing for four weeks, which is a further blow to Nottinghamshire’s survival chances.The emergence of Hutton, Jake Ball and Luke Wood as a trio of vibrant young bowlers helped turn Nottingham’s season around from a similar low point last year but although Wood will be back from injury by the time they next play a Championship match, there are few other signs of an imminent fillip. The loss of James Taylor and, through England’s demands, of Alex Hales, is being keenly felt.”We’ve got three and a half weeks now of white-ball cricket, in which we are doing well, and we just have to hope that when we come back against Hampshire on August 13 some of that form transfers to the four-day game,” Newell said.”We have to find a way to get 60-70 points from the last five matches and at least one win will be essential.”

Liverpool Update Emerges On Potential Return Of Sadio Mane

Liverpool currently have no interest in bringing Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane back to the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Sadio Mane leaving Bayern Munich?

The Senegal international swapped Anfield for Munich last summer after a hugely successful six-year period on Merseyside, as per Transfermarkt, and despite him still having another two years remaining on his contract, there’s a chance that he could be set to seal a permanent move elsewhere during the upcoming window after just one campaign following a behind the scenes bust-up.

The Reds legend was reportedly involved in an altercation with his teammate Leroy Sane, who he punched in the dressing room, which saw him receive a one-match ban and a hefty fine. It then wasn’t long before Football Insider suggested that the German giants were happy to listen to offers for him, with a return to the top-flight a real possibility.

Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the 31-year-old, but rumours were sparked after it was claimed that he would like to reunite with Jurgen Klopp. It would appear that the player's feelings aren’t reciprocated if this fresh update is anything to go by.

Will Mane go back to Liverpool?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool, at this stage, have "no plans" to make another move for Mane ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Bayern winger does "not feature" in Thomas Tuchel's long-term project and is therefore expected to depart.

However, the chances of him reconnecting with his former squad members are next to none as it's stated that the recruitment team have "no interest" in bringing him back to Anfield. This is despite Mane telling private friends he misses the club and wants to return.

Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane.

During his time at Liverpool, Mane was undoubtedly a fan favourite and quickly established himself as one of the heroes of the Klopp era, posting 168 goal contributions (120 goals and 48 assists) in 269 appearances across all competitions, but making the decision not to be tempted into acquiring his services once again is the correct one.

Since his departure, the northwest outfit have signed the likes of Darwin Nunez and most recently Cody Gakpo, so are well-stocked in their attacking department, especially now the likes of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are both also back to full fitness.

At Bayern, Mane is the highest earner on their books pocketing £367k-per-week, which is more than any current member of the Reds squad, the richest being Mohamed Salah on £350k-per-week, so his wage demands would likely be too high to take on again, therefore meaning that it would be best to avoid a deal, close that previous chapter and start a new one.

NatWest broadens ECB sponsorship deal

NatWest will become the major ECB sponsor from next year, taking over the branding of the various teams which are currently under the Waitrose deal that will finish early in 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2016NatWest will become the major ECB sponsor from next year, taking over the branding of the various teams which are currently under the Waitrose deal that will finish early in 2017, alongside its current sponsorships which include the T20 Blast and the CricketForce volunteering scheme.The bank has been heavily involved in English cricket since 1980 and the new four-year deal will take them beyond 40 years of association with the sport which began with the domestic 60-over NatWest Trophy.The shirt part of the deal – which includes all England teams – begins at the start of the busiest international summer which includes the Champions Trophy, Women’s World Cup, full tours by South Africa and West Indies and a visit by Ireland at the start of the season.David Wheldon, the chief marketing officer at NatWest, said: “Ever since we first established the NatWest Trophy in conjunction with the ECB in 1980, cricket has been ingrained in the DNA of NatWest and I am delighted that we will be re-invigorating this partnership by becoming the ECB’s first ever Principal Partner.”NatWest are also currently the title sponsors of the T20 Blast and that will continue for 2017 which was the final year of a four-year agreement that began in 2014.There is extensive debate about the future shape of England’s domestic T20 with a recent report saying that a new, franchise-based tournament could begin as early as 2018.One suggestion is that it could be played in conjunction with an 18-team county T20 that would retain its position mainly on Friday nights which has proved successful for some counties in boosting attendances.

Burnley Keen On Deal For "Tireless" £50k-p/w Midfielder

Burnley are keen on completing a deal to sign Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga this summer, according to reports.

Is Albert Sambi Lokonga leaving Arsenal?

The Belgian international is an academy graduate of Anderlecht in his homeland but swapped his familiar surroundings for the Premier League in 2021 when he arrived at the Emirates Stadium in a deal worth €17.5m (£15.2m), as per Transfermarkt.

The Gunners starlet, however, made just two top-flight starts in the first half of this season so was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace in January in the hope of receiving some regular game time, but with Roy Hodgson’s side reluctant to acquire his services on a permanent basis this summer, his future is very much up in the air.

The Times have reported that Edu and Mikel Arteta are set to sanction the sales of 11 players at the end of the season to help create funds for new signings and the 23-year-old is one of those to be name-checked, with his potential availability appearing to have alerted Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor.

Are Burnley signing Lokonga?

According to The Sun, Burnley are interested in a summer move for Lokonga, with the manager “eyeing up a reunion” with his former midfielder having previously coached him during his time at Anderlecht.

The Clarets boss is a “huge fan” of the talented prospect and believes that he will be able to help him “rediscover” his form and become a “hit” in the Premier League. Arsenal view him as “surplus to requirements”, meaning that the door is now “open” for him to seal a permanent move elsewhere, with the Gunners valuing him at £15m.

Crystal Palace midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Burnley will be aware that Lokonga isn’t in prime right now having failed to nail down a regular starting spot at Palace or Arsenal but Kompany knows him better than most, and having been lauded a “tireless” runner by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he could be a risk worth taking.

The Europa League participant, who currently earns £50k-per-week, clocked up ten goal contributions (seven assists and three goals) in 78 Anderlecht appearances, and during the 2020/21 season, recorded a total of 36 shots which was the third-highest throughout the whole of his squad at the time, via FBRef.

Lokonga is also a versatile operator with his ability to play in defensive, central, attacking and even on the right side of a midfield unit so could be a fantastic option for the boss to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur.

Arsenal: Arteta Can Make Big Call Vs Brighton

Arsenal will hope to keep their Premier League title dreams alive when they welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

By the time kick-off swings around, Mikel Arteta's side could be four points adrift of their rivals Manchester City, who play relegation candidates Everton earlier in the day and today's task will be no easy one as the Seagulls will be wanting to get their own European push back on track.

The visitors have slipped to eighth in the standings following a shock 5-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Aston Villa's red-hot form under Unai Emery another factor.

Arteta is left with plenty to consider in terms of team selection as his squad continues to be affected by injuries, but will the Spaniard make any big decisions today?

Will Bukayo Saka start vs Brighton?

A leading star for club and country, it's been one phenomenal season for Gunners winger Bukayo Saka.

The 21-year-old dynamo leads the goal contribution charts in north London and ranks fifth overall in the English top-flight this campaign, with 13 goals and 11 assists to his name.

But it has been a quiet couple of weeks for the England superstar, having failed to register a goal or assist in each of Arsenal's last three league outings, whilst his two contributions against relegated Southampton have been the Hale End prospect's only two returns in his last seven matches, via WhoScored.

Saka has also struggled to see out 90 minutes in the trio of games against Newcastle United, Chelsea and Man City and has arguably looked a little jaded, so perhaps his place against the Seagulls can be questioned.

It would be a huge surprise and one hell of a ruthless call from the Spaniard but with a viable alternative in Leandro Trossard, who will be keen to punish his former club, the decision to put Saka on the bench is surely made a little easier.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in action with Newcastle United's Dan Burn

Gunners legend Ian Wright has also called for the England winger to be dropped, having endured a long and physical campaign, one that was interrupted with a mid-season World Cup.

"Maybe Saka should get a little bit of a rest," claimed Wright (via the Metro). "I think a little rest. Maybe my mouth is going too quickly for my brain, in this situation we can’t afford to lose anymore games. We need everybody out there, but I just worry, I worry for him."

Having also been hailed as "phenomenal" by West Ham star Jarrod Bowen this week, there is no denying that the £76m-rated machine is one of the team's brightest and best players on his day, though it's also evident that he is suffering the effects from his continuous involvement for both Arsenal and England.

Only two other Gunners players have registered more minutes than Saka in the Premier League this term, with the £70k-per-week star playing nearly 200 minutes more than his wide counterpart Gabriel Martinelli, by comparison.

Brighton will likely be preparing for the threat of Saka down the right flank too, where the match-up with Pervis Estupinan is certainly one to watch, so Arteta could even spring a surprise on Roberto De Zerbi by opting for Trossard instead.

As such, the Arsenal boss must make a major call on his star man heading into kick-off. Perhaps it's time for Saka to come out of the starting XI for just one game.

Trott's hundred brings reminder of life beyond England

Jonathan Trott’s well-received hundred at Guildford was a heartening reminder that there is a life worth living once an England career ends

Tim Wigmore03-Jul-2016
ScorecardJonathan Trott gave Warwickshire the advantage•Getty ImagesAt 5:43 on a fine summer’s evening at Guildford, Jonathan Trott essayed an exquisite extra cover drive for four. In so doing he reached his century. The warmth with which the crowd responded to Trott’s matter-of-fact celebrations – nothing effusive, for this was just Trott doing as Trott does – spoke of the regard in which this fine cricketer is held throughout the shires.It was a heartening moment indeed for those who had feared that the termination of Trott’s international career last May would trigger his entire departure from the professional game. Certainly there were reasons to be fretful last summer: Trott averaged just 25.05 for Warwickshire, his worst return since 2007, and considered retirement.So far, 2016 has been altogether more fulfilling. An April trip to Lord’s brought a double century, and Trott’s run-making has not ceased thereafter, even if they have paid measured in 50s rather than hundreds.Ever since Mitchell Johnson harassed Trott three years ago, it has been almost de rigueur to greet Trott with a bouncer, just as Mark Footitt did here. Trott left that well alone, and did much the same when Stuart Meaker and the Curran brothers tested out this perceived vulnerability. In the end, they merely provided affirmation of Trott’s enduring patience; certainty defined his every response, even when it was just to duck or leave the ball.After a rather funereal start, Trott did plenty more than that. As the sun lit up a flat pitch, this innings assumed the air of a man batting on auto-pilot. This was a chanceless century underpinned by all Trott’s trademarks – imperious defence, driving that eschews elegance for efficiency, and, more than anything, all those remorseless shuffles to the legside. Yet in the evening sunshine he still retained the capacity to surprise. Gifted width by Meaker just after reaching his first century against Surrey, Trott flatbatted a six over third man, and then unfurled a thunderous cut through point two balls later. It was a matter of considerable surprise when Sam Curran defeated Trott with a delivery that moved back in.Trott walked off slowly, chuntering to himself and shaking his head. In a sense this was the most heartening sight of all: even in his 36th year, Trott’s competitiveness and zest for self-betterment are undimmed. Were circumstances different one could easily imagine him lining up at number three – a position from which only Wally Hammond have scored more runs for England in Test cricket – against Pakistan this month.That will not be happening. But instead Trott has the air of a man who will be accumulating runs for half a decade more in the shires yet.The same could well be true of his Warwickshire captain. Ian Bell will hope otherwise, but he has not been able to turn the promise of 174 in his first innings of 2016 into the glut of runs needed to convince the selectors he is worth revisiting. Sixty-six attractive runs, ended by a top edged sweet, ultimately registered as a missed opportunity, no matter how sweet his late cuts.In international cricket, Bell’s most productive partner was Trott. The two shared seven century stands – although, rather curiously given the reputation of both players, five of those were in ODI cricket but only two in Tests. If their alliance here was a long way short of the double century that ensured England’s victory in India four years ago, the 116 runs the two added have gone a long way towards shaping the match.The upshot was a day’s toil for Surrey, especially with Tim Ambrose, another Test match centurion, flaying the ball through the offside in forging another century stand with Trott. In isolation, Surrey bowled well enough, their spirit unbroken in a day elongated by morning showers. The trouble was that this day did not take place in isolation, but after Surrey had lost five wickets for 30 en route to being bowled out for 273. It was a score that always had the feel of being a hundred shy of par given the quality of the wicket and the shortness of the boundaries.If there was a pleasing sense of familiarity to Trott’s innings, there is a rather dispiriting predictability to Surrey’s plight in this game. Woodbridge Road was host to their only Championship defeat last year; not since 2002 have Surrey won here. They should already be fearful of 2019, when the demands the World Cup will place upon The Oval might necessitate them playing two games here.

Kusal Perera called up to Sri Lanka Test squad

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera has replaced injured seamer Dhammika Prasad in Sri Lanka’s Test squad in England

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-May-20163:42

Perera and SLC must be compensated

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera has replaced injured seamer Dhammika Prasad in Sri Lanka’s Test squad and will travel to England as soon as “visa formalities are taken care of”, SLC announced.Perera had been the Test side’s wicketkeeper and No. 7 batsman before he was provisionally suspended for failing a doping Test, in December. The charges against him have since been withdrawn by the ICC, and he has been eligible to play international cricket since May 11.Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said his committee had chosen Perera to replace a bowler because Sri Lanka “have enough bowlers in the squad”. In addition to the four frontline bowlers and two allrounders who played in the Headingley Test, seamer Suranga Lakmal and offspinner Dilruwan Perera sit in reserve.”Kusal will join the team as soon as possible and acclimatise so he can do some serious work with the bat,” Jayasuriya added.It is unlikely – though not impossible – that Perera will be available for the Test at Chester-le-Street which begins on Friday. He will almost certainly be in contention for the third Test at Lord’s, which does not begin until June 9.Perera has been training at SLC’s national academy at Khettarama since May 13. Having begun his career as a limited-overs specialist, Perera had made a bright start to his Test career, hitting two rapid fifties in five innings so far. If he is selected, Sri Lanka also have the option of relieving Dinesh Chandimal of the gloves.

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