Bhanuka Rajapaksa to lead Sri Lanka U-19s

Sri Lanka's leading run-getter in last year's Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, will lead his country in the upcoming Test and one-day series against England U-19s.

Rajapaksa, a top-order batsman, accumulated 253 runs at an average of 63.25 in the World Cup in January 2010 and is one of four players who played in that tournament picked in a squad of 16 to meet England in two four-day matches and five limited-over internationals.

The first of the four-day matches starts on January 14 at the Dambulla Stadium, while the second begins January 20 at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. The ODIs will be played at the Colombo Colts grounds and the SSC between January 28 and February 5. England's team is due to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 7.

Sri Lanka junior selection committee chairman Sunil Wikramanayake said it was not easy picking the final 16 players for the series because of the wealth of talent that was available. Provincial selectors in consultation with the provincial and district coaches were given the responsibility to scrutinise players who performed well in the provincial tournament. A total of 110 players were recommended from all the provinces and their names were forwarded to the U-19 national coach Naveed Nawaz.

"We had a preliminary squad of 110 players and after many practice sessions it was trimmed down to 57," said Wikramanayake. "These 57 players took part in six limited-over games and taking into account the players skill-levels and performance the squad was further pruned down to 32 players.

"The final 32 played a couple of two-day games and three limited-over matches after which the final 16 was named with four standby players."

From this squad, only nine players will be eligible to play at the next U-19 World Cup, which is to be held in Australia in 2012.

Rajapaksa is among those who will miss out on the next World Cup due to being over age.

Sri Lanka U-19 squad: Banuka Rajapaksa (captain, Royal College), Sanitha de Mel (vice-captain, St Sebastian's College), Shehan Jayasinghe (Prince of Wales College), Kaushalya Gajasingha (Mahinda College), Yasoda Lanka (Richmond College), Dhananjaya Silva (Richmond College), Angelo Jayasinghe (Maris Stella College), Lahiru Jayaratne (St Peter's College), Chathuranaga Kumara (St Joseph's College), Ruwinda Shaman (Ananda College), Lasith Abeyratne (DS Senanayake), Saranga Rajaguru (St Anthony's College, Kandy), Maduka Liyanapathirana (Lumbini MV), Supeshala Jayathilake (St Joseph's College), Duleeka Tisakuttige (Mahanama College), Ramith Rambukwella (Royal College)