Colombo, Nov 29: Veteran Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera was recalled on Tuesday into an expanded test squad to tour South Africa after having initially been ignored for a second straight series.
Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement that Samaraweera has been added to a squad that now contains 17 players because batsman Mahela Jayawardene will be traveling to South Africa with an injury.
Samaraweera has an impressive test average of 52 but was dropped for the final test of three at home against Australia and overlooked for the subsequent series against Pakistan in United Arab Emirates.
His future with Sri Lanka national team looked uncertain when the selectors picked an inexperienced squad with an eye on the future. The squad has two uncapped players and four others who have just nine tests between them.
The first of three tests against South Africa starts Dec. 15 at Centurion.
A separate Sri Lanka squad will be picked for five following one-day internationals.
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
