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Sri Lanka coach gave a cautious welcome to the prospect of veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya coming out of Test retirement to join the squad ahead of this month’s second Test against England.

“Jayasuriya indicated a willingness to make himself available for Test cricket again and we decided to send him to England as soon as possible,” Sri Lanka’s chief selector Asantha de Mel said in Colombo on Thursday.

“I understand he’s coming here in the next few days,” said Moody after seeing England score 318 for three on the first day of the first Test at Lord’s.

“But my focus right now is on the squad of players I’ve got here.

“Sanath’s obviously had some deep thought about his decision to retire. If he’s fit and back in form, it can’t be a bad thing can it?” Moody said of the 36-year-old former captain.

“He’s a devastating player, he has been for Sri Lanka for many, many years. He’s obviously still a very key component to our one-day campaign and he was due here anyway in two or three weeks’ time for the one-dayers.

“Him coming early, the positive is that he’s going to get used to English conditions a little bit earlier for the one-day series if not before then,” he added.

Source:The News