They named a virtual Test side with the exception of opening match Marvan Atapattu who is being rested from this game.Vice-captain Aravinda de Silva and young fast bowler Suresh Perera have both been named in the 12 for their first matches on the tour.
De Silva had one innings on the tour for a Rest of the World XI for whom he made 82 in the Princess Diana memorial one-day game at Lord's. Perera is expected to form a three-prong pace combination with Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Ravindra Pushpakumara, who are also named in the squad as Sri Lanka expect a pitch with a lot of grass. In the event of the grass being taken off, they may play leg-spinner Upul Chandana, who is also named in the 12 at the expense of a fast bowler.
There is the possibility that Allan Mullally, the Leicestershire fast bowler left out of the England final eleven for the fourth Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge may be released to play in this game. If that happens there is a likelihood of Sri Lankan batsmen coming up against a well-grassed pitch. Cricket fans back home will remember batsman Darren Maddy who toured Sri Lanka with England 'A' early this year. He is one of the few expected to play tomorrow.
Previous tours to this country have involved three-day matches against English county sides, but this is the first time Sri Lanka will play over four days. They have another similar fixture against Middlesex starting at Lord's at the end of the month in their five-match first-class county itinerary.
Grace Road and Leicestershire are synonymous with two former Sri Lankan cricketers Stanley Jayasinghe and Clive Inman who during the sixties made this venue quite famous with their exceptional footwork and wristy batting for the county. However, it is disappointing to note that despite the contributions made by these wielders of the willow towards promoting the club, Leicestershire has played Sri Lanka only once in a first-class game, and that was way back in 1981, the year in which the country was granted Test status.
For the present Sri Lanka coach Roy Dias it will bring back nostalgic memories because it was here that he reeled off the only century made by a Sri Lankan on that tour. Dias scored an attractive 127 in 132 minutes, an innings full of flowing cover drives and shots off his legs. That game, a 3-day affair ended in a draw with both sides scoring over 300 runs.
Leicestershire led by former England all-rounder Chris Lewis, are currently second in the county championships table behind Surrey. They have five wins and five draws from 10 matches and are the only unbeaten team in the competition this year. Having finished tenth last season, they are determined to repeat their success of 1996 when they won the title.
Sri Lanka 12 for tomorrow: Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Suresh Perera, Muthiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana.