Leicestershire have earmarked two for next season and they are offspinning sensation Muttiah Muralidaran and Sanath Jayasuriya. Muralidaran and Jayasuriya left their mark in the game against the county and it did not take long for the administrators of the county to make overtures to the two Sri Lankan champions.
It is a fact that a stint in the county scene makes a good cricketer better. Most countries have their promising cricketers either playing in the county circuit or the leagues and at the end of the season they come out complete cricketers.
Practically all counties have overseas players doing duty for them. Not only do these cricketers benefit moneywise, they also tighten their game and become elegant and dominating cricketers.
The counties too look for cricketers who can attract crowds. The county scene over the years has been played to empty seats and stands most of the time, that signing on crowd pullers from other countries has become a necessity.
Muralidaran and Jayasuriya are two of the most exciting cricketers in the world scene today and they certainly have it in them to get the turnstiles turning and bringing in the crowds to Leicestershire.
However their signing will depend on Sri Lanka's itinerary. If Sri Lanka's cricket programme clashes with the English county games, then it will be a pity if they miss out.
Muralidaran is obviously bowling at his peak now. After his success against Glamorgan, he continued to bemuse the Leicestershire batsmen with his clever and well controlled and concealed spin, so much so that former England and Leicestershire off spinner Jack Birkenshaw tagged him the best off spinner in the world as did Glamorgan captain Mathew Maynard.
Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga will be praying that Muralidaran will continue in the same form during the coming one-day series and the all-important one off test against a rejuvenated England side at the Oval.
Leicestershire apparently seem to have a liking to have Sri Lankans in their line-up. Probably this is because of the exciting cricket that two former Sri Lankan greats Stanley Jayasinghe and Clive Inman put on show for them.
Those who matter in Sri Lanka cricket must endeavour to find slots for our cricketers in the county and league scenes. This is important if our cricket is to improve and develop and one day be a consistently formidable strike force.
With Muralidaran being the only bowler capable of bowling Sri Lanka to victory, it is vital that left armer Chaminda Vass is fit to join the squad before the one-day and test match and support the off spinner.
At the time of writing the selectors have planked in Vass to play against South Africa 'A' and he will be closely watched. Vass went under the surgeon's scalpel in South Africa suffering an ankle injury common to most fast bowlers.
According to reports the operation was successful and Vass has been on a strict get well schedule and his progress has been closely monitored. If he shows no signs of the after effects of the operation and could last the distance, then the selectors must put him on the next flight to England.
The Lankans did well to beat Worcestershire in a one-day encounter. The home team fielded their best side which included Greame Hick, who England recalled for the test they won against South Africa, Australian Tom Moody and Phil Newport one of the best swing bowlers in England.
After allowing the home team 279 for 6 in the 50 allotted overs, the Lankans cruised to a 7 wicket victory without raising much of a sweat. Jayasuriya, Atapattu, Aravinda de Silva and skipper Ranatunga got amongst the runs and it is hoped they will stay that way.
If the weather looks benignly on the Lankans, they will certainly be at the finish in the triangular and the one off test.