Colombo, March 23 (IANS) All-rounder Angelo Matthews failed a fitness test Friday and was left out from Sri Lanka's 14-member squad for the first cricket Test against England in Galle starting Monday.
Mathews also had to miss the recently concluded Asia Cup with a calf muscle injury and now middle-order batsman Chamara Silva will be replacing him in the squad.
"I don't think we can use Mathews as an all-rounder in the future. Mathews has some problem with his legs and it is very unlikely he will bowl much. We have to look at him purely as a batsman," said chief selector Ashantha de Mel.
Silva impressed the selectors with a 163 off 180 balls for Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI in a three-day warm-up match against England.
Thilan Samaraweera has been named vice-captain to Mahela Jayawardene, in Mathews's absence.
The series comprise just two Tests and the second will start in Colombo, April 3.
The squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Chanaka Welegedara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath
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