test2wa

International Cricket

Kumar Sangakkara should be fit for the first Test against Bangladesh, according to skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

Sangakkara has been struggling with a cut on his right foot ahead of the opening match of the two-Test series, a problem which ruled him out of Sri Lanka's tour match against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI which concluded yesterday.

Jayawardene nevertheless expects to welcome back Sangakkara, who has a superb record against Bangladesh having scored 707 runs in Test matches against them.

"He is healing quickly and looks okay now," Jayawardene said of Sangakkara ahead of the Test in Dhaka, which gets under way on Boxing Day.

"Hopefully he will be ready before the first Test starts."

If passed fit, Sangakkara will again reprise his role as a specialist batsman after handing over the wicketkeeping gloves in Test matches to Prasanna Jayawardene in 2006.

Sangakkara's average is 83.05 in the 28 Tests he has played as a specialist batsman.

Captain Jayawardene added that he believes Sri Lanka will be able to cope with the loss of injured spinner Ajantha Mendis, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury and replaced by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

"Ajantha is not here and yes, it's a different combination but whoever is going to replace him will do the job," Jayawardene said.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be hoping Shakib Al Hasan continues his sterling efforts with the ball after his recent exploits against South Africa and New Zealand.

The 21-year-old left-arm spinner has taken 24 wickets in 10 Test matches to emerge as the leading spinner in the Bangladesh ranks.

"Shakib has been bowling well since [last year's] World Cup. Although I have never played against him I can see that he varies his pace very well and relies very much on his accuracy," team-mate Mashrafe Mortaza told the Dhaka-based Daily Star newspaper.

"He can bowl accurately for 30-35 overs and I think that is what gives him the success."

Bangladesh will however be without Abdur Razzak, who was been banned by the ICC for a suspect action and replaced in the squad by Enamul Haque Jnr.

"Razzak is one of our best bowlers and we will surely miss his presence," Mashrafe continued.

"He is working on his action right now and I hope he comes back. But right now we should think about those who are in the squad."

Bangladesh are searching for their first Test win against Sri Lanka following 10 previous losses, the most recent a 3-0 whitewash in the summer series in Sri Lanka in 2007.

The two-Test series, which concludes in Chittagong in early January, is followed by a triangular one-day series which will also involve Zimbabwe.