The 36-year-old former captain joined the tour during the drawn series opener at Lord's, having previously announced his Test retirement so he could concentrate on one-day internationals in the run-up to next year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

But after being omitted from the second Test at Edgbaston, where England won by six wickets to go 1-0 up in the series, the experienced left-handed batsman is now set to replace the out-of-form Thilan Samaraweera in the middle order even though he is best-known as an opener.

And with Sri Lanka struggling to back-up off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 10 for 115 at Edgbaston, skipper Mahela Jayawardene also announced Thursday that left-arm quick Nuwan Zoysa had been included in the squad instead of the lacklustre Nuwan Kulasekara.

"We've taken Thilan out of the 12, because he lacks a bit of confidence in himself right now (Samaraweera has made just 17 runs in four innings this series).

"There's a very good chance of him (Jayasuriya) playing," Jayawardene also told reporters at Trent Bridge, adding the former skipper's left-arm spin could also be a useful asset.

"We had a look at the wicket. It looks a bit dry as well so it might spin in the latter part of the Test match so he gives us a different option."

It now appears that Vandort, who made a battling hundred at Edgbaston, and Tharanga will be retained as openers with Jayauriya batting down the order.