The Story
The ongoing Test series against India has been a very horrendous for the host – Sri Lanka. They have already ceded an impregnable 2-0 lead in the three match contest and have been hit by injury and fitness issues to add salt to the existing wounds.
In the first Test, it was Aseala Gunaratne who was ruled of the series with a fractured thumb just an hour into the first session. Rangana Herath also suffered a scare but made it to the second Test. However, the worries followed the hosts from Galle to Colombo, as lead bowler Nuwan Pradeep picked up a hamstring problem. And, just when a replacement for the Sri Lanka’s best bowler was being searched, it was been reported that Herath will be skipping the third Test at Pallekele with a stiff back.
Effect of a Heavy Workload
Herath’s condition cannot be deemed as an injury, as it is an outcome of the heavy workload that the burly left-arm spinner has been enduring over the past three weeks. In all, he has bowled 71.1 overs in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in addition to the 91 overs in the two Tests against India.
With the series already lost, the selectors have played the caution card to keep him fresh for the Test series against Pakistan over the next two months.
“This is where our player management comes in because we don’t want to break anyone,” SLC cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha said. “We made the call not to risk Herath because he’s also bowled close to 200 overs in the three Tests. That’s a lot for his body.”
Herath also confirmed he will stay in Colombo and receive treatment, rather than travelling to Kandy with the team.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack will suffer in the absence of attack Herath, as they would miss out on the services of their bowling spearhead after having already lost Nuwan Pradeep. He ended up with the best figures among Lankan bowlers at the SSC with figures of four for 154.
Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera will lead the spin attack and may have left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara or left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan with him as the bowling partner.
The Pallekele Test is scheduled to begin on August 12.