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Injured Pathum Nissanka doubtful for Australian series
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
The fourth weekend’s matches of the SLC Major Club 3-day tournament which commences today with eight matches offers the final chance for Sri Lanka’s red ball cricketers to gain much needed match practice ahead of the two-Test series against Australia which commences in Galle from 29 January.
The Test squad which will be announced shortly will be going into training from 20 January at Galle in preparation for the two Tests.
Sri Lanka’s red ball cricketers have all been engaged in the Major Club matches for their respective clubs, but none has so far made any big impact. Dinesh Chandimal’s century (130) in his first appearance for his new club Colts last week stands out as the best effort by a player who will form the Test squad. Apart from Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama who plays for Moors SC is the only other batsman to score a century. Angelo Mathews (Colts) has crossed the 50-mark thrice, Dimuth Karunaratne (SSC) twice, and Oshada Fernando (Panadura SC) once. No one has gone on to make a big score spending time in the middle which is going to be a concern especially when you are coming up against a quality bowling attack as the Australians in a Test match.
The captain Dhananjaya de Silva (CCC) is pretty much short of runs, his highest score being 29* in the two matches he has played so far. He has somewhat excelled with his off-breaks picking up 10 wickets at an impressive cost of 17.70.
For Sri Lanka’s other top order batters like Kamindu Mendis (CCC), Kusal Mendis (SSC) and Nishan Madushka (Ragama CC) all of whom returned early this week after the ODI series in New Zealand along with fast bowlers Asitha Fernando (CCC) and Lahiru Kumara (NCC), the matches commencing today is their last opportunity to gain valuable match practice.
Pathum Nissanka (NCC) who suffered a groin injury in the third ODI against New Zealand at Auckland has been ruled out of the first Test against Australia. MRI scans have revealed that he has a Grade 1 tear and he being available for the second Test starting 6 February is also doubtful.
Among the bowlers Sri Lanka’s leading spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has been struggling to produce his best form. With the responsibility of leading SSC heavily on his shoulders, Jayasuriya’s 10 wickets has come at an average of 36.90. Off-spinner Nishan Peiris (Negombo CC) who made a memorable Test debut against New Zealand has yet to come up with a good performance; his 3 wickets in two matches has cost 69.33. However off-spinner Ramesh Mendis who lost his Test place to Peiris has the most wickets by a player from the Test squad with 13 (avg. 18.61) for Moors SC whom he leads. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya (NCC) who was a surprise inclusion in the Test squad to South Africa has been pretty costly, his 7 wickets coming at an average of 42.71. Fast bowlers Vishwa Fernando (CCC), Kasun Rajitha (SSC) and Milan Rathnayake (Moors SC) have yet to hit their straps. Combined they have captured just 8 wickets.
The matches commencing today are: SSC v CCC at SSC grounds, Police SC v Negombo CC at Police Park, Panadura SC v Colts at Panadura, Badureliya CC v Ragama CC at Maggona, Tamil Union v Kurunegala YCC at P. Sara Oval, Nugegoda SWC v Moors SC at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, Bloomfield v Chilaw Marians CC at Bloomfield and BRC v Kandy Customs SC at BRC.
