Friday Sep 20, 2024
Friday Sep 20, 2024
Wednesday, 6 July 2022 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s two left-arm spinners Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama will not be in contention for a place for the second cricket Test against Australia commencing at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
While Jayawickrama has been ruled out of the Test after being tested COVID-19 positive, Embuldeniya has been dropped from the squad due to poor form.
Embuldeniya has been struggling for consistency and effectiveness in the last two Tests he has played against Bangladesh and Australia where he has conceded 177 runs for just one wicket bowling 62 overs.
Sri Lanka’s head coach Chris Silverwood said that Embuldeniya was finding it tough for the moment after the first Test at Galle and added: “He’s getting a lot of support in the dressing room because he’s a great lad. We’ve got to work on him holding a consistent length. There’s a few factors there, one of which is confidence. We’ve got to give him support and get him back to where we know he can be.” Sri Lanka has brought in three uncapped spinners into the squad – left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, and off-spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Lakshitha Manasinghe (who is also referred to as Lakshitha Rasanjana).
Nineteen-year-old Wellalage was the leading wicket-taker in the five-match ODI series against Australia which Sri Lanka won 3-2 with nine wickets at 22.33. Wellalage who can also bat lower down the order was named as a standby for the first Test which Sri Lanka lost by ten wickets.
Theekshana commonly referred to as a mystery spinner because of his right-arm finger spin with which he generates several variations caused Australia problems during the white-ball series although he claimed only four wickets in five ODIs. He has more or less been viewed as a white ball specialist.Twenty-two-year-old Manasinghe picked up 13 wickets in two unofficial tests for Sri Lanka ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’ in Hambantota.
Meanwhile, Angelo Mathews who contracted the virus on the third day of the first Test has recovered and will be available for selection for the second Test.
A Sri Lanka cricket media release states that medical clearance has been given to Mathews to engage in the game and accordingly he will re-join the team from yesterday. (ST)
