PRADEEP’S HAMSTRING INJURY ADDS TO LANKA TROUBLES
COLOMBO:Already short on bowling strength, Sri Lanka’s chances of putting up a fight in the second Test against India suffered a massive blow when their only pace bowler, Nuwan Pradeep, was ruled out for more than a month due to a hamstring injury.
“Nuwan is out for one or two months,” said Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne on Friday. He had a fair bit of bowling to do to make up for Pradeep’s absence, and dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara.
BREAKING DOWN
Having walked away clutching his left hamstring after bowling 17.4 overs towards the end of the first day, Pradeep didn’t return on the second day as Sri Lanka’s plans to field one pacer backfired. Pradeep, after years of grappling with injuries, took six wickets in the first innings of the Galle Test, but shouldering the bowling seemed to have taken a toll on him.
Karunaratne, however, defended the selection for the second Test. “We prepared (for) this pitch to turn, that’s why we’ve played only one seamer. We would have batted had we won the toss, but unfortunately we didn’t. Now with Nuwan’s injury, there’s no opportunity to get a wicket with the new ball, or get a wicket through reverse swing when it gets older. We will have to defend with the spinners.”
With India having amassed 622/9, Sri Lanka are looking down the barrel, trying to save the game. The threat of R Ashwin is looming, with the off-spinner issuing a warning with two early wickets. Karunaratne, who was out for 25, knows the challenge his batsmen face, having fallen to Ashwin twice in two innings. “It’s not easy. He’s a good spinner. He has variations,” said Karunaratne.