Kusal Mendis (left) and Pathum Nissanka out of Indian Test series
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka have been hit badly by injuries to two of their top batsmen ahead of the two-Test series against India, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis both being ruled out.
Nissanka, who underwent surgery in his wrist, is still not 100% fit to be considered for selection. It is learnt that he suffers from pain when he bats for long periods.
Due to his surgery, followed by rehabilitation, Nissanka missed out playing in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL). He is most likely to miss the first Test against India starting on 15 August at Galle.
The new selection committee’s policy is that any player coming back from injury has to prove his fitness by playing in a first-class match. In that aspect, Nissanka has no chance to prove his fitness and make himself available for selection.
The injury to Kusal Mendis is greater than what was expected. Mendis, who was Captain of Colombo Kaps in the LPL, was forced to retire hurt in the second match against Kandy Royals after facing just four balls.
Scans have revealed that he has a Grade 3C hamstring injury, which is going to take some time to heal, which rules him out of the two Tests against India.
In the absence of these two players, the national selectors will be looking to find replacements for them. Mendis keeps wickets in the Tests and bats lower down the order, while Nissanka opens the batting.
With Lahiru Udara having cemented his place as a Test opener, Nishan Madushka has been given an opportunity to come as replacement for Nissanka by being named in the 15-member squad to represent Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI in the three-day warm-up match against India starting at the NCC Ground today.
By naming Anjala Bandara as the wicket-keeper in the squad, the selectors are most probably looking at him as a replacement for Kusal Mendis. Both Udara and Madushka can also keep wickets but in a Test match, when they are opening the batting, it is highly unlikely they will be asked to take on that role. Bandara had a very good season with the bat for CCC, scoring a double century in piling up 551 runs (avg. 60.28) with 20 dismissals behind the stumps.
What the selectors are looking at in Test cricket is for a wicket-keeper/batsman and not a batsman/wicket-keeper, which Sri Lanka have in plenty at the moment due to the evolution of T20 cricket.
Fast bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando are also named in the SLC XI squad. Both players are returning to competitive cricket from injuries and they will need to prove their fitness in this game if they are to put themselves in contention for selection for the Test series.
There are also some interesting choices where the spin bowlers are concerned, with off-spinner Ramesh Mendis still being persisted with and two other uncapped spinners, Kesara Nuwantha (off-spin) and Dilum Sudeera (left-arm spin), being named in the squad.
Ramesh Mendis, who captains Moors SC in the Major League three-day, is renowned more as a batsman than a bowler. In the recently concluded season, he took only 13 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 73.38, while with the bat he accumulated 671 runs at an average of 61.79.
Nuwantha, who plays for Badureliya CC, has shown a lot of control, capturing 5/159 off 50.3 overs when India ‘A’ amassed 543 in the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at Galle, while Sudeera has been a prolific wicket-taker in domestic cricket, ending last season at the top of the list with 61 wickets at an average of 25.11.
Sri Lanka are hard pressed to find a suitable bowling partner to their prime spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
The performance of these players will come under the scrutiny of the national selectors over the next three days before they name the squad for the two Tests against India.
The SLC XI squad of 15 captained by Sonal Dinusha comprises:
Nishan Madushka, Ravindu Rashantha, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha (Captain), Anjala Bandara (wicket-keeper), Nipun Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asanka Manoj, Isitha Wijesundara, Ramesh Mendis, Kesara Nuwantha, Dilum Sudeera.