• Downloads  
  • Widgets
  • Toolbars
  • Wallpapers
  • Screensavers

Sri Lanka in Australia, 2007-08

Sri Lanka call up Sujeewa de Silva

Jenny Thompson in Adelaide

October 29, 2007

Sujeewa de Silva will be rushing from Zimbabwe to join the team © AFP

Sri Lanka will call up fast bowler Sujeewa de Silva as cover for the injured Chanaka Welegedera.

Welegedera tore his right quadricep muscle on the second day of the first warm-up match against the Australia Chairman's XI in Adelaide and is expected to miss the second and final warm-up match which begins in Queensland on Friday. de Silva, who played in the last Test series against Bangladesh in July, is currently in Zimbabwe with the A side.

Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's captain, said: "We are trying to fly out another quickie. If he [de Silva] arrives in time he will probably play in that [the warm-up game]. He's been playing some good cricket."

Sri Lanka have another injury concern in Kumar Sangakkara. Scans revealed he tore his left hamstring in the first innings and is expected to miss the second warm-up. The extent of the damage is not yet known, as the report is still awaited. "If it just a grade one then he should be okay in a few days' time," said Jayawardene. "If it's worse than that we just need to make sure until he's totally ready for competitive cricket.

"He's walking okay. He went to the gym and did a bit of cycling and rehab stuff on his leg but it's just that he cannot do things in the normal circumstances. The scans were done today we are waiting for the reports to come in and then we will assess the situation tomorrow."

Prasanna Jayawardene will come in to deputise for Sangakkara with the gloves. Jayawardene kept well in Sangakkara's absence in Adelaide, with a few tidy catches, but did not bat.

Jenny Thompson is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo