Sri Lanka add uncapped spinner for second Test

Off-spinner Nishan Peiris has been added to the Sri Lanka Squad ahead of the second Test against New Zealand as fast bowler Vishwa Fernando has withdrawn due to a hamstring injury.

Fernando had developed a tightness in his right hamstring while practicing. The fast bowler, who last featured during Sri Lanka’s stellar win at the Oval, has been sent to the High-Performance Centre for rehabilitation.

Fernando had picked up five for 86 across the two innings in his last Test at The Oval against England.

His replacement is off-spinner Nishan Peiris. The 27-year-old was in the Sri Lanka Squad for their tour of Bangladesh but didn’t play a Test. 

Peiris has played 41 First-Class fixtures and has 172 wickets at an average of 24.37.

Sri Lanka won an engaging first Test in Galle by 63 runs, with left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya playing a starring role with his nine for 204 in the game.

The victory helped Sri Lanka leapfrog New Zealand in the World Test Championship standings. 

The Island nation are at the third place behind India and Australia with a point percentage of 50, whereas the Black Caps slip one spot to end at the fourth place with a tally of 42.86 percent. 

Peiris, meanwhile, might have an outside chance of making it into the playing XI. Despite having made the Test Squad twice in the past, back in 2018 and earlier this year in March, he is yet to make his debut. 

But with Ramesh Mendis' performance coming in for criticism from Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva following the end of the first Test, there is some doubt over his position in the team.

Mendis, whose dip and turn can be difficult to tackle when he's at his best, grabbed six wickets - three in each innings - in the first Test, including the pivotal one of Daryl Mitchell in the second innings. 

But he often lacked control, and his leakiness frequently took the pressure off the New Zealand batters. Though his performance in the second innings was much improved, his economy rate was still the poorest of Sri Lanka's spinners.