Chameera out of pink ball Test, as Lakmal bids farewell

By Shehan Daniel 

Sri Lanka have had to alter their plans for the second Test against India on Saturday and go without fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera after the team’s medical panel recommended managing his workload in the lead up to the T20 World Cup later this year. 

Chameera was rested for the opening Test in Mohali, which Sri Lanka lost by an innings and 222 runs, specifically ear-marked to play in the pink-ball Test. 

However, a recommendation was made by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Medical Panel, headed by Prof. Arjuna de Silva, that Chameera’s workload would need to be managed to not further aggravate an ankle injury that the fast bowler has been playing through. 

“We have recommended that his workload be managed, avoiding playing the longer format, because he requires ankle surgery that has been postponed to after the World Cup,” de Silva told the Daily Mirror. 

The operation, on a resurfaced bone growth, would sideline Chameera for up to two months, Prof. de Silva said. 
Chameera will be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) later this month, though the player has been given a workload which will limit the stress on his ankle. 

“Firstly, in the IPL he will be bowling only four overs a match, so the workload is less. And the physio has calculated a workload that recommends he play only a certain number of matches so that he can manage himself,” Prof. de Silva added. 

“Our priority is the T20 World Cup and we need to ensure that he is as fit as possible. But this is only a recommendation and it’s up to the selectors to decide if to play him or not.”

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne yesterday confirmed that Chameera would not feature in the Test as planned. 

“He will likely play only white-ball cricket until the World Cup,” Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne said.

With Sri Lanka likely to split four specialist bowler slots equally between fast bowlers and spinners, Praveen Jayawickrama looks set to take Kumara’s place, with left-armer Vishwa Fernando, who conceded 135 runs in 26 overs during the first Test, likely to partner Suranga Lakmal, playing his final Test. 

“We saw that the wicket changes a lot, and the Bangalore wicket could also offer turn. Even though it’s a pink ball Test, I think spinners will play a big role, and we'll probably go in with two spinners, along with Dhananjaya de Silva,” Karunaratne said. 

Lakmal, a veteran of 69 Tests and 170 wickets to his name, who announced earlier this year that the tour of India would be his last, said that the time was right for him to call time on his career. 

“I don’t know how many matches I would have had play to get 200 wickets. If I decided to stay on purely to achieve this, I would end up as just another player. Sri Lanka needs to produce another younger player as there are many more Tests,” Lakmal said. 

“If I fail to hand over the baton to a younger player, it will only take more time to develop that player. Our next series is at home where the wickets are prepared to suit the spinners. We have time to develop a pace bowler and that is why I decided to retire,” Lakmal added. 

Lakmal has featured in more Tests away from home, which has accounted for 132 of his wickets at an average of 32.39. 

In Sri Lanka, Lakmal has taken 38 wickets at 47.52 a piece in 27 Tests.

Attention will also be on Sri Lanka’s batters, who could muster scores of just 174 and 178 in the first Test, though that department looks set to be bolstered by the returning Kusal Mendis, tipped to replace the injured Pathum Nissanka.