Sri Lanka tour of australia Nuwan Thushara ruled out for final two T20Is

Sri Lanka’s squad on tour to Australia has been further depleted after sling-arm fast-bowler Nuwan Thushara and all-rounder Ramesh Mendis picked up injuries ahead of today’s fourth T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

Thushara walked off the field during Tuesday’s T20I, at the start of his second over, and has since been diagnosed with a left side strain, ruling him out of the remainder of the series. 
Mendis, who hasn’t featured in the series so far, fractured his right thumb while batting during a training session. 

Both players are undergoing rehabilitation work, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed in a media release. 

Thushara was drafted into the team after Binura Fernando tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the second T20I and, with the latter’s status for the rest of the series uncertain, Sri Lanka could call on either Lahiru Kumara or the uncapped Shiran Fernando to partner Dushmantha Chameera. 

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack is already without talisman Wanindu Hasaranga who was the third player to test positive for Covid-19 since the touring contingent reached Australia, with his participation for today’s T20I also questionable.

Hasaranga, now the third best bowler in T20I cricket, accounts for the most wickets in the series so far for the visitors, but fast bowler Chameera has also proved crucial for Sri Lanka with four wickets in three matches. 

The bigger concern for Sri Lanka is among its batters, with top order failure a recurring theme in the series so far -- underwhelming in the first ten overs in all three T20Is, in the face of disciplined bowling from the hosts, and absorbing too many dot balls. 

Opener Pathum Nissanka has been the stand-out, top scoring in two of the three T20Is, but his opening partner Danushka Gunathilaka and CharithAsalanka have failed to make meaningful runs – Gunathilaka registering three consecutive single digit scores.  

With the series already lost, and this a vital outing ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia later in the year, Sri Lanka could be tempted to try some of their reserves for the final two T20Is, with the likes of Janith Liyanage, who impressed at the recent Lanka Premier League, and Kamil Mishara yet to be tested. 

The fielding also has been below par, most notably in the third T20I where they thrice missed opportunities to dismiss Glenn Maxwell, who top scored with 39 runs in their chase of a low 122-run target. 

The final match of the series will also be at the MCG on Sunday (20).