Lankan hopes fade further with Chandimal injury
View(s):Second ODI begins in Adelaide today
“They may be Australia’s “B Team” but George Bailey’s men made a mockery of that moniker with a 107-run one-day win over Sri Lanka at the MCG on Friday.” That is how AAP –the Australian News agency put across the Sri Lankan defeat.
In spite of losing the game by that margin, the Lankans have compounded their woes with the injury to their only in-form batsman
If Dinesh Chandimal (above) is proven unfit for today’s second ODI, uncapped Kusal Janith Perera (right) is most likely to make his international debut as a wicketkeeper/batsman.
Dinesh Chandimal. Following his half century in the Sydney Test, Chandimal stood firm against the Australian pace attack to top score with 73, but hurt his hamstring during that inning which had him even undergoing on-field attention.
If Chandimal is sidelined today, uncapped Kusal Janith Perera who turns out for Colts in the Premier League tournament will do the duties behind the stumps. Perera, 22, has been a very consistent run-getter in local cricket, but is still to taste the flavour of Aussie chin music, but has been a part of the ‘A’ team for a couple of years.
In the post match press briefing Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena slammed his bowlers’ efforts. “At times we lost the plot. We didn’t build pressure enough, a lot of four balls from a couple of our bowlers,” he said.
The skipper said wicketkeeper-batsman Chandimal had suffered a hamstring injury and his fitness would be assessed prior to the match.
“Hopefully it’s not too bad. Luckily we have another reserve wicketkeeper (uncapped 22-year-old Kushal Perera),” he said.
Commenting further on the lost effort Jayawardena added “”We did try a lot of things, we did put a little bit of pressure on. We didn’t create enough pressure on those two guys and they batted really well. It’s just one of those days.”
Meanwhile French News Agency AFP reported Australia also lost the services of their left arm speed merchant Mitchell Starc due to a calf muscle soreness and has withdrawn from Australia’s one-day squad ahead of this weekend’s second match against Sri Lanka, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.
South Australian quick Kane Richardson has been called up as cover for Sunday’s ODI against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval, after Starc picked up the injury during Australia’s 107-run series opening win in Melbourne on Friday.
The left-armer took 1-25 off six overs, but his status for the remainder of the five-match ODI series remains uncertain.
The Australians are already without several fast bowlers due to injury, including Ben Hilfenhaus and Pat Cummins, although James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood have returned from being sidelined.
“Mitchell Starc had some mild right calf soreness after the match at the MCG,” Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement on Saturday.
“Whilst we are not majorly concerned about it, we have withdrawn him from the game on Sunday as a precaution.
“He will be reassessed over the next few days and he is a possibility to play in next weekend’s matches against Sri Lanka if his symptoms resolve.”
Richardson, 21, has gained attention following several promising displays both with South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.
“Kane has been called in as cover in the squad due to his impressive form in the limited overs formats this season,” national selector John Inverarity said.
“This provides another great opportunity for a young player as we look to build towards (the) cricket World Cup in 2015.”
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