Angelo says his tendon is still sore
Mathews still injured
Sri Lanka Test and ODI skipper Angelo Mathews will miss the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh due to his hamstring injury. The two test matches will be played in Galle and Colombo but the national skipper will not be able to gain his full fitness before the start of the series, due to begin on March 15 at the P. Sara Oval.
In a vague media released on Saturday SLC says “Accordingly it has been announced that Angleo(Angelo) Mathews will not be able to play the first two test matches. The first test match is scheduled to be held in Galle while the second is to be held at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. Anjelo(Angelo) Mathews would likely be available to play the One-day International and T20 matches thereafter. Despite his absence, the selections committee is confident that the lessons learned from the South African series will help in putting together a formidable young team to take on the first two matches against the Bangladesh team.”
When contacted, Mathews confirmed that he has been advised by the doctors to rest two to three more weeks to get back to 100% fitness level. His injury occurred during the second T20 international in South Africa.
“It’s the tendon of my right hamstring which was injured in South Africa. Rather than a muscle, doctors say that it takes longer to heal and get back to normal” Mathews said.
Professor Arjuna De Silva is heading the three doctor panel and is in constant vigil of Mathews’ fitness levels. Dr. Harindu Wijesinghe and a UK specialist, Dr. Thamindu Wedatillake are the other two members of the panel.
Mathews was taking control of a dicey situation during the second T-20 at Johannesburg, where he scored an unbeaten 54 to set the stage for a T-20 series win against South Africa. Soon after the injury he returned to the island as he needed a minimum of four weeks rest for recuperation.