Crucial blow to Sri Lanka ahead of First Test:

Nuwan Pradeep suffers hamstring injury

By Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka suffered a crucial blow at the very first outing of their six-week tour of South Africa when newly-found fast medium bowler Nuwan Pradeep was ruled out due to a hamstring injury yesterday. Twenty-five-year-old Pradeep was ruled out from further action in Sri Lanka’s three-day tour opener against South African Invitation XI in Benoni yesterday.

An injury to his right hamstring forced Pradeep to leave the field in the fourth over, after bowling just 10 balls in his opening spell after the first day’s play on Friday was washed by rain.

It will be a crucial blow for Sri Lanka ahead of the three-Test series against South Africa. Pradeep looks a doubtful starter for the first Test against South Africa which is due to commence at Supersport Park, Centurion on Thursday (15). He was due to undergo a scan after yesterday's play. It will be after medical advice that the team management would assess whether he will be fit for the first Test.

The Sri Lanka team is still recovering after its disastrous series against Pakistan in UAE losing both the three-Test and five-match One Day International series and has many problems to solve before they open the three-Test series against South Africa.

With four fast medium bowlers, including Lakmal, being ruled out due to injuries before the tour party left. Pradeep's injury may turn costly for the tourists.It will definitely add further worries to Lanka's bowling woes on the tour of South Africa.

The depleted Sri Lanka new ball attack is spearheaded by Dilhara Fernando and Angelo Mathews. However, left-arm bowler Chanaka Welegedara, who is figuring in Benoni, is expected to play a decisive role on South African wickets.

Meanwhile, uncapped Marchant de Lange, who gave a tough time to Australia with his fast medium bowling, has been included in the 13-member South Africa squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka. Born on October 13, 1990, Tzaneen Limpopo, the youngster shocked the touring Australians with his right-arm fast medium bowling. Playing for South Africa ‘A’, he captured five wickets for 56 runs off 19 overs in the Australian first innings in their four-day match at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom last month.

South Africa is still struggling to secure a sponsor for the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. However, they have managed to retain a sponsorship deal from local sunflower cooking oil manufacturer Sunfoil for the three-Test series. Sri Lanka is struggling to regain its lost supremacy, especially after the retirement of spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan who had been their match-winning bowler for nearly two decades.

The strength of the tourists’ is their batting, studded with two former captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. But they have often failed to click as one unit in recent times, suffering back-to-back defeats during the last three series.

The current three-day match, which ends today, will be the only opportunity for Tillakaratne Dilshan and his men to adjust to local conditions in South Africa, ahead of the crucial Test series.

But the team comprise several outstanding young cricketers with Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne set to win their first Test caps.

The seamer-friendly South African tracks would give a Testing time for Sri Lankans and they will face a gigantic task in meeting the challenge posed by the home team.

However, Sri Lanka must come out of their losing mentality they developed in the UAE, losing to Pakistan in all forms – Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals. However, Sri Lanka has the ability to bounce back if they believe in themselves and work hard.

If Lankan players throw aside their petty differences, and offer their fullest support to captain Dilshan, the team should be able to function as one unit that should hold key to their success.