Sri Lanka call up uncapped pacer Chamika Karunaratne for second Test against Australia

Sport360 staff 09:42 29/01/2019
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  • A maiden Test call up for Chamika Karunaratne (r).

    Sri Lanka have added uncapped pacer Chamika Karunaratne to the squad ahead of the second Test against Australia as a replacement for the injured Lahiru Kumara.

    The tourists are grappling with a spate of injuries in the fast-bowling department which has seen three bowlers in Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera ruled out of the series.

    While Kumara and Pradeep injured their hamstrings, Chameera picked up an ankle injury in the first Test against Australia at Brisbane.

    Chameera is set to return home along with Kumara while Sri Lanka Cricket have stated that Karunaratne will join the squad in due course ahead of the second Test.

    Sri Lanka had already drafted left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando to the squad last week after the news of Kumara’s injury had emerged.

    22-year-old Karunaratne, meanwhile, has played a total of 29 first-class matches over the course of his career since making his debut in 2015. The pacer has picked up a total of 59 wickets in these games with an average of just over 34.

    Karunaratne had represented Sri Lanka in the recent ACC (Asian Cricket Council) Emerging Nations Cup in December.

    Sri Lanka currently trail the two-match series 0-1 after tasting a defeat by an innings and 40 runs in the first Test at the Gabba. The second and final Test between the two sides will get underway at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on February 1.

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