Dhammika Prasad unlikely for remainder of England tour

The Sri Lankan team has suffered a major blow in the early days of their England tour as Dhammika Prasad, their lead bowler, is now unlikely to make it for the remaining matches of the tour. It was during the practice match against Essex when the fast bowler suffered a shoulder injury on the field.

Dhammika Prasad was into his 18^th over against Essex at Chelmsford when he felt a niggle in his shoulder. He could not complete his bowling spell and was subsequently sent for a medical examination. He missed out on the second warm-up match and subsequently was ruled out of the first Test too.

He hasn’t bowled in the nets too, and as per the reports, he is being sent back to Sri Lanka for further assessment. “After yesterday’s fitness test, the management took a decision that he would be sent back for further treatment,” team manager Charith Senanayake said. “It’s the prevailing injury. He was to do another test today, but yesterday we tested him at training and he still couldn’t bowl.”

Prior to the first Test, he had undergone another shoulder scan, the results of which have enforced the team management to send the pacer back to Sri Lanka.

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By the look of things at this moment, Prasad is definitely ruled out of the second Test as well. However, there is an 8 day gap between the second and third Test, which can give the Sri Lankan fans a hope that he might return. However, the team manager termed his returned for the third Test ‘unlikely’.

Dhammika Prasad was the leading pace bowler for Sri Lanka last year with 41 Test wickets at an average of 24.95. He had missed the tour to New Zealand earlier this year as well following a back injury.