There's a chance for us to dominate England: Kusal Perera

Attacking Sri Lankan opener Kusal Perera ’s Test career was just 3 tests old when he experienced a potentially career ending trouble. The 25 year old was provisionally suspended from all cricket during Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand last December, after a laboratory in Qatar, accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), stated he was tested positive for 9-Norandrostenedione, an anabolic steroid, that is classified as a Schedule III drug.

The suspension forced the left hander to miss this year’s Asia Cup and World T20. He finally gt an opportunity to make a comeback in Tests after an injury to fast bowler Dhammika Prasad enabled him get a recall to the side ahead of the on-going tour of England.

“They haven’t told me if I’m playing yet,” Perera told reporters at Lord’s after a training session. “If I do get to play, it’s a great opportunity to play at Lord’s. I was thrown into trouble and to come back from that [and play] at Lord’s would be great.”

“Even the time I was out of the team I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. I couldn’t really think about cricket much in those months, because my focus was on the problem I was facing. I didn’t have any time to think about whether I was in touch, or whether I could train, or even what was happening in cricket. I started training after the day I was cleared,” he said.

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“After six months, your body needs to get used to training again. Your body starts to hurt, but that’s normal. However, what I’ve found is that because I’m coming into it quite fresh, I’m hitting the ball well, I’m seeing it well,” he added.

Perera, who may replace injured all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana, says that warmer temperatures in London will benefit Sri Lanka.

“I watched the [England] attack and it’s mostly fast bowlers,” he said. “In London, the conditions seem easier, because it must have been very cold in Durham.

“When it’s cold you are a bit stiff and your feet don’t work as well. With this weather and given the pitch as well, which looks like it will be batting-friendly, I think there’s a chance for us to dominate them,” he said.