Injury Rules Jayawardene Out Of Bangladesh Tests

Injury Rules Jayawardene Out Of Bangladesh Tests

Mahela Jayawardene will miss both Tests against Bangladesh due to a finger injury

©REUTERS / Action Images

Experienced Sri Lanka batsman and former captain Mahela Jayawardene has dislocated the middle finger of his left hand and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

He will miss both Test matches against Bangladesh in early March and has been replaced in Sri Lanka's provisional squad by Thilan Samaraweera.

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Jayawardene, a veteran of 138 Test matches, suffered the injury while attempting a catch playing for SSC against NCC and scans showed a fracture, the severity of which has ruled him out for longer than usual for a normal fracture.

In 11 Tests against Bangladesh, Jayawardene has scored 860 runs at an average of 66.15, one of three countries he averages over 60 against - England and Zimbabwe being the others.

Samaraweera, who has played 81 Tests, was left out of the initial squad, which will be led for the first time in Test matches by new captain Angelo Mathews.

The opening Test in Galle begins on 8th March with the second Test scheduled to begin on 16th March at an as-yet-unconfirmed venue.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Ashen Silva, Kumar Sangakkara (subject to fitness), Lahiru Thirimanne, Thilan Samaraweera, Kusal Janith, Jeevan Mendis, Kithruwan Vithanage, Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welagedara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Rangana Herath, Tharindu Kaushal

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