Angelo Mathews has recovered from the calf strain that caused him to miss the series against Pakistan
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews has fully recovered from a calf strain and will be fit for his side’s upcoming tour of India, which will consist of three Tests, three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals.
Mathews did not feature in Sri Lanka’s last assignment, which came against Pakistan, as he was nursing the aforementioned injury.
Mathews’ return isn’t the only piece of good news for Sri Lanka as all-rounder Asela Gunaratne and wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera are both set to make their comebacks as well.
Gunaratne has been out of action ever since he sustained a serious thumb injury during Sri Lanka’s series against India in July.
Kusal, meanwhile, has not represented Sri Lanka ever since he was forced to retire hurt with a hamstring injury during his side’s Champions Trophy clash with India in June.
“Angelo and Kusal Janith [Perera] have both recovered and they will be considered for selection for the Indian series. Asela Gunaratne is fit as well,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley De Silva was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Despite becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a Test series in the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka were unable to replicate the results in the limited overs portion of the tour as they were whitewashed in both the ODI and Twenty20 series.
With Sri Lanka having endured a disappointing 2017, interim head coach Nic Pothas admitted that a change in personnel might be needed.
“It’s pretty obvious what the mood will be like when you’ve lost 16 games,” Pothas said. “With respect to new faces, that’s a conversation that we need to have with the selectors. But I think it stands to reason that in any walk of life, when you’ve had negative results for a period of time you need to see some change somewhere.”
However, he did point out that there were many positives to take away from the series against Pakistan.
“On the Test series, let me remind you that we made history,” he said. “We did something that no other nation has ever done in the UAE. It tends to have been forgotten due to the fact that ODIs follow the Tests. But we have to give huge credit to the team and to the captain.
“Overall across the whole tour we can certainly glean a lot of positives. The fielding has improved out of sight and certainly was one of the shining lights throughout the month that we were out there. And the bowling as well was of a very high standard; the execution of the plans was very pleasing.
“Obviously, some of the batting didn’t go according to plan, but that’s the cricket world and other teams are allowed to play well. It was also one of the best bowling attacks in the world so it’s always going to be tough, but I think on the whole the series started off very well with that Test win. Certainly the attitude, the character and the fight shown by that team was very, very pleasing.”