Rangana Herath won’t play any part in the third Test against India

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Sri Lanka have been dealt a massive blow after veteran spinner Rangana Herath was ruled out of the third Test against India with a back injury.

Herath played in the first two Tests, but only managed to take one wicket. However, he did have an impact with the bat in the first Test in Kolkata as he scored an impressive 67 in the first innings.

It is likely that Sri Lanka will bring in uncapped leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay as Herath’s replacement. The 27-year-old has represented Sri Lanka in 11 ODIs and seven Twenty20 Internationals, but has yet to make his debut in the longest format.

Should Vandersay be overlooked, left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan is set to be drafted into the side. Sandakan has played seven Tests to date, but went wicketless in Sri Lanka’s warm-up match against an Indian Board President’s XI earlier this month.

India hold a 1-0 lead going into the third Test, which will get underway on December 2 in Delhi.