South Africa v Sri Lanka: Ajantha Mendis ruled out of the ODI series due to back injury – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan cricketer team’s tour of South Africa is turning from bad to worse. After suffering defeat in the Test series, the Asian http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 are now trailing by two games to nil in the five match ODI series.
To make matters worse, Sri Lanka’s specialist spinner in the limited over game, Ajantha Mendis, has been ruled out of the remaining ODI series due to a recurring back injury.
The right-arm spinner first complained of having a backache during the series against Australia in September 2011. Mendis subsequently missed the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the United Arab Emirate (UAE),
because he was recuperating from the injury. However, it seems as if the unorthodox spinner has not fully recovered and therefore will no longer be taking part in the ongoing series.
An official of Sri Lanka cricket confirmed the news. He said, “http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 due to injury and will not be available for the remainder of the series.”
Many consider Mendis as the successor of the legendary off-spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Muralitharan-c1864. The 26-year-old’s style of bowling is better suited to shorter version of the game. To date, the spinner has represented
Sri Lanka in 59 ODI matches claiming 96 wickets at an astonishing average of 20.75.
The Lankans will surely feel Mendis’ absence; however, selectors did not take long in naming his replacement. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sachithra-Madushanka-Senanayake-c87813, the Colombo born off-spinner, has been called into the side to reinforce
Sri Lanka’s bowling options.
Sri Lankan officials said, “Sachitra Senanayake will leave for South Africa immediately.”
Senanayake, the uncapped cricketer, will be hoping to pounce on this given chance and make a name for himself. The off-spinner has an impressive track record back at home, in 66 list-A games he has notched
107 wickets while maintaining an average of 18.73.
It is expected that Senanayake will join the squad before the third match of the series. South Africa and Sri Lanka are scheduled to lock horns once again in the third match of series at Chevrolet Park,
Bloemfontein on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
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