INDIA VS SRI LANKA, 2017

Herath ruled out of Delhi Test; Jeffrey Vandersay added to SL squad

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Vandersay is yet to make his Test debut for Sri Lanka © Getty

Veteran Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the third and final Test match, to be played in Delhi from December 2, after complaining of a sore back. Legbreak bowler Jeffrey Vandersay has been added to the Sri Lanka squad as Herath's replacement.

Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was SLC's first choice to replace Herath but the 30-year-old failed the fitness test. Meanwhile, Herath is due to fly home on Thursday (November 30).

"We were hoping that Rangana Herath will feel okay for Delhi. But having spoken to him and physio we feel that he should come back. We have got lot of cricket ahead and he is important for us. Our plan was to fly in Malinda Pushpakumara, but he has failed a fitness test. Vandersay will now be the replacement," SLC chief selector Graeme Labrooy said.

In the first Test in Kolkata, Herath bowled a grand total of eight overs in seaming conditions, but his services were required more often in Nagpur where the wicket was much flatter. He bowled 39 overs in the only innings that India batted in the second game.

Herath had also missed the third Test of the home series against India, earlier in August, due to a similar back issue. He made his comeback in UAE, in the two-Test series against Pakistan.

Vandersay has played 11 ODIs and seven T20Is for Sri Lanka but is yet to make his Test debut. Sri Lanka have another spin option in their initial squad - the chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan.

© Cricbuzz

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