Sri Lanka’s Prasad ruled out of NZ Tests
Sri Lanka suffered a major blow when fast bowler Dhammika Prasad was ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting in Dunedin on Wednesday.
The right-arm seamer suffered a back injury during the three-day tour match against a New Zealand Board President's XI, only bowling four overs for 20 runs.
The 32 year-old Prasad will be sorely missed by the Asian side as he has been their best paceman in the last year, with the bustling bowler unlikely to regain his fitness for the ODI series that follows.
Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando, who is uncapped, will replace Prasad for the longest format after impressing for the Sri Lanka A side on their tour of New Zealand in October.
The 24 year-old Fernando has taken 103 wickets in in 36 first-class games at an average 32.13, and was one of the standout performers in Sri Lanka's domestic first-class competition in 2014-15.
The Asian team are scheduled to play two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s against the Black Caps on tour.
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