The uncapped off-spinner Nishan Peiris has been added to the Sri Lanka Squad for the Second New Zealand Test after Vishwa Fernando pulled up with an injury.
Vishwa Fernando who didn’t play in the first test against New Zealand has developed a hamstring injury while practising and will undergo rehabilitation at the board’s high-performance centre.
“Vishwa Fernando had developed a tightness in his right hamstring while practising,” said an SLC statement.
Vishwa Fernando had developed a tightness in his right hamstring while practicing, hence, he has been sent to the High Performance Center for rehabilitation._
Nishan Peiris, the 27-year-old right-arm offspinner, has been added to the squad in place of Fernando. #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/aCCvUxbsEv
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 24, 2024
Fernando played two out of three tests against England and picked seven wickets at an average of 29.29. With the seam playing only a limited role in the first test, it’s unlikely he will come for the second test.
The 27-year-old Peiris might have a chance of making it into the playing Xl. Despite having made it into the test squad twice in the past, back in 2018 and earlier this year in March, he’s yet to make his debut.
But with Ramesh Mendis’ performance coming in for criticism from skipper Dhananjaya de Silva following the end of the first test, there is some doubt over his position in the team.
Peiris has picked up 172 first-class wickets across 41 matches at an average of 24.37. He recently turned out for Sri Lanka A in South Africa, where he picked three wickets in the first unofficial test.
After setting a target of 274 runs, Sri Lanka restricted New Zealand to 211 runs resulting in a victory with Prabath Jayasuriya picking five wicket haul in Kiwi’s second innings.
Sri Lanka secured a stunning 63-run victory against New Zealand and moved to the third position in the WTC points table. Their second and final test will be played between September 26 and 30 at Galle International Stadium.
