Lasith Embuldeniya severely injured in 2nd test

Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya is almost certainly out of the Port Elizabeth Test after severely dislocating his left thumb while attempting to take a return catch on the opening day of the 2nd test against South Africa.

Embuldeniya left the field immediately clutching a warped and bloody thumb, before an X-ray revealed the extent of his injury.

ESPN Cricinfo reported it is such a bad dislocation that Embuldeniya will likely undergo surgery. He is expected to take six weeks to recover fully.

It also appears unlikely that he will come out to bat, in the first innings at least. There is almost no chance that he will bowl.

This is a substantial blow to Sri Lanka's hopes in the second Test.

Embuldeniya, their only specialist spinner on tour, was excellent on debut in Kings mead, taking a second-innings five-wicket haul. He also batted bravely in the first innings.

With only three frontline quicks playing, Sri Lanka will now have to rely on the part-time off breaks of Dhananjaya de Silva, and perhaps Dimuth Karunaratne's gentle seam-ups as well.

Courtesy : NEWSRADIO