Nuwan Pradeep has been ruled out of the two-Test Domain series against Australia starting January 24 due to a hamstring injury, a press release from Sri Lanka Cricket announced. The 32-year-old fast bowler sustained a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring that will prevent him from taking part in the series.

Pradeep sustained the injury during Sri Lanka’s day-night warm-up tie against Cricket Australia XI. He left the field on Thursday having bowled just two overs and underwent a scan a day later before the call was made. It was another hamstring injury that had ruled Pradeep out of the Test series against India in August 2017. the severity of the injury is not known as of now and Sri Lanka are yet to name a replacement for the fast bowler.

Pradeep has picked 70 wickets from 28 Tests, the last of which came against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in October 2017. Workload concerns forced SLC to rest Pradeep for the limited-overs tour of India later that year. In February last year, Pradeep returned to the fold featuring in Sri Lanka’s T20 squad for a tri-series at home. He did not play in Sri Lanka’s recent two-Test series against New Zealand.

Pradeep’s injury comes merely a day after another Sri Lanka player avoided a scare on the field. Batsman Kusal Mendis copped a fierce blow to his finger while fielding at short leg when a powerful sweep from Jake Doran left the fielder in extreme pain and he was forced to leave the field for treatment. However, X-ray scans later revealed no serious threat and Mendis was cleared of a serious injury.

-Agencies