Shock! Sangakkara out of First Test

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

Sri Lanka's well laid out battle plans to ambush the Australians and stuff them in the First of Two Test matches starting at the Gabba on November 8, went awry when it was revealed that Kumar Sangakkara was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Sangakkara, one of the frontline fighters for Sri Lanka, unfortunately suffered this injury in the practice game in Adelaide going for a quick run. Manager of the Lankan contingent Srian Samaratne, in a telephone linkup from Adelaide said that Sangakkara was keen to take his turn at the wicket and do his act for his team and country.

'At first we did not think the injury was serious. But tests carried out showed the hamstring strain was bad enough and that the best thing we could do was to ask Sangakkara to rest and be fit for the Second Test in Hobart.

'We would have liked to take a chance and play him. But this injury is the recurring type, and if he plays could further aggravate the injury and he could be out for a longer time.

Injuries of this nature takes at least two weeks to heal.

We'll be doing our utmost to have him fit for the Second Test in Hobart, said a visibly upset sounding Samaratne. The injury to Sangakkara will weaken the batting terribly. Selectors on tour, will have a tough time in slotting in a batsman of Sangakkara's class when team picking time comes around.

Chanaka to be sent back

Samaratne also told the Daily News that Chanaka Welagedera too suffered damage to his foot and would be sent back and they have called for another left armer Sujeewa de Silva as replacement.

It was sad on Welagedera, because he was on his first ever tour and just about getting the feel of what big time cricket is all about.

Obviously the youngster must be disappointed. He must be told that, that is how the game goes, and that that setback should spur him to come back strongly.

Sanath Jayasuriya who blasted a century is being treated for a strong cold. Otherwise everything else is tickety boo in the Lankan squad.

Dinner dance

The Sri Lankan Sports Association here in Brisbane has organised a dinner dance in honour of the Sri Lankan cricket team on November 4.

According to Maurice de Silva, President of the Association and its vice president Jayantha Pattikirikorale, all 620 tickets have been sold out.

The SLS has flown down Coreen Almedia and Sohan Weerasinghe to give the dance a Sri Lanka flavour.

Pattikirikorale said that a lot of prizes and surprises have been lined up and that dancers are sure going to have one helluwa time.

Incidentally Maurice de Silva needs no introduction to sports fans in Sri Lanka, especially ruggerites of a by gone era.

Maurice was one of the finest rugby players produced by Sri Lanka and during his time was a rage.

De Silva along with Pattikirikorale and a dynamic committee have left no stone unturned to see that the cricketers have a really good time.