Lokuarachchi out of action for two months

Leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi is expected to be out of action for two months after undergoing an operation on his dislocated right index finger.

Lokuarchchi sustained the injury while attempting a return catch off Ravi Bopara during England's first innings of their three day warm up match against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI which ended at the NCC ground in Maitland Place yesterday.

The Board President's XI coach Chandika Hathurusinghe said that Initially it was feared Lokuarachchi had sustained a break, but was confirmed that the bowler had dislocated a knuckle without severing the surrounding tendons. However he is expected to spend the next three weeks in plaster, and it will be a further month before he is fit to bowl again.

Lokuarachchi of course was not in contention for the forthcoming Test series against England but he was very much in the selectors' thoughts for next month's Tri Series in Australia. He played in the final two matches of England's recent one-day international series in September and October, and has taken 31 wickets at 23.38 in 31 matches to date.