SYDNEY, Jan 5: Rangana Herath proved news of his death was greatly exaggerated Saturday by bowling and batting for Sri Lanka in the third Sydney Test against Australia.

Social media was abuzz overnight with news that the left-arm spinner had been declared dead following a car crash in Sydney with champion Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas escaping with an injury.

Rumours of Herath’s death spread quickly on Twitter, with users expressing their astonishment at the news and passing on their thoughts and prayers for Herath’s family.

But there was Herath on the field during the third day’s play, taking four wickets in the Australian first innings and then coming out to bat late in the day and remaining nine not out in his team’s second innings.

Team-mate Dimuth Karunaratne chuckled when the question on the state of Herath’s health was raised at his post-day’s play press conference.

“I heard about it when we were having breakfast but I had no idea where that came from,” he laughed. “The Daily Mirror guys from Sri Lanka were calling us asking ‘when is the funeral?’ and stuff like that. Rangana is alive.”—Agencies