BRISBANE: Sri Lan­kan paceman Nuwan Pradeep has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Australia with a hamstring injury, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Sunday.

He sustained a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring while bowling during Sri Lanka’s warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI. Pradeep, though, after having had left the field after two overs on Thursday, underwent a scan on Friday before the eventual decision was taken.

Sri Lanka were also fretting over the fitness of Kusal Mendis, who had received a nasty blow while fielding in the tour game. However, he was eventually declared fit to play the first Test.

Pradeep did not feature in Sri Lanka’s recently-concluded two-Test series against New Zealand. He last played a Test in October 2017.

Sri Lanka will play Australia in the first Test under lights at the Gabba in Brisbane from Thursday.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2019