Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Profiles of injured Sri Lanka party members


The second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned on Tuesday following the attack on the bus carrying the tourists' team in Lahore.
BBC Sport profiles the Sri Lanka players and the English assistant coach injured in the attack.
The most seriously injured player was Thilan Samaraweera, who was shot in the leg. Early reports suggest he will be unable to play cricket for between six to eight weeks.
Tharanga Paranavitana was shot in the chest. The bullet, which narrowly missed his heart, was removed by Pakistan doctors.
Mahela Jayawardene, age 31 (born Colombo)
Led his team to a 5-0 one-day whitewash of England in 2006 before scoring a Sri Lankan Test record 374 against South Africa and captaining the one-day side to the 2007 World Cup final.
His Test debut was in 1997 and he has gone on to hit 25 Test centuries, averaging 53.23. The Test against Pakistan this week was to be his last as captain, although he will continue playing.
Kumar Sangakkara, 31 (Matale)
After breaking into the side aged 22, this phenomenal wicketkeeper/batsman made his Test debut in 2000.
Now used sparingly behind the stumps, he has gone on to strike 18 Test centuries, averaging 54.99. He is likely to be Sri Lanka's next captain with Jayawardene stepping down.
Thilan Samaraweera, 32 (Colombo)
After making his Test debut in 2001 he has gone on to score nine Test centuries in 49 matches.
In 2009 he scored a double-century in the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi, and on Monday he hit 214 to become only the sixth batsman in Test history and the second Sri Lankan to hit double tons in successive Tests.
Ajantha Mendis, 23 (Moratuwa)
Has emerged as the world's most dangerous spin bowler, helped by his famous finger-snapping 'carrom ball'.
Last summer he became the first Sri Lankan to take eight wickets on his Test debut against India at Colombo, before finishing with 26 wickets to be named Man of the Series.
Tharanga Paranavitana, 26 (Kegalle)
Opening batsman and off-break bowler who made his Test debut against Pakistan in February. His first-class highest score is 236.
Chaminda Vaas, 35 (Mattumagala)
After Muttiah Muralitharan, Vaas is Sri Lanka's finest ever bowler and made his Test debut in 1994.
In 2001-02 his bowling helped Sri Lanka beat the West Indies as he became only the second fast bowler, after Imran Khan, to take 14 wickets in a match in the subcontinent. He waited 97 Tests for his maiden century against Bangladesh and in August 2008, he claimed his 400th one-day international wicket.
Suranga Lakmal, 21 (Matara)
This young right-arm seam bowler has still to make his Test debut, having played his initial first-class match at Colombo last year. Was drafted into the current Sri Lankan 15-man squad.
Paul Farbrace, 41 (Ash-next-Sandwich, Kent, UK)
He is a former Kent and Middlesex wicketkeeper and batsman.
He started coaching with the England's women team, moved on to Kent and in July 2007 was appointed assistant Sri Lanka coach.

No comments:

Post a Comment