Big blow for Sri Lanka ahead of the second Test against Australia
Big blow for Sri Lanka ahead of the second Test against Australia. Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama is out of the second and final Test against Australia after testing positive for COVID-19.
The player was found to be Covid positive when tested (Rapid Antigen Test) this morning because he had complained of feeling ill, according to a statement released by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board on Monday. Jayawickrama was immediately taken out of the team and placed in isolation, where he will stay for the next five days.
Other Sri Lankan players have not performed well.
When star all-rounder Angelo Mathews tested positive late on the second day of the first Test, he had to be substituted by Oshada Fernando.
If Mathews is able to return in time for the second Test, which begins on Friday, 8 July, Sri Lanka will be delighted. A 10-wicket victory in the first Test but Australia 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Australia leads the ICC World Test Championship with a win percentage of 77.78, while Sri Lanka is in sixth place with a win percentage of 47.62.
Only by defeating West Indies and Pakistan in the series finale would their home team be able to claim a share of the championship.