The Sri Lanka national cricket team has suffered injuries ahead of the upcoming two-match test series against the Australia national cricket team at home. All-rounder Kamindu Mendis and batsman Pathum Nissanka are doubts for the series opener against the Steve Smith-led team due to their respective injuries.
Australia’s two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka will begin on January 29 in Galle, with both Test matches forming part of the World Test Championship (WTC). Australia have already secured a place in the WTC final against South Africa later this year. After the next Test series, the teams will compete in a two-match ODI series.
Sri Lanka faces injury setbacks ahead of Test series against Australia
Sri Lankan sports journalist Rex Clementine shared news about the Australia series. Kamindu Mendis injured his hand while trying to catch a first-class match and required stitches for a ruptured membrane. Pathum Nissanka is already a doubt for the series opener due to a groin strain.
“Not the best news coming from SSC with the Australia series less than two weeks away. Kamindu Mendis ruptured his membrane trying to catch and required stitches during today’s First Class match between SSC and CCC. Pathum Nissanka is now in doubt due to a groin strain. Clementine wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Not the best news coming from SSC with the Australia series less than two weeks away. Kamindu Mendis broke his straps while trying to catch it and required stitches during today’s First Class match between SSC and CCC. Pathum Nissanka is already in doubt with a groin strain.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) jtonorthyoutorand 17, 2025
Pathum Nissanka suffered a groin injury during the third ODI in New Zealand
Pathum Nissanka suffered a groin injury during the third ODI against New Zealand in Auckland. Nissanka batted aggressively and scored a half-century off just 31 balls, but had to retire injured after appearing to injure himself while completing his fifty.
MRI scans confirmed a grade 1 tear, raising questions over his availability for the second Test against Australia, which begins on February 6. The Sri Lanka Test team, to be announced shortly, is scheduled to begin training in Galle on Monday, January 20. .
Top Sri Lanka cricket official downplays severity of Kamindu Mendis’ hand injury
Less than two weeks before the start of the series against Australia, Kamindu Mendis, who suffered a hand injury, required stitches. However, a senior Sri Lanka Cricket official downplayed the severity, according to NewsWire.
However, a senior Sri Lanka Cricket official downplayed the severity, saying: “I think Kamindu will be fine; “It’s only 1 or 2 points.”
Pat Cummins opted to skip Australia’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, and Cricket Australia named 35-year-old Steve Smith as captain. Smith has led Australia in 38 Tests, securing 21 wins and 10 losses, but his captaincy saw Australia suffer a 3-0 defeat in Sri Lanka in 2016.
Despite being Australia’s best white-ball bowler for almost a decade, Adam Zampa has not been included in the Test set-up. Australia have chosen Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann as their top options for the tour.
Apart from frontline spinners, Australia has fielded all-rounder and part-time spinners like Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster and Cooper Connolly for the tour. Glenn Maxwell, who last played a top-class match in July 2023, was not included despite his experience in subcontinental conditions.
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