Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne ruled out of second Test

The left-handed opening batsman fractured his thumb on the eve of the series and has not recovered in time to return for the second Test at Galle, which begins on Friday

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has been ruled out of the second Test against England due to a fractured thumb.

The left-handed opening batsman suffered the injury on the eve of the series and has not recovered in time to return for the second instalment at Galle, which begins on Friday.

Dinesh Chandimal will continue as his temporary replacement in charge, with Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne – a century-maker in Sri Lanka’s seven-wicket defeat in the first Test – set to continue at the top of the order.

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Kusal Mendis, however, has been released from Mickey Arthur’s squad. Mendis batted at No.3 in the first game but suffered the ignominy of recording his fourth consecutive duck when he edged Stuart Broad to Jos Buttler in the first innings. Previously, he went three innings without scoring a run against South Africa in Sri Lanka’s series defeat ahead of hosting England.

To compound his struggles, he then found himself a frequent target at short leg as England’s batsmen regularly swept Sri Lanka’s spinners.

Also leaving Sri Lanka’s bio-secure camp are reserve batsman Minod Bhanuka and seamers Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep.