Sri Lanka’s head coach Trevor Bayliss is confident that Muttiah Muralitharan will play in Saturday’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final against India but doubts remain over the fitness of Angelo Mathews.
The injured Angelo Mathews is a concern for Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup final. AFP PHOTO / Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI.
Muralitharan has said that he will be retiring after the World Cup and the 38-year-old has insisted on playing, despite an injury he picked up earlier in the tournament.
“Chances are good that Murali will play,” Bayliss said.
“He completed 10 overs in the semi-final and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort.”
Earlier today, Sri Lanka Cricket issued a statement to select members of the media stating that off-spinner Suraj Randiv and veteran Chaminda Vaas have been included in the World Cup squad.
“Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured Muralitharan and Mathews,” the statement from Sri Lanka Cricket read.
Speaking to Island Cricket a short while ago, Mathews' agent Charlie Austin said that it was "very unlikely" that the all-rounder will play in the World Cup final. Austin confirmed that Mathews had torn his quadriceps and that it was not a strain.
In the event that Mathews is selected for the final, Sri Lanka will be unable to utilise a substitute fielder or runner on his behalf as cricket’s laws state that a runner or a substitute can be utilised only if a player is injured during a game – not before.
Kumar Sangakkara’s side relies on the 23-year-old Mathews for his ability with the bat lower down the order and for his right-arm medium-pace bowling. Although they maybe unable to replicate Mathews’ brilliance with the bat, both Randiv and Vaas are considered by the Sri Lankan camp as bowling all-rounders, who are capable of filling that role.
Vaas last played an ODI for Sri Lanka in 2008 and Randiv was a surprise omission from the World Cup squad after featuring regularly in the Sri Lankan ODI side prior to the World Cup and an impressive 2010 tour to Australia.
http://www.islandcricket.lk/news/sr...ncerns-for-sri-lanka-ahead-of-world-cup-final
The injured Angelo Mathews is a concern for Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup final. AFP PHOTO / Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI.
Muralitharan has said that he will be retiring after the World Cup and the 38-year-old has insisted on playing, despite an injury he picked up earlier in the tournament.
“Chances are good that Murali will play,” Bayliss said.
“He completed 10 overs in the semi-final and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort.”
Earlier today, Sri Lanka Cricket issued a statement to select members of the media stating that off-spinner Suraj Randiv and veteran Chaminda Vaas have been included in the World Cup squad.
“Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured Muralitharan and Mathews,” the statement from Sri Lanka Cricket read.
Speaking to Island Cricket a short while ago, Mathews' agent Charlie Austin said that it was "very unlikely" that the all-rounder will play in the World Cup final. Austin confirmed that Mathews had torn his quadriceps and that it was not a strain.
In the event that Mathews is selected for the final, Sri Lanka will be unable to utilise a substitute fielder or runner on his behalf as cricket’s laws state that a runner or a substitute can be utilised only if a player is injured during a game – not before.
Kumar Sangakkara’s side relies on the 23-year-old Mathews for his ability with the bat lower down the order and for his right-arm medium-pace bowling. Although they maybe unable to replicate Mathews’ brilliance with the bat, both Randiv and Vaas are considered by the Sri Lankan camp as bowling all-rounders, who are capable of filling that role.
Vaas last played an ODI for Sri Lanka in 2008 and Randiv was a surprise omission from the World Cup squad after featuring regularly in the Sri Lankan ODI side prior to the World Cup and an impressive 2010 tour to Australia.
http://www.islandcricket.lk/news/sr...ncerns-for-sri-lanka-ahead-of-world-cup-final
