Lankans lose Pradeep to hamstring strain

Sri Lanka will be without the services of paceman Nuwan Pradeep for the forthcoming Test series against Australia, beginning Thursday under lights at the Gabba.

Pradeep was only able to get through two overs in Sri Lanka's warm-up fixture against a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart last week, before sustaining a hamstring injury.

"Nuwan Pradeep, who is part of Sri Lanka’s Test squad touring Australia for the two Test series; has sustained an injury and will be out of the series," Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed. "He has sustained a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring."

Pradeep did not play in Sri Lanka's recent two-Test series against New Zealand, and in fact played the last of his 28 Tests in October 2017. 

In Hobart, where Sri Lanka were allowed to play their full squad owing to the unofficial status of the match, Pradeep opened the bowling alongside Kasun Rajitha in the first innings. 

Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal were the other quicks to take part for the visitors in the match.

Lakmal, a veteran of 54 Tests, played both recent matches against New Zealand, while Chameera and Rajitha played one Test each. 

Should Sri Lanka opt for three quicks on the traditionally pace-friendly Gabba, that trio - all of whom are right-armers - appears the most likely selection. 

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha

CA XI: Joe Burns (c), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Scott Boland, Jake Doran (wk), Jon Holland, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Matt Renshaw, Chris Tremain

Jan 17-19: Tour match, CA XI v SL, Hobart (D/N)

Jan 24-28: First Test, Gabba (D/N)

Feb 1-5: Second Test, Canberra