SL rocked by more COVID cases on eve of second Test

Three Sri Lanka players have been ruled out of the second Test against Australia in Galle, starting on Friday, after they tested positive to COVID-19.

Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay, who all played in the first Test, returned positive COVID tests on Wednesday, ruling them out of the series finale.

It brings to five the number of Sri Lankan players who have tested positive to the virus in the past week.

Former skipper Angelo Mathews will be available for the second Test despite testing positive during last week's first Test, which forced him out of the side partway through the match.

Back-up spinner Praveen Jayawickrama, who didn't play in the first Test but had been in line for a recall this week, tested positive on Tuesday and is also unavailable for selection.

All other members of the squad tested negative on Wednesday.

Australia are staying at the same hotel as the Sri Lankan team but have so far managed to avoid the outbreak.

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was desperately hoping there would be no more cases found before the start of the Test.

"It's really tough," said Karunaratne on Thursday. "We were planning for the match two days earlier but it's not easy as a captain when you are not able to finalise a proper XI.

"But it can't be helped right now. At the moment we have to go through the medical protocols and see how it goes. Hopefully there are no more cases in the afternoon."

In the three new cases, the hosts have lost their only fast bast bowler from the first Test (Fernando), their No.5 who has a Test ton to his name against Australia and whose handy off-spin got the wicket of Travis Head (Dhananjaya) and their wrist-spinner (Vandersay).

Teenager Dunith Wellalage looks set to make his debut, possibly batting in the top seven as a replacement for Dhananjaya, while he could be joined by two more uncapped spinners in Maheesh Theekshanna and Prabath Jayasuriya

Kasun Rajitha, the right-arm paceman who took 11 wickets in Sri Lanka's preceding two-Test series against Bangladesh including a five-for in Dhaka, is the logical replacement for Fernando.

Batter Oshada Fernando, who replaced Mathews during the first Test, is also an option to retain his spot in Dhanajaya's absence.

Sandakan, who made his debut against Australia in 2016 but has not played Test cricket since 2018, could come in for Vandersay.

Theekshanna, the 21-year-old mystery spinner who has impressed in the Indian Premier League, has only played three first-class matches, the last of which came four years ago but troubled the Australians during the recent ODIs.

"You can pick him," allrounder Cameron Green said of Theekshana, whose carrom ball is a rare weapon in international cricket. "It's just how much he was spinning both ways that really got us (in the white-ball games).

"It's a different game, Test cricket to one-day cricket. You pick and choose the balls you want to attack.

"If you have someone who spins it both ways there might be potential to score runs."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

June 29 - July 3: Australia won by 10 wickets

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports