Standby called for injured Herath

Australia’s chances of finishing second in Pool A have received a boost with Sri Lanka sending a replacement player to be on standby for injured ace spinner Rangana Herath.

Leg-spinning allrounder Seekkuge Prasanna will travel to Australia as cover for Herath after the veteran left-arm orthodox tweaker split the skin on his spinning finger in last Sunday’s nine-wicket win over England in Wellington.

Herath damaged his left index finger fielding a return catch off wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler in the 49th over of England’s innings, leaving the field immediately with one ball remaining in his over.

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Herath leaves the field after splitting his spinning finger against England // Getty Images

The injury required four stitches and he is expected to take 7-10 days to recover, putting the 36-year-old in doubt for Sunday’s clash against Australia at the SCG.

The winner of the match will likely finish second in Pool A and avoid a quarter-final clash against South Africa.

“Seekkuge Prasanna will go to Australia as a stand by for Rangana Herath. Rangana split his finger during the England v Sri Lanka match and the wound will expected take 7-10 days to heal. Seekkuge sent to Australia only as a precautionary measure,” said Sri Lanka Cricket, in a statement.

Herath has taken three wickets in the tournament to date, and was seen as a major threat to Australia on the slow, spin-friendly Sydney wicket.

Former Sydney Sixers bowler Sachithra Senanayake is the other specialist spinner in Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad, tough the mystery spinner hasn’t played in the tournament so far, and managed only four wickets at 60.75 in the 4-2 series loss to New Zealand in January.