Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of the England tour after suffering a stress fracture to his lower back. Chameera has been advised rest for four months and will return to Sri Lanka to continue his treatment. Chameera is also likely to miss the home Tests against Australia, which start from July 26.
The Sri Lanka selectors are expected to meet by Wednesday to pick a replacement for the squad in England. The loss of Chameera is the second big blow to Sri Lanka’s bowling attack after fast bowler Dhammika Prasad returned home last week because of a shoulder injury.
The stress fracture was confirmed after Chameera underwent a scan on Tuesday morning. The fast bowler had taken 3 for 64 – including the wicket of Jonny Bairstow who top-scored with 140 – in the first Test at Headingley, which Sri Lanka lost by an innings and 88 runs.
Chameera has played five Tests since his debut in June 2015 against Pakistan, taking 21 wickets at an average of 27.28. He suffered a side strain after his first Test, which kept him out of the Pallekele Test against Pakistan, and played only one match in the series against India that followed. He had made his international debut earlier – in January 2015 – and replaced Dhammika Prasad in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2015 World Cup, where he played two matches. Overall, Chameera has taken 10 wickets in nine ODIs and 13 T20Is, respectively.
