Dinesh Chandimal picked up the groin injury during the opening Test against England. (Source: Reuters)

Sri Lanka were beaten convincingly by England in the ODIs and then in opening Test at Galle. The hosts’ woes have been doubled, or tripled, in the aftermath of the 211 run defeat at Galle. Sri Lanka will be without skipper Dinesh Chandimal for the second Test – starting November 14 – due to a groin injury. Further, Akil Dananjaya has been reported for a suspect action during the Galle Test. This will be the first Test Sri Lanka play without the mercurial Rangana Herath who called time on 433 wickets.

Chandimal has been ruled out for two weeks with the injury – a grade one tear – with Suranga Lakmal taking over the captaincy duties in his absence. There is no word on whether Chandimal could be out for longer.

SLC have brought in Charith Asalanka as a replacement for Chandimal. Asalanka wasn’t on the standby list with Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne the reserve options when the Test squad was named. Asalanka’s inclusion is likely to have been based on his outing for Sri Lanka Board XI against where he scored 63-ball 68.

Dananjaya to undergo tests

In double trouble for Sri Lanka, Dananjaya is required to undergo testing for his action within the next 14 days. During this period, he is permitted to continue bowling until the outcome of the testing are known. At present, he remains in Sri Lanka’s squad for the second Test in Kandy.

Dananjaya is classified as an “off spinners” but the orthodox spinner, who bowls a number of different deliveries, also uses leg spin, googlies and carrom balls, particularly in one-day cricket. He did cause England some trouble in the ODIs but was mostly ineffectual in the Galle Test, taking two for 183 in the match from 38.5 overs.