Pradeep bowled only two overs in Sri Lanka’s three-day warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI before hobbling off the field in the first innings. He did not come back to bowl in the second innings.

“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,” a Sri Lanka Cricket media release said. “He has sustained a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring. 

The injury has occurred, while Pradeep was bowling during Sri Lanka’s warm up game played against Cricket Australia XI.”

Sri Lanka has not named a replacement for Pradeep, given it already has four fast bowlers – Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera and Kasun Rajitha – in the squad.

The first Test, a day-night affair, begins on 24 January in Brisbane followed by the second Test in Canberra from 1 February.