Arthur urges batsmen to negotiate middle overs

Mickey Arthur

By Bipin  Dani

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur has emphasized the need for his team’s batsmen to better negotiate the middle overs in the ongoing T20I series against India. 

“Our coach is speaking to each individual player and wants them to stay at the wicket and negotiate the middle overs, from overs 7 to 15,” team manager and tour selector Ashantha de Mel said. 

“In the first six overs we made a good score, getting 48 runs, but our batsmen could not capitalize the scores in the middle overs.”
Sri Lanka’s batsmen managed just 56 in the next nine overs losing four wickets.

“We will decide about the composition of the eleven for the last match only after seeing the wicket. We will decide then whether to try out the seniors like Angelo Mathews or Kusal Mendis,” de Mel added.    

In the meantime, the 32-year-old all rounder Isuru Udana has been ruled out for Friday’s 3rd T-20I 

Isuru Udana ruled out 

In the meantime, the 32-year-old all rounder Isuru Udana has been ruled out for Friday’s 3rd T-20I. 

“He has some back problem. May be a slip disc or problem with the spinal cord. He is unavailable for the third match,” de Mel said. 

“We are not sending him back. There is only one match left now and he will be there till the end of this tour”. 

“He will also have his MRI done in Sri Lanka. At present he is being treated by our physio Ajantha Wattegama,” the manager added.

In the meantime, the 32-year-old all rounder Isuru Udana has been ruled out for Friday’s 3rd T-20I