Muttiah Muralitharan is hopeful that Sri Lanka can level the Test series at the Rose Bowl next week
Captain's injury is an opportunity for others
Muttiah Muralitharan is hopeful that Sri Lanka can level the Test series at the Rose Bowl next week.
The third and final Test begins on June 16 with the tourists on the back foot after a humiliating defeat in Cardiff and a draw at Lord's earlier this week.
And Sri Lanka look set to be without captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made 193 in the first innings at Lord's but was unable to bat second time round after two blows from Chris Tremlett left him with a broken right thumb.
"They will miss Dilshan as a batsman, but they also have other experienced captains in the squad - so they can handle that," said Muralitharan, currently playing for Gloucestershire in the FriendsLife t20.
Dilshan discounted the suggestion that Sri Lanka might be tempted to call up either his limited-overs opening partner Upul Tharanga, or even the great Sanath Jayasuriya from international retirement, to partner Tharanga Paranavitana in his absence.
Instead therefore, for the final Test at least, Sri Lanka are likely to give an opportunity to uncapped 21-year-old opener Lahiru Thirimanne.
Muralitharan is not surprised. "The other players can take a chance," he said.
"It gives another opener an opportunity so they can grab it - that is the way to look at it.
One collapse
"We have played well. We just had one collapse, which meant they lost first Test, but otherwise they have been doing pretty well.
"Of course, you do miss senior players a bit. But you cannot say that without Dilshan Sri Lanka will lose a match. There will be other players who can replace him."
Sri Lanka's biggest problem so far has appeared to be their bowling.
Following the retirements of off-spinner Muralitharan and fast bowler Lasith Malinga - the latter should still be available in the shorter formats - they have looked short of the firepower needed to take 20 wickets.
"The bowling is a little bit weak, but I still think they will manage it and they will get the experience when players get their chance," added Muralitharan.
"They are capable bowlers. Definitely they can do the job. We are not doing very well but are a very young team, inexperienced - so it will take some time to develop the team and is what the coach wants to do. Once that moment comes, we will start winning."
