S Thawfeeq: Nuwan Zoysa's operation a success (22 Jun 1998)

22 June 1998

Nuwan Zoysa's operation a success

by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka's ailing fast bowling sector got a shot in the arm when it was learnt that promising young left-arm fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa had undergone a successful knee operation in Melbourne.

Zoysa was operated on by one of Australia's top knee surgeons Dr. David Young on Thursday. Dr. Young is the surgeon who operated on Australian opening batsman Matthew Elliott when he injured his knee after colliding with team mate Mark Waugh during a Test in Australia some two years ago.

Dr. Young has expressed complete satisfaction on Zoysa's operation and has told Sri Lanka team physio Alex Kountouri (with whom he has been in telephone contact) that he was eighty percent confident that Zoysa's operation would be a success.

Zoysa is expected to return to Sri Lanka either Tuesday or Wednesday and will be fit to start bowling in about three weeks.

"Zoysa's injury was not as extensive as it was thought to be and he had to undergo only the minor operation," said Kountouri.

Zoysa (20) stretched one of the ligaments in his right knee while bowling in South Africa early this year and was in some pain because part of the ligament was pinching part of his knee.

"That's probably the best news we hear on Zoysa," said Kountouri, who is also working hard to get the other Sri Lankan left-arm fast-medium bowler Chaminda Vaas fit for the tour of England.

"Vaas has made great progress and he has started to jog now. He should be able to start bowling in about two weeks," said Kountouri.

The problem with Vaas (24) was not the operation he underwent to remove an extra bone growth in his right leg, but to strengthen his calf muscles which had weakened considerably after one month in plaster.

"Both Zoysa and Vaas may start bowling at the same time," said Kountouri.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)