Sanath to undergo surgery in Melbourne (2 February 1999)

2 February 1999

Sanath to undergo surgery in Melbourne

Elmo Rodrogopulle

Sanath Jayasuriya one of the most exciting one-day batsmen in world cricket who fractured his right wrist when he was struck by a rising delivery from Brendon Julian during his innings at the WACA was flown early morning to Melbourne where he will undergo surgery.

Jayasuriya who was in cracking form when tragedy struck will be out of the game for two months and will miss the Asian Cricket Championships in March.

Physio Alex Kountouri who is doing a wonderful job with the cricketers and who came under fire in Melbourne for no fault of his said Jaysuriya was writhing in pain on his way to a Perth Hospital. 'Doctors who examined and x'rayed the player said that the injury requires surgery. He will be flown to Melbourne for the operation, said Kountouri.

Another player down to undergo surgery is world's number one off spinner Mutthiah Murlitharan. According to BCCSL President, Thilanga Sumathipala he will have an operation on the shoulder of his bowling arm. He too will miss the Asian Cricket Championship.

Muralitharan is also not likely to be granted permission from the Board to honour his contract with Lancashire in the next county cricket championship.

'Muralitharan is too weak. He is our number one bowler and we want him to rest' said Sumathipala.

Muralitharan replaced Pakistan's Wasim Akram as Lancashire's overseas signing. However reports here indicate that Lancashire coach Dev Whatmore who coached the Lankans when they won the World Cup in Pakistan is keen to have him.

Muralitharan who was tortured by the beer drinking louts everywhere he played in Australia has vowed never to tour Australia again.

In the meantime Arjuna Ranatunga the Sri Lanka skipper who too came under fire from the media and the spectators speaking on channel seven blasted the Aussie media and the umpires. The crowds have been most unfair to Muralitharan jeering all the time.

'Muralitharan who has bowled in front of the best umpires in the world has never before suffered such humiliation. But everything seems to be happening here in Australia,' said Ranatunga.

Manager Ranjit Fernando said that there was no way that the media who criticised Ranatunga viciously could bring him down. 'It will not have adverse impact on him. He's strong fellow. There is no question about tearing him down. One must appreciate the strength of the man's character. That's something that people envy at times and so if they can't get to that level they try to tear someone down. I think that is the general situation.

Post match conferences have never been attended by Ranatunga after the Muralitharan chucking incident. The manager has been attending the post match media briefings and answering the questions asked.

The Sri Lankans here are disappointed the way the cricketers are being treated by the media and the spectators.

The only way the Lankan cricketers could have kicked the back side of their critics is by performing on the field and demolishing their opponents.

But they have not been doing this probably unsettled by the hostile receptions given them everywhere they play.

The Lankan cricketers are waiting till the tour ends to go back home. They play England in Sydney on Wednesday and Australia in a day game in Melbourne before concluding the tour which has been hell to them.

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