Zoysa out with three stress fractures (23 January 1999)

23 January 1999

Zoysa out with three stress fractures

Elmo Rodrigopulle

ADELAIDE, South Australia, Friday.- The disappointing news about the gangling fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa is that he has three stress fractures on his back and has been ruled out of the Carlton and United one-day series now in progress here.

'Why must this happen to me? was the answer I got when I spoke to him. Zoysa no doubt is a very sad man. 'When I had the two wickets in two balls against England in Melbourne, the other day, I bent my back too much looking for the wicket that would have given me the memorable hat-trick. That is when I felt my back give way', said Soysa looking very dejected.

However Zoysa will not be sent back immediately.

According to physio Alex Kontouri, Zoysa will be shown to a spinal specialist in Melbourne and what's to be done next will be decided after this. Earlier it was his shoulder or thigh. This time it is his back. I feel sorry for the guy', said Kontouri who has been attending on Zoysa from the time he came in to the big game.

The few Sri Lankan families domiciled in Hobart celebrated the Lankan victory by dancing the jig after the game and later hosting the team to a sumptuous dinner.

The Hobart Lankans said that they were delighted at the victory which helped to end their win drought and register their first victory in nine outings.

The Lankan cricketers had a dismal run when they lost 8 one-day internationals in a row. This was unbecoming when one considers that they are the world champions in the limited overs game.

The dinner in Hobart was organised by the friends of Sri Lanka representatives of Sri Lanka-Australia Cricket Foundation in Tasmania.

Ricky Ponting the dashing one drop Aussie batsman who was involved in a brawl in a night club and knocked out unconscious which led to his dumping from the Aussie squad is to face a disciplinary hearing on Monday in Melbourne.

The Australian Cricket Board Code of Conduct Victorian County Court Judge Gordon Lewis will consider two charges, at a closed hearing.

Ponting will answer charges as to whether 'indulging in conduct detrimental to the spirit of the game' and 'engaging in public acts of misconduct or unruly public behaviour while representing Australia.

The penalties for such offences are fines, suspension, or both.

Ponting who is being spoken of as Australia's next captain, did not do his chances any good by this irresponsible act.

Ponting's record in one-day internationals over the last 12 months is 1167 runs in 25 matches at 55.57.

Acting captain Shane Warne badly missed him in the game against the Lankans which the Australians lost in the last over of the match. Ponting will be out of the game for sometime.

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