Sore back rules Herath out of third Test against India

Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has been drafted in as Herath’s replacement ahead of the third Test in Delhi

Rangana Herath had taken just one wicket in the first two Tests

Veteran Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the third Test against India due to a sore back, compounding the visiting team’s problems in the ongoing series.

Leg-break bowler Jeffrey Vandersay has been added to the touring squad as Herath’s replacement.

Sri Lanka, which was handed an innings and 239-run defeat by the host in the second Test in Nagpur, trail the three- match series 0-1.

The third Test starts on December 2 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

It was learnt that left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was Sri Lanka’s first choice to replace Herath but the 30- year-old failed the fitness test.

Read: Kohli rested for India v Sri Lanka ODI series

The 39-year-old Herath is due to fly back home on Thursday.

Herath, who last month became the first left-arm spinner to take 400 Test wickets, has been ineffective on this tour thus far.

In the first Test in Kolkata, Herath bowled only eight overs in seaming conditions, but was required to send down 39 overs in the only innings that India batted in Nagpur, after which he complained of back pain.

Vandersay has played 11 ODIs and seven T20Is for Sri Lanka but is yet to make his Test debut.

Sri Lanka squad for 3rd Test:

Dinesh Chandimal(captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay.