Angelo Mathews hopes Rangana Herath will return to boost Sri Lanka’s bowling options for their second Test with New Zealand.
The left-arm spinner missed the opening match of the tour in Christchurch – an eight-wicket win for the hosts – due to a hamstring tear, however he is expected to fly out to New Zealand in the coming days.
Herath has made 57 Test appearances for Sri Lanka since his debut in 1999, taking 260 wickets, and Mathews believes the 36-year-old’s experience will be vital for the tourists after they struggled to contain the Black Caps batting line-up.
Mathews is confident, though, that the return of Herath can help Sri Lanka pose more of a threat in the second Test, kicking off in Wellington on Saturday.
Sri Lanka skipper Mathews said: “Hopefully he [Herath] will be fit, I haven’t had a chat with the physio, but hopefully he will come good for the second Test.
“He’s one of the most experienced guys in the team.
“Even though the conditions won’t suit him much, he knows how to bowl on these tracks – he’s been here before.
“I’m sure he’ll help us get 20 wickets.”
Sri Lanka need to win the second “and final” Test of the series to avoid a first series defeat to New Zealand since 2005.
