Sri Lanka’s Perera eyes Lord’s return after doping hell
For someone who has spent six agonising months on the sidelines battling doping allegations, Sri Lankan Kusal Perera cannot think of a better place for his return than the hallowed turf of Lord’s in the third and final test against England on Thursday.
The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman was sent home from the tour of New Zealand in December after it was announced he had failed a drugs test last July.
He was cleared last month when the International Cricket Council (ICC) dropped all charges against him after the Qatar-based laboratory that conducted the test withdrew its initial findings.
Perera was not allowed to train with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) coaches and was called up in England only after a shoulder injury had ended paceman Dhammika Prasad’s tour.
“I haven’t been told if I’m playing yet but I was thrown into trouble and to come back from that at Lord’s would be a great opportunity,” Kusal told reporters at Lord’s after practice on Tuesday.
“I was banned just before a test, so to return in this format would be fitting. Even the time I was out of the team I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. But these things can happen in life.”
Perera, who has played three tests and 51 one-dayers, admitted he arrived in England undercooked, having barely trained before a series he did not expect to be involved in.
“I didn’t have any time to think about whether I was in touch, or whether I could train, or even what was happening in cricket.
“I started training the day after I was cleared. Before then I didn’t do much batting — just some fitness work.”
Perera, however, felt he was fresh and striking the ball well, which might help his team salvage some pride after batting collapses in Leeds and Chester-le-Street helped the hosts open an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
“I watched the attack and it’s mostly fast bowlers,” he said of England’s bowlers. “In London, the conditions seem easier, because it must have been very cold in Durham.
“When it’s cold you are a bit stiff and your feet don’t work as well. With this weather and given the pitch as well — which looks like it will be batting-friendly — I think there’s a chance for us to dominate them.”
(Reuters)
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It is still not clear whether Kusal will be playing tomorrow at Lords. Even he is given that opportunity we can’t expect much from him in this match. Well he can keep wickets to and release Chandimal who is in form. Even Kusal is out of touch (didn’t train for 6 months) he is better than other youngsters in the team.
Dear Kusal,
You have lot of abilities and merits – ( kusal ).
Play your natural game . You are sure to succeed.
Does it matter Kusal or whoever will be playing tomorrow, it will be a lost again.
A boring game foe boring people.
My dear Ranjith, Yes it matters if Kusal plays. He is a promising SL cricketer and he was accused of taking performance enhancing drugs just before T-20 world series. I think someone in this forum stated one mans food is other mans poison. I perfectly understand you hate cricket. That is fine with me. But your repeated comments saying ‘A boring game foe boring people’ has become boring too. Pl. come up with something new.
Dear Mr Amarakoon There is nothing more to say about Cricket. First one team play for three days and score 300 odd runs and next day other team comes and play 5 runs and called it a draw.
It is like throwing a brick at some body. In return he hit and run like a lunatic. Then there are others , roll on mud to catch the ball. What a joke?
Thank you Ranjith. This time some thing new and less boring. In your case I advise you to watch T-20 matches.
Mr Anarakoon You are joking arn’t you? Me watching a cricket match? I rather watch paint drying.
Honestly Mr Amarakoon don’t you have anything better to do like observing “sill”,
Now because the SL team is loosing I strongly advice you to go to a kovil and Bash a coconut’ ” pol gahanawa” so that some thing bad happen to the English team.