Mathews frustrated with depleted bowling stocks

On the eve of a series which Angelo Mathews embarks upon without his two best seam bowlers of the past 18 months, Sri Lanka’s captain has called on the coaching system to raise its game.

Sri Lanka’s quicks have been among the most injury-prone in the world over the past few years, with several spending up to 12 months in triage, and others regularly missing entire series with recurrent complaints. While many of these injuries have been difficult to avoid thanks to a busy schedule, Mathews said, there remained room for improvement in player production.

In addition to the absence of Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka are also without Shaminda Eranga, who was recently suspended for an illegal action. The selectors have had no choice but to pull two seam bowlers out of the ongoing A team tour of England, to replace the absent frontliners in the national squad. With Suranga Lakmal also in doubt for the first Test due to a hamstring complaint, either Asitha Fernando or Vishwa Fernando may make their Test debut.

“The coaches in the back end have to do a lot of work to produce players, and also try to get them fit,” Mathews said. “We need more players coming through the ranks, so the coaches have a bigger job to play for the next one-and-a-half years. If the fast bowlers are injured, we need fast bowlers. At the international level, I can’t go as a captain and say we don’t …

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