Sri Lankan vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara is a major doubt for next week's opening Test against Australia at the Gabba here with a hamstring injury.
BRISBANE: Sri Lankan vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara is a major doubt for next week's opening Test against Australia at the Gabba here with a hamstring injury.
The tourists have other concerns ahead of the November 8 Test, with senior opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya recovering from a virus and veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas nursing a foot complaint.
Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan will be rested from the three-day tour game against Queensland starting on Friday as he recovers from a bicep injury.
Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss said he has no problem with resting Muralitharan after his marathon stint of 4-122 against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Adelaide this week.
"He bowled 44 overs at Adelaide in his first competitive bowl for a few months after injury," he said.
"We did not want to overdo it with him. Someone with his experience, he doesn't have to bowl a terrible lot to put the ball on the spot."
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara suffered his hamstring injury during the draw at Adelaide.
"Kumar's still struggling a little bit. He definitely won't be playing in the match against Queensland," Bayliss said.
"He's under a cloud for the first Test. We will just have to see what he is like in a few days' time.
"A player of Kumar's ability, we will give him every opportunity to play -- it's not looking great."
Bayliss welcomed the prospect of Queensland unleashing a four-pronged pace attack against the tourists on a bouncy Allan Border Field wicket on Friday.
He looked forward to fighting fire with fire through Lasith Malinga.
Bayliss confirmed the super slinger would be unleashed for the first time on the Australian tour against Queensland.
"He's one of those bowlers, he's got a bit of the X-factor," Bayliss said.
"He's a wicket-taker. When he is on he can take wickets against anyone -- we are looking to him to make those breakthroughs."
Bayliss relished the prospect of his batsmen facing up to pacemen Mitchell Johnson, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel and Ashley Noffke.
"That would be great. Just the experience of batting against a quality bowling line-up like that will give us good practice for that first Test," he said.
"We actually struggled at home against England (recently) with the batting because of the lack of pace in the wicket.
"I think a few of the batters are looking forward to playing on a wicket that has a bit more pace in it."
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