Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep has been sidelined from Sri Lanka’s ongoing tour of Australia.

A hamstring injury, sustained during last week’s fixture against a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart, has ruled him out of this month’s first Test in Brisbane and February’s second in Canberra.

The injury has also put his participation in the visit to South Africa later this year in doubt.

Batsman Kusal Perera was recalled to the Test squad earlier this year. Perera only played three Tests in 2018, scoring a mere 92 runs in six innings.

He displayed superb form during the recent ODI series against New Zealand, though, striking 102 in Mount Maunganui and 43 in Nelson.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews was overlooked for selection due to a hamstring injury – and batsman Lahiru Thirimanne was retained.

Meanwhile, uncapped batsman Kurtis Patterson has been added to Australia’s squad.

Patterson gathered a superb 157 not out, and a complementary 102 not out in the same match that saw Pradeep injured.

‘Kurtis has been pushing his case for selection for some time, he has been a consistent top-order player for New South Wales, was a member of the Australian A tour of India prior to the commencement of our summer, and was most recently selected to compete in the day-night tour match against Sri Lanka in Hobart,’ said chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.

‘We have been asking batters around the country to score hundreds if they want to be considered for selection, and given Kurtis’ consistent performances for NSW and his two unbeaten centuries in last week’s tour match against our upcoming opponent, Sri Lanka, we believe he deserves to be added to the Test squad.

“Kurtis has joined the squad in Brisbane to commence our preparations for the first Test, starting on Thursday.’

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