Early this year, fast bowler Dhammika Prasad was excited that he was going to share the new ball with Lasith Malinga during the ICC Cricket World Cup. But just two days prior to the tournament, he fractured his left hand attempting a return catch during training. He was ruled out for four weeks and returned home with his dreams of playing his first World Cup shattered.
“Having my World Cup end through injury was a big blow to me. It’s hard to explain exactly how difficult it was. Playing a World Cup was my dream,” Prasad regretted.
After recovering from injury, he focused on the current bilateral series against Pakistan and has done well. Yesterday, he bowled with fire and accuracy and was awarded with career best figures of seven for 135.
“As soon as I recovered from injury, I began training hard. Because the Tests were up first, I bowled a lot of overs to prepare.”
He took four for 92 in second innings and was denied a fifth wicket as Azhar Ali was dropped on one.
Fitness has been a key issue for Prasad over the years as he has managed only 18 Tests in eight years. But in Pakistan’s second innings he came up with a lion-hearted effort bowling 30 overs in the second innings.
“We had a long discussion with physios and the trainers about lack of bowling fitness. I improved a lot because I worked on it in the nets,” Prasad said.
“My injuries were the reason that I had to continually leave the team in the past. So I talked with the physio and trainer and figured out what I had to do to stop getting injured. We did work on that and the results of that are being able to play for longer,” he added.
Dushmantha Chameera is the man who replaced him in the World Cup squad and in the second innings the two of them with back up from skipper Angelo Mathews managed to claim nine Pakistani wickets.
“I actually really enjoy watching him bowl. He runs in fast with good rhythm and bowls fast, and I like watching that. He can be a very good bowler in the future.”
“As quicks Chameera and I bowled in good areas. We used Chameera to unsettle opposition batsmen. That plan came good. Rangana Herath also bowled well, so we did it together.”
