BIPIN DANI
Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Jayasuriya's mother has given full credit to the physios and trainers, who worked really hard to enable his son achieve "super fitness".
Prabath Jayasuriya would have made his debut last year against Bangladesh if not for his fitness. A failure to pass the fitness tests was going to result in an automatic disqualification and that's what happened with him.
"He failed the skinfold tests then but worked hard with the SLC medical team and got an opportunity to play the Test against Australia", the mother, Sudarshani Perera, said over the telephone from Colombo.
"It was his childhood dream to play the Tests and what a dream debut...Regrettably, we could not be at the ground because of the situation in the country, but yes, we all watched the match at home on TV and we are all proud of him, especially grabbing six wickets in each innings and taking the MoM award".
The mother is not willing to buy the argument that Prabath got a chance to play the Test because of the rise in Covid cases in the camp. "Prabath has done well by taking wickets in the local MSL tournament and sooner or later, we were expecting his debut".
After his splendid performance, the family is still unlikely to be at Galle for the first Test against Pakistan (commencing on July 16). However, they have made a plan to visit the ground and watch the second Test in Colombo. The likely attendees in the Colombo Test are : wife (Ranisha Mirando with 3-year daughter Thyvonne Diana), mother and vehicle businessman father Jayasuriya and younger brother (Ashen).
In the meantime, the Sri Lankan players, who were given a 2-day break after the win over Australia, will begin its first training session on Thursday to prepare for the Tests against Pakistan.
