Dimuth Karunaratne Cleared To Bat Again After Bouncer Blow

In an encouraging news, Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne has been cleared to bat again in the ongoing second Test against Australia in Canberra. The opener had sent shockwaves in the cricketing fraternity after receiving a sickening blow to the back of the head by a Pat Cummins bouncer. He was batting on 46 when he tried to duck out of the way of a pacy short-pitched delivery from Cummins. However, the ball did not rise as much as Karunaratne was expecting and it ended up hitting him. At first, it looked like Karunaratne had been struck on the right shoulder but replays confirmed that it had struck him on the back of the neck, right under the helmet.

He lost grip on his bat and fell down on the ground as soon as the ball hit him. He received treatment for about 15 minutes on the ground before being stretchered off the field. Fortunately, Karunaratne was seen moving his hands slightly and communicating with the medical staff. He was then taken to the hospital as the whole world prayed for the good news. And luckily, he was released on the same day following assessments. The left-hander also came through a concussion test before play resumed on Sunday.

“Dimuth will be at the ground and SLC has cleared him to bat. They have said said there are no concussion issues,” an update on Sunday morning said.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne has been released from the hospital, as investigations have shown that the ‘results are normal’.
Karunaratne, however,will have to undergo a concussion test tomorrow morning; before making a decision on his availability for the rest of the match. #AUSvSL

— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) February 2, 2019

“It was a bit scary at the start, the way he fell back initially but he was okay, throughout he was talking to the umpires and the physio,” Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha had said after the day’s play.

The tour has been a forgettable one for the Sri Lanka players as far as getting injured on the field is concerned. Karunaratne is the fifth Sri Lanka player to suffer an injury on this brief tour, with four fast bowlers already having broken down. Karunaratne, meanwhile, himself took to Twitter to thank his well-wishers, writing:

“To all at @CricketAus #Canberrahospital ,to Dr.Asanka and to all who were there when I received a blow !!!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for looking after my well-being. Cheers My Cricketing battle starts all over again tomorrow.. ”

To all at @CricketAus #Canberrahospital ,to Dr.Asanka and to all who were there when I received a blow !!!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for looking after my well-being
Cheers
My Cricketing battle starts all over again tomorrow.. #AUSvSL

— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) February 2, 2019