Angelo Mathews is all set to return to International Cricket during the Nidahas Trophy

Injuries have always been part and parcel of the game, but coming at a time where it could have a pivotal impact on team’s performance is the last thing which Sri Lankan Cricket wanted. Their limited overs skipper Angelo Mathews seems has been struggling with his fitness for quite some time now but he believes that a new rehabilitation process on the lower half of his body will help him to stay injury free in 2018. Throughout last year, Mathews was plagued by a series of hamstring, quadriceps and ankle injuries and missed out on a large portion of cricket.

His captaincy stint has been a mix of ecstasy and morose with some great wins under his belt, and few humiliating losses. Furthermore, his losses string had continued for a long time when he finally decided to step down for the captaincy baton. However, with Sri Lankan team management trying few new faces, and few old ones, the board asked Mathews to be back as a captain. Thereafter, it brought new hope to Sri Lankan cricket. Unfortunately, after just one game in Bangladesh, he was forced to return home as the old hamstring injury resurfaced.

Mathews missed the tri-nation battle involving Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, followed by the Test series. He was expected to travel to Bangladesh to take over the captaincy duties ahead of the T-20s having finished his rehabilitation work. But the medical experts who have been treating him have warned him to take his time and not hurry for the competitive cricket. With this, Angelo has decided to make a comeback during the Nidahas Trophy.

Mathews is excited to make a comeback

Speaking to the Cricbuzz, he said, “Everyone is looking forward to the event and I am very excited. It will be a great opportunity for all the players. India, are tough opponents and Bangladesh have shown some tremendous improvements over the years. I believe it will be a competitive series.”

“With my injuries, we have now changed the strategy. In the past, as soon as I had got fit, I had gone and played. The consultant in UK Dr. Thamindu Wedathilleke and the consultants here like Professor Arjuna de Silva and others have insisted on looking at the scans rather than looking at clinically.”In the past, I have rushed back to playing before the scars are fully healed. I am able to run and train and do other activities at the moment. But the game intensity is quite different and our stance is different now. We will let it settle fully and unless that happens I am not going to start playing again. It is going to be difficult for me and the team as well when I am injured so often,” Mathews added.

“The training methods, gym work and quite bit about my preparation have changed. We are well equipped now to meet the demands I feel. Still, we can only minimize the injury and there’s no guarantee as such that everything will be fine. However, I am trying my very best to stay injury free. I am learning about my body and getting to know my body,” he concluded.