News of Dimuth Karunaratne being out of danger brings relief to Australian pacer Pat Cummins

The second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval has been going the home team’s way. The Australia batsmen made merry against an inexperienced Lankan bowling attack and put up a huge score of 534/5d. In reply, Sri Lanka has scored 123/3 with Lahiru Thirimanne making 41 and Dimuth Karunaratne was batting on 46 when a bouncer from Pat Cummins hit him on the neck. The 30-year-old opener tried to duck under a short ball, it didn’t bounce as much as he expected and was hit just beneath the helmet on the neck and slumped on his back immediately.

This was reminiscent of the fatal blow suffered by Philip Hughes in 2014 and players from both sides were concerned for the fallen batsman. The physios of both the teams along with the medical team attended Karunaratne as the Australian team including Cummins gathered near the pitch. The batsman was placed in a neck brace and was then stretchered off the pitch and taken to the local hospital for assessment.

“It’s never a nice feeling seeing someone go down like that,” Cummins told the host broadcaster after the end of the day’s play. “The good thing was he looked like he was moving his hands and the physio said he seemed all right when he left,” the pacer said.

Cummins talked about the incident to the broadcaster after the end of the day’s play and said that such an incident is never done on purpose and its never good to see someone go down like that. He also wished a speedy recovery for Karunaratne and said that it is one of the things that happen in cricket and whether it’s your teammate or other team’s fellow, one just hopes that they are OK.

“I wish him all the best and hopefully he’s doing all right. You never like seeing that. It’s just one of those things that happens in cricket. Whether its your teammate, another teammate, you just hope they’re OK.”

The good news about Karunaratne 

Later in the day, Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusingha revealed that the batsman had not lost consciousness in the hospital and was in good spirits. Karunaratne was given a standing ovation from the crowd present in the Manuka Oval, as he was driven off the field on a buggy.

The tourists trail Australia by 411 runs and must win the match to draw the two-Test series after the hosts won the opener at Brisbane.

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