Doubtful starter for today’s 2nd ODI: Injured Mathews keen to hand over T20 captaincy

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews who is doubtful with a hamstring injury for the second One-Day International against England on Friday said that he’d happily give the T20 arm band to someone else if the selectors think it would be best.

Mathews was given the role ahead of the World Twenty20 this year when Lasith Malinga resigned from the role.

Mathews was notably disgruntled about it at the time, saying he was not prepared, and has never warmed to the task.

Mathews, on tour in the UK, said: “If I think there is a suitable captain and a better captain than me, I’ll talk to the selectors and step down.

“If somebody comes through the ranks and is doing really well and is up for the challenge, well, I’ll obviously give it to him.”

Mathews remained under an injury cloud and must undergo a fitness test before he can be cleared to play in the second ODI.

The Sri Lanka captain hobbled from the field suffering stiffness in his left hamstring after bowling six overs during Sri Lanka’s tie with England in the first ODI of the five-game Royal London series at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

The hamstring failed to improve overnight and Mathews saw a doctor in Birmingham on Wednesday to undergo further assessment.

His absence would be keenly felt by Sri Lanka on several levels; in the first ODI Mathews’ steadying innings of 73 was the highest of any batsman in his side and he then took 2 for 22 with the new ball before injury forced him from the field.

Sri Lanka may also have benefited from Mathews’ experience as captain as England chased down 286 to draw level with Sri Lanka – particularly in the final two overs when Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett plundered 30 runs, culminating in Plunkett’s six off Nuwan Pradeep’s final ball.

Sri Lanka’s pace attack has been gradually depleted since the start of the tour, with the loss of Dushmantha Chameera, Dhammika Prasad and Shaminda Eranga and, in the remainder of the squad, there is no like-for-like replacement for the all-rounder Mathews.

Sri Lanka’s team management said they were already preparing to draft a replacement for Eranga from the Sri Lanka A squad, which arrives in England ahead of a series of matches against Pakistan A and England Lions.

If Matthews fails to recover in time for Friday’s game, Sri Lanka may need to call in further reinforcements.