Injured Srinath to miss last two Tests in Sri Lanka

Colombo, August 18: India's pace spearhead Javagal Srinath was on Saturday ruled out for the rest of the Sri Lanka Test series with a broken hand, adding to the woes of the injury-hit tourists.

Srinath was hit on the left hand by a rising ball from Dilhara Fernando during the first Test in Galle, but bowled in both innings despite the swelling.

X-rays on the team's return to Colombo after the 10-wicket defeat at Galle showed a fracture in the fifth metacarple of the left hand, team coach John Wright said.

"Srinath is returning home and I will be talking to the selectors about flying in a replacement," Wright said.

India, already without their injured stars, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehra, were devastated by the news of Srinath's injury.

"When things go wrong, they go horribly wrong," skipper Sourav Ganguly told AFP before the team's departure for Kandy where the second Test starts on Wednesday.

"Wonder who's next on the list. I hope the journalists travelling with the team have brought their whites."

Srinath's presence would have been vital for India in the Kandy Test, where the ball is expected to seam and bounce more than it did in Galle.

The lanky 32-year-old is expected to be out of action for a month, ruling him out of the scheduled Asian Test championship match against arch-rivals Pakistan at Lahore from September 12.

He may also sit out the one-day series in South Africa in October, but hopes to be back by the time the first Test starts in November.

"I am determined to play the Tests in South Africa," Srinath said. "The team needs me more than ever before."

Wright said that Laxman, suffering from an injured right knee, was advised to rest for three weeks when he consulted doctors in Australia earlier this week.

In case the September Test against Pakistan goes ahead -- the Indian board is awaiting the nod from the government -- India will be without five of their best players for the crucial tie.