Sri Lanka vs England: Spinner Akila Dananjaya has been reported for a suspect bowling action

The 25-year-old will be scrutinised after umpires queried the legality of his action as he took two England wickets in the First Test in Galle.


Dananjaya was reported by match officials at the end of the First Test, which England won by 211 runs.

As per ICC regulations, Dananjaya will have to undergo testing of his action within two weeks, but can continue bowling until the results of the test are known.

He remains eligible to play the Second Test at Kandy which starts on Wednesday.

Failure to pass the testing process would result in a ban from bowling.

Dananjaya bowled 38.5 overs in the tourists' 211-run win at Galle, taking two for 183, and drew the attention of umpires Chris Gaffaney and Marais Erasmus.

He is primarily an off-break bowler but his variations include leg-break, googly and doosra.


A statement from the International Cricket Council read: "The match officials' report, which was handed over to the Sri Lanka team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 25-year-old's bowling action.

"Dananjaya's bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is."

Dananjaya made his Test debut earlier this year against Bangladesh.

He has 19 wickets from four Tests, at an average of 24.21.

He has 46 wickets in 30 ODIs, and 14 wickets from 16 Twenty20 internationals.

Dananjaya sparked controversy when he was picked in the preliminary squad for the 2012 World Twenty20, despite never having played a professional match in his life.

He had impressed Mahela Jayawardene so much as a net bowler at a Sri Lanka practice session, that Jayawardene requested he be fast-tracked to the national squad.

Sri Lanka have also been hit by the news that skipper Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the rest of the series.

He suffered a groin strain and will be on the sidelines for at least two weeks.

His replacement is Charith Asalanka, who made an unbeaten half-century against England during a warm-up match in Colombo before the series.

Reports locally indicate further turmoil behind the scenes, with team manager Charith Senanayake said to have tendered his resignation.

England have let Ollie Pope join the Lions for their tour against Pakistan A in the UAE.

The 20-year-old, who is currently in England's Test squad touring Sri Lanka, will leave the senior party on day one of the Second Test due to start on Wednesday in Kandy.

The right-handed batsman will be available for the unofficial Test against Pakistan A starting on November 18 in Dubai and the five unofficial ODIs and two IT20s. The Lions return to England on December 9.

"It is important that Ollie is playing and the selection panel felt that to aid his development the best course of action is for to him to go and play for the Lions in a competitive series against Pakistan A," said England head coach Trevor Bayliss

"Ollie needs some game time before the West Indies Test tour early next year and will get more out of playing competitively for the Lions rather than spending the next three weeks in Sri Lanka on the sidelines.

"He will get the opportunity of playing up to eight matches across all formats in the UAE."

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