PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka – Bad weather washed out the entire second day's play in the third and final Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele Monday. The entire field at the Pallekele International Stadium was covered as incessant rain since early morning, the heaviest in the region in the last two months, kept the players indoors. Umpires Steve Davis and Simon Taufel waited till 3:00 P.M. (0930 GMT) before they abandoned play for the day when the weather showed no signs of clearing. Light rain has been forecast for the remaining three days. The match is evenly poised after an enthralling opening day's cricket Sunday when Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 44-3 after being shot out for 226 in their first innings. The interruption gave Pakistani wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal time to recover from a hairline fracture in his left hand after he was hit by a rising ball from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando on the first day. Akmal, who retired hurt on 10 but later returned to make 24, did not take the field in Sri Lanka's first innings where Taufeeq Umar kept wickets. Lee and Watson out Australia's Brett Lee and Shane Watson both had their tour of England cut short by calf problems Monday as they were ruled out of Tuesday's fifth One-Day International at Old Trafford. The duo, who suffered their injuries while bowling during a crushing eight-wicket defeat at Chester-le-Street Saturday that gave England a series-clinching 3-0 lead in the five-match contest, are now due to fly home to Australia. Australia team doctor John Orchard said in a statement: “Shane Watson and Brett Lee have calf strains – Shane to the left and Brett to the right calf – sustained during the fourth ODI against England at Durham. “This is the opposite calf to the injury Shane had last summer. Because both players will miss the final game, they are flying back to Sydney for MRI scans and further treatment. “At this stage, they are anticipated to be available for consideration for selection for the ICC World Twenty20 (in Sri Lanka starting in September), with scan results and response to treatment to determine whether they will be available for consideration for selection for the coming series against Pakistan in the UAE (United Arab Emirates).” Fast bowler Lee and seam-bowling all-rounder Watson joined teenage paceman Pat Cummins (side strain) in returning home early from the tour. Meanwhile, left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson did not play in Chester-le-Street because of soreness in his right foot. Lee and Watson's injuries saw Australia bring another left-arm quick in Mitchell Starc, who had been playing for English county Yorkshire, into their squad as cover Sunday. — Agencies
