Silva recovers from head blow to earn SL recall

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka opener Kaushal Silva has recovered from a blow to the head he suffered while fielding last weekend to be named in the Test squad for next month’s tour of England.

The 29-year-old Silva was airlifted to a Colombo hospital on Sunday after being hit on the head while fielding at short leg in a practice match at Pallekele.

Silva reportedly took evasive action but was struck on the back of his helmet, luckily on a padded section which has been added as extra protection to designs since Australian Phillip Hughes died in 2014 after being hit on the head by a bouncer.

Silva was discharged from hospital on Tuesday after recovering from what his country’s board called “a mild concussion” and returns to the test squad after being axed for the New Zealand tour late last year.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Angelo Matthews (captain), Dhananjaya Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dhammika Prasad, Dilruwan Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dushmantha Chameera, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardana, Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal.