The Indian team won the Colombo Test against Sri Lanka to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with the last match to be played at Pallekele. But they will not be able to field their spin-twin in the game as all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been suspended for the third test. Jadeja crossed the four demerits limit in 24 months and that earned him a suspension.
Actually, one throw from Jadeja was deemed too dangerous by the umpires that he was handed three demerits by the Match referee. That coupled with the three he already had from 2016 got him in the line of fire, since four demerits in 24 months mean a one-match suspension.
Jadeja was bowling the 58th over of the innings; the man facing him was Milinda Pushpakumara. He pushed the ball back towards the bowler and the left-arm spinner who is an instinctive fielder, arguably the best in the team and around the world threw it back towards the keeper despite being aware that the batsman hadn’t left the crease. It was a flat almost underarm throw and he got it wrong.
Pushpakumara was quick to realize he was in the range of the throw and just moved aside. It was a bullet and as the Indian wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha got his hand in to stop the ball, he took a hit. The on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker took a note of the incident and ensured Jadeja was punished for it.
