Sri Lanka woes continue with Maharoof injury

By Julian Linden

HOBART, Australia (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's troubled tour of Australia worsened on Saturday with news pace bowler Farveez Maharoof is almost certain to miss his team's upcoming series against England.

Maharoof badly injured his foot during the second test against Australia in Hobart and captain Mahela Jawardene said he had been diagnosed with a stress fracture.

"He'll be out for at least four to five weeks, it could be a bit more than that depending on how he will feel especially because he is a fast bowler and he needs to put his weight on that ankle," Jayawardene told a news conference.

"He'll be definitely out of the England test series."

Jayawardene said Maharoof suffered the injured on the opening day on Friday but continued to bowl after getting it strapped.

However, he did not take any part in the match on Saturday, leaving the tourists a bowler short.

"Maharoof started complaining about the ankle yesterday and we got it strapped up and he bowled really well with it yesterday," Jayawardene said.

"He's a guy who hit the seam and keep it there and the other two guys can be a bit more attacking so when I lost him it was very difficult for me to have the combinations going but that's how it is."