That the team management is compelled to play a half-fit Angelo Mathews indicates in good measure that Sri Lanka cricket is in deep trouble. Mathews bowled just five overs with the new ball in Dharamsala and four in Mohali where he did and did not push himself in the second ODI even as other bowlers continued leaking runs. He ended up scoring 111, but at his own pace. He also suffered from cramps by the time he reached the three-figure mark. Sri Lanka's team manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed that there are no injury concerns.

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews during a practice session in Vizag yesterday. Pic/PTI

While Mathews has refrained from bowling in Test cricket, the Sri Lankan veteran resumed bowling in ODI cricket after a gap of one year – in August this year - when India toured Sri Lanka. He bowled 17 overs in five matches. Even the Sri Lankan team management is fine with the arrangement with Mathews. "The strategy we have for Angelo is that he will not bowl more than five overs. That is the plan. We are bringing him back to full strength slowly. We are not expecting 10 overs from him. At the most, maybe two spells," Sri Lanka's batting coach Thilan Samaraweera said in Mohali.