Australian skipper Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie were evacuated by military helicopter to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo after a stomach-churning outfield collision on the second day of the First Test in Kandy yesterday.

Waugh broke his nose and was profusely bleeding after crashing into Gillespie as they smashed into each other while trying to get under a difficult catch of Mahela Jayawardena.

Waugh's right shoulder hit Gillespie's right leg and both men collapsed and were visibly in great pain. Waugh remained on his back while Gillespie tried to get up but fell down again holding his right leg.

Waugh was able to walk away from the field but Gillespie had to be carried off and he appeared to be in great pain.

Australian team manager Steve Bernard said Gillespie's right tibia, the bigger bone between the ankle and the knee, was fractured after the two players ran into each other.

"Waugh will have to have his surgery under general anaesthetic," Bernard said. "But he should be able to rejoin the team in a day or two but Gillespie will return home because his leg will be in a cast."

Both were brought to the capital, 72 miles south west, to undergo surgery and were rushed under military escort to the private Nawaloka hospital which is owned by the family of former Sri Lankan cricket board President Upali Dharmadasa.

Doctors said Gillespie was being taken in for surgery while they were still conducting tests on Waugh.

Gillespie is now set to be flown out of Sri Lanka in a few days.

Bernard said Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya had arranged the helicopter to evacuate the two Australian players.