The tour Squad:
Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Mahela Jayawardana (V. Captain), T.M. Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Jeewan Mendis, Angelo Mathews, (subject to fitness, if not to be replaced by Thilina Kandamby), Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv, Dhammika Prasad and Dinesh Chandimal.
Standby: Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Kandamby, Thilina Thushara and Farveez. Maharoof.
S. R. Pathiranavithana: Selectors pin hopes on Jeewan
Courtesy of the Sunday Times, 3 Oct. 2010
Leg spinning allrounder Jeewan Mendis who had been performing well in the recent past has got selector’s nod ahead of seasoned spinners Rangana Herat and Ajantha Mendis for the Australian ODI tour this month. Mendis a product of S. Thomas’ College initially turned out for the Sinhalese Sports Club for six seasons, but his move to the Tamil Union two years ago proved a major change in his career as his true talent blossomed out from there. Mendis will pair off with the off spinning duo of veteran Muttiah Muralitharan and Suraj Randiv who will be making his maiden tour Down Under at national level. The only injury issue that the Lankan authorities are undergoing at the moment is the knee injury of talented young allrounder Angelo Mathew, but according SLC sources he should be fit by the 17th when the team makes their departure. If Mathews cannot make the tour, left hand middle order batsman Thilina Kandamby would join the squad.
In batting, the selectors have opted to go without the services of the dependable veteran Thilan Samaraweera giving more weight to the talents of Chamara Kapugedera and Chamara Silva who are yet to perambulate in the Promised Land. They also have opened the doors for the talented young top order batsman Dinesh Chandimal.
The only weak link in the tour party looks to be the fast bowling department with Lasith Malinda having to pair off with either Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando or Dhammika Prasad. Besides these bowlers, skipper Kumar Sangakkara also has the services of two seamers in the squad in Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera.
The Sri Lankans will open their tour on Friday October 22 with an ODI game against Queensland at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba and then move to Sydney to take on the New South Wales Xl on October 24 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Lankans will play their second game against New South Wales at the Blacktown Olympic Park Oval, Sydney on Wednesday October 27.
Sri Lanka will play their single T-20 game against Australia at the Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth on October 31. On Wednesday November 3 the first ODI against Australia will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then the visitors will move to Sydney to play the second ODI on November 5. The Lankans will play their last ODI at the Gabba, Brisbane on Sunday November 7. 
Some A Team members relax at dinner in Australia
Sa’adi ThawfeeQ: Tour down Under — a test of character
Courtesy of the Nation, 3 Oct. 2010
Sri Lankan selectors headed by former batting great Aravinda de Silva have named a 16-member squad to Australia to play in a series of three one-day internationals starting next month. The series will be the one before the last for Sri Lanka before they commence their 2011 World Cup campaign.
Although the Australian tour is a far cry from the conditions Sri Lanka will face in the subcontinent during the World Cup, nevertheless if affords an opportunity for several of the youngsters named in the squad to get a taste of what real tough competition Down Under is like.
Like every one says a cricketer’s career is never complete without a full tour of England, the same can be said of Australia to a certain extent because of the fierceness with which they confront their opponents on the field. There is no quarter asked nor any given. If young cricketers like Angelo Mathews. Thisara Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeewan Mendis and Suraj Randiv can come through the tour successfully then Sri Lanka knows they have a young bunch of cricketers who can be relied upon in tight and tough situations to extract the team out of trouble and hold their nerve in a crisis. This is what a tour of Australia teaches the younger generation. It actually separates the men from the boys.
Talent alone is not enough to get a player to the top and keep him there – there are also other aspects like mental toughness and character that also plays a huge part. These facets Sri Lanka learnt from past experience of touring countries like Australia and South Africa, two of the most competitive sports nations in the world. It led to Sri Lanka not only winning the World Cup in 1996 but even since made them become tough opponents to beat especially at home.
Today Sri Lanka is one of the leading cricketing nations in the world able to hold their own against any opponent. The few grey areas which they need to clear are to do with their performances away from home. They have yet to win a Test match or a one-day series/tournament in Australia, South Africa or India. The present tour to Australia affords them that opportunity to put the record straight. They can take a cue from the Sri Lanka under 19 cricketers led by all-rounder Chatura Peiris who for the first time won a one-day limited over series Down Under in October 2009 beating Australia by a margin of 3-2.
Why Australia is such a difficult side to beat at home is because they don’t like to lose a contest at any level. Sport is a passion and they are a proud sporting nation. It is Australia that leads the way in several other fields of sport like biomechanics, coaching, sports medicine etc where they have universities that delve into each area deeply and always try to improve and come out with new ideas, theories and schemes so that they are always one step ahead of their opponents. This way Australia has been able to be amongst the top sporting nations in the world not only in cricket but in other sports such as rugby-football, netball, hockey, soccer, swimming etc.
Such is the Australian population’s devotion towards sport that it is sometimes humorously described as “Australia’s national religion”.
Why Australia is the best in sports is easily recognised by the fact that their coaches especially in cricket are in great demand by other cricket playing countries. Sri Lanka benefited immensely by the presence of Dav Whatmore in 1995. He helped them win their only World Cup in 1996. Since Whatmore’s entry to Sri Lanka cricket, and a very successful one at that, the country has not veered away from keeping their faith with coaches from Australia. Bruce Yardley, John Dyson, Tom Moody and current coach Trevor Bayliss have followed in Whatmore’s footsteps. Other countries that have emulated Sri Lanka are Zimbabwe (Geoff Marsh), India (Greg Chappell) and West Indies (John Dyson).
However short the tour is–three ODIs and a Twenty20 international–it would be a tremendous psychological boost ahead of the World Cup if they can beat Australia in their own backyard and win the series. The Sri Lanka team’s test of character is on trial.
Sri Lankan selectors headed by former batting great Aravinda de Silva have named a 16-member squad to Australia to play in a series of three one-day internationals starting next month. The series will be the one before the last for Sri Lanka before they commence their 2011 World Cup campaign.
Although the Australian tour is a far cry from the conditions Sri Lanka will face in the subcontinent during the World Cup, nevertheless if affords an opportunity for several of the youngsters named in the squad to get a taste of what real tough competition Down Under is like.
Like every one says a cricketer’s career is never complete without a full tour of England, the same can be said of Australia to a certain extent because of the fierceness with which they confront their opponents on the field. There is no quarter asked nor any given. If young cricketers like Angelo Mathews. Thisara Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeewan Mendis and Suraj Randiv can come through the tour successfully then Sri Lanka knows they have a young bunch of cricketers who can be relied upon in tight and tough situations to extract the team out of trouble and hold their nerve in a crisis. This is what a tour of Australia teaches the younger generation. It actually separates the men from the boys.
Talent alone is not enough to get a player to the top and keep him there – there are also other aspects like mental toughness and character that also plays a huge part. These facets Sri Lanka learnt from past experience of touring countries like Australia and South Africa, two of the most competitive sports nations in the world. It led to Sri Lanka not only winning the World Cup in 1996 but even since made them become tough opponents to beat especially at home.
Today Sri Lanka is one of the leading cricketing nations in the world able to hold their own against any opponent. The few grey areas which they need to clear are to do with their performances away from home. They have yet to win a Test match or a one-day series/tournament in Australia, South Africa or India. The present tour to Australia affords them that opportunity to put the record straight. They can take a cue from the Sri Lanka under 19 cricketers led by all-rounder Chatura Peiris who for the first time won a one-day limited over series Down Under in October 2009 beating Australia by a margin of 3-2.
Why Australia is such a difficult side to beat at home is because they don’t like to lose a contest at any level. Sport is a passion and they are a proud sporting nation. It is Australia that leads the way in several other fields of sport like biomechanics, coaching, sports medicine etc where they have universities that delve into each area deeply and always try to improve and come out with new ideas, theories and schemes so that they are always one step ahead of their opponents. This way Australia has been able to be amongst the top sporting nations in the world not only in cricket but in other sports such as rugby-football, netball, hockey, soccer, swimming etc.
Such is the Australian population’s devotion towards sport that it is sometimes humorously described as “Australia’s national religion”.
Why Australia is the best in sports is easily recognised by the fact that their coaches especially in cricket are in great demand by other cricket playing countries. Sri Lanka benefited immensely by the presence of Dav Whatmore in 1995. He helped them win their only World Cup in 1996. Since Whatmore’s entry to Sri Lanka cricket, and a very successful one at that, the country has not veered away from keeping their faith with coaches from Australia. Bruce Yardley, John Dyson, Tom Moody and current coach Trevor Bayliss have followed in Whatmore’s footsteps. Other countries that have emulated Sri Lanka are Zimbabwe (Geoff Marsh), India (Greg Chappell) and West Indies (John Dyson).
However short the tour is–three ODIs and a Twenty20 international–it would be a tremendous psychological boost ahead of the World Cup if they can beat Australia in their own backyard and win the series. The Sri Lanka team’s test of character is on trial.