Category Archives: cricket and life

August 12, 2015 · 5:14 am

Kumar: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow –Q and A with Rex

Rex Clementine in Q and A with Kumar Sangakkara, in The Island, 12 August 2015,where the title is “Sanga on cricket and life after cricket”

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The curtains will come down on Kumar Sangakkara’s illustrious Test career following the second Test Match against India at P. Sara Oval. The star batsman is the highest run getter (12,305) among those still playing while his batting average of 58:03 is significantly higher than several modern greats like Sachin Tendulkar (53:78), Brian Lara (52:88), Rahul Dravid (52:31) and Ricky Ponting (51:85). The 37-year-old, who returned home on Friday after his stint with English county Surrey, spoke to journalists here in Galle on the eve of the first Test on a host of subjects.

Question: What’s the reason for you to play only two Test Matches?

Kumar Sangakkara: The reason for the two and two Test split even though it is not ideal was the agreement I had with the previous selection committee when I was discussing my future. I had plans to retire immediately after the World Cup but they wanted me to try and play a bit more Test cricket. This was all I could offer them and I said as long as they were okay and the board was okay, I will be willing to play four more Test matches. They were ok with that and I said if they were not, to tell me that that would be fine. And that I can then retire after the World Cup. That’s why it’s a two and two split. Continue reading →

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Filed under Australian cricket, cricket and life, cricketing icons, farewell game, Indian cricket, murali, performance, player selections, Rex Clementine, sanath jayasuriya, Sangakkara, sportsmanship, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people, verbal intimidation, work ethic

August 8, 2015 · 2:35 pm

Mark Nicholas analyses Seam and Swing though Chris Broad’s Work at Trent Bridge

Mark Nicholas, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, where the title is “Beautiful Broad swings it for England”

Cricket is a beautiful game. The beauty comes in many forms, though usually it is associated with elegant batsmanship, masterful bowling and athletic fielding. In Ashes contests alone, David Gower and Mark Waugh were beautiful batsmen; John Snow and Shane Warne, in their very different ways, turned bowling into an art form; Derek Randall and Ricky Ponting gave us a tour de force each time they set foot on the field.

‘A day you dream of’ – Broad…..Stuart Broad was at his best on an extraordinary first morning at Trent Bridge, where swing and seam destroyed Australia and all but sealed the fate of the urn

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August 3, 2015 · 1:40 pm

Kumar calibrated within the Sangakkara Family and the World of Cricket

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo and Cricket Monthly, August 2015, where the title reads “The cult of Sanga”

Kumari & Kshema Sangakkara Kumar’s classic cover drive —Getty

When clients came to see Kshema Sangakkara in the late 1980s and early 1990s, many were made to wait. A renowned civil lawyer, Kshema would be busy in the backyard of his colonial home, which had sat proudly on a Kandy hillside for close to a century. “Why don’t you come now?” his wife Kumari used to ask. “They have been waiting here a while.”

“So?” Kshema would reply. “Let them wait. They have come to see me. I can’t see them until I’ve finished working with my son.”

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Filed under Andrew Fidel Fernando, cricket and life, cricketing icons, Mahela Jayawardene, performance, Sangakkara, sportsmanship, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people, work ethic

August 3, 2015 · 1:10 pm

Sanga interviewed in CRICKET MONTHLY on Sri Lankan Cricket Today

Pic from AFP

‘First-class cricket was a lot tougher when I started’

Kumar Sangakkara on the need for Sri Lanka to shift their focus from school cricket to the domestic first-class tournament

August 3, 2015, ….. ESPNcricinfo at http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/904059/-first-class-cricket-was-a-lot-tougher-when-i-started

With FULL INTERVIEW at http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/902493

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August 3, 2015 · 1:02 pm

How Hathuru changed the Bangladeshi Fortunes

Mohammad Isam, in ESPNcricinfo.com, 3 August 2015, where the title is “Biggest thing for me is the change in players’ mindset – Hathurusingha”

With ODI series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa in 2015, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha looks at the changes that are helping the side move forward. Following his appointment in May 2014, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha had a crucial role overseeing the side’s World Cup campaign and three successful home series thereafter. On the final day of the second Test against South Africa, which was abandoned due to a wet outfield, Hathurusingha spoke to ESPNcricinfo about the side’s results in the last seven months, the change in the team’s mindset, how he spotted Soumya Sarkar and his future plans for the team.

The last few months have been great for you. How do you feel having coached this side since last year? It gives me great satisfaction at the way the boys responded to the challenges that we had before with us, and then changed the culture we had before, believing in themselves mainly. I was very satisfied as coach.

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Filed under Bangladesh cricket, cricket and life, cricket governance, Mohammad Isam, performance, player selections, tower of strength, unusual people, work ethic, World Cup 2015

July 19, 2015 · 5:24 am

Chandika Hathurusingha and the Rise of Bangladesh

Rex Clementine, in Sunday Island, 18 July 2015, where the title reads, “Hathurusingha has transformed Bangladesh cricket”

In just over a year, the way Chandika Hathurusingha has transformed Bangladesh cricket has been truly amazing. The former Sri Lankan opener was appointed as Head Coach of Bangladesh in May last year and many predicted a turnaround for the lowest ranked cricket team in the world, but the success they have enjoyed in recent times was hardly imaginable then. When he took over, Hathurusingha was asked about his immediate target and entering the second round of the ICC Cricket World Cup excited him. This Bangladesh achieved by reaching the quarter-finals knocking out England in the deciding game in Adelaide.

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July 17, 2015 · 3:16 pm

Sri Lanka at Lords in 1984

Pic from Getty Images

Seated: Ashantha de Mel, Ranjan Madugalle, Duleep Mendis (captain), the late Neil Chanmugan (Manager), Roy Dias (vice-Captain), DS de Silva, M. Rajasingham, Sidath Wettimuny

Standing: Marlon von Hagt, Arjuna Ranatunga, Anusha Samaranayake, Vinodhan John, Ravi Ratnayake, Brendan Kuruppu, Mumtaz Yusuf, Amal Silva, Don Arunasiri, Aradvinda de Silva

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July 17, 2015 · 2:53 pm

DS de Silva: A Mahindian Man of Cricketing Journeys

Janaka Malwatta, courtesy of ESPNcricninfo, 16 July 2015, where it is presented under an apposite title “Somachandra de Silva’s age-defying cricketing journey”

In the build-up to Sri Lanka’s first Test in England in 1984, a throwaway line in a newspaper article caught my eye. The Sri Lankan bowling attack was to be headed by a 42-year-old legspinner. That a bowling attack could be said to be headed by a spinner, in a summer headlined by fearsome West Indian pacemen, was unusual enough. That he was 42 was even more beguiling.

Somachandra de Silva–Getty Images

Thirty years later, I met Somachandra de Silva and sated my curiosity. De Silva is an enviably fit-looking 73-year-old, who is still able, as he demonstrated, to turn his arm over. His story is of a lifelong, if peripatetic, involvement in cricket. He is too good to be described as a cricketing journeyman, but he is certainly a man of cricketing journeys. Continue reading →

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July 17, 2015 · 2:38 pm

Soumaya Sarkar leads as Bangladesh squash South Africa in ODI

Mohammad Isam, 16 July 2015, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo.com, where the title is “Bangladesh go from inadequacy to audacity”

The first ever meeting between Bangladesh and South Africa was hardly a contest. In the sixth over of Bangladesh’s 302-run chase, Al Sahariar turned his back on a Makhaya Ntini bouncer with his bat hanging out vertically. The ball struck the bat and spooned up. Jacques Kallis ran back from slip to complete a superb one-handed diving catch. Bangladesh were 12 for 2, slipped to 43 for 6, and ended up losing by 168 runs.

Commentators described Sahariar’s dangling bat over his head as a “periscope”. At the time, Bangladesh were not even into their second year as a Test-playing nation, their progress emanating suspicion. Handling the short ball was a prerequisite to playing against top teams, but despite high-billing locally, many like Sahariar were at sea. His dismissal in Potchefstroom symbolised inadequacy.

Soumya Sarkar in action —AFP

Thirteen years later, in their third tour of Bangladesh, South Africa encountered another periscope. This time it was Soumya Sarkar‘s dangling bat, but unlike Sahariar’s periscope, this was deliberate. On Wednesday in the third ODI, Soumya was on 67 in the 19th over when he leaned back and ramped a Kyle Abbott bouncer high over the head of wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, landing just short of the rope. Soumya’s periscope symbolised Bangladesh’s audacity. Continue reading →

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July 9, 2015 · 4:30 pm

Learning about Murali with Murali

Sujith Silva, reproduced from the QUADRANGLE where the title of this article reads “Up Close & Personal with Murali”

Affectionately called as ‘Murali,’ he is by far the greatest Sportsperson Sri Lanka ever produced in the modern era. Truly a Legend, an icon and an Ambassador. Not only to his alma mater St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota but also to his country, Sri Lanka and for the game of Cricket. A World beater across all formats of the game, holder of many World Records and he has won many hearts around the world with his trade mark smile and for his fighting skills. He was recently hired as a Spin Bowling Consultant by the Australian Cricket Board. Almost 20 years ago, Murali was publicly humiliated at the MCG and widely despised by the Australian cricketing public. It was in Australia he faced his worst challenges both on and off the field. His Cricketing career almost came to an abrupt end before it even blossomed. Who would have thought it likely that Australian Cricket would ever pay Murali the ultimate compliment, almost an apology of sorts, by inviting him to be their spin guru? He was much feared and respected on the field and he was accused by his critics, challenged by those who didn’t like his success, heckled by those who feared him and tested and cleared by the governing body. Irrespective of all that, he came out as a Champion. Murali mobbed by fans in Jaffna town