Michael Roberts
I was in Sri Lanka in mid-1997 on research work but took time off to watch an ODI match between the Indian XI led by Sachin Tendulkar and the Sri Lankan side led by Arjuna Ranatunga on July 18th. One distinct memory is that of a relatively unknown player named Lanka de Silva batting in an uncomplicated, neat manner to support Arjuna and finalize Sri Lanka’s charge to victory.
Rangana Herath was at the Colombo Oval on Day Two of the match vs the New Zealanders, together with his son Rangaru
Alas, Embuldeniya was unable to repeat the sort of feat that Rangana excelled in …but we hope he will develop in the same direction.
NOW if these two lads develop in the same direction, it will be, alas, for Lancashire and England. No matter, we can claim maternal links via Ranjit Fernando –especially if they become wicket-keeper batsmen.
Sharda Ugra of ESPN in ESPNcircinfo, 12 October 2015, where the title is “The man preparing Sri Lanka for life after Herath”
If there was ever an opposition against whom Sri Lanka could consider a set of try-outs, West Indies would be it. In the light of Tharindu Kaushal‘s current entanglements over his action, Sri Lanka will certainly need to test the spin options that will be available to them in a post-Rangana Herath world.
The team’s strength at home in the era after Murali has revolved around Herath. In 20 Murali-less home Tests, Herath cleaned out 136 wickets, Sri Lanka winning eight and drawing five. Herath, Sri Lanka’s most successful spinner after Mr 800 is currently held together by crepe bandages and hope, his creaking knees and the rest of a generously proportioned 37-year-old body testing his ability to play through pain. The next two Sri Lankan front-line spinners after him have played eight (Dilruwan Perera) and six Tests (Kaushal); the latter has now been given a rap on his doosra fingers by the ICC.
Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo.com, 13 August 2019, where the title is “England whitewash forced us to rethink plans for New Zealand Tests – Dimuth Karunaratne”
Sri Lanka may have whitewashed South Africa in February, but their most recent Test series at home brought a 3-0 defeat at the hands of England. Though the hosts’ spinners were expected to dominate the England batsmen, the opposition top order batted aggressively, and found ways to put up daunting totals.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/13593906
Phil Dawkes in BBC Sport, 13 May 2011, with this title “Sri Lanka batting collapse hands England shock victory”
Chris Tremlett and Graeme Swann bowled England to a remarkable innings victory after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 82 in the first Test in Cardiff.A draw seemed likely after rain delayed the start of day five until 1500 BST. But England declared after two overs on 496-5, a first-innings lead of 96, as soon as Ian Bell reached his century.
Tremlett (4-40) grabbed two early wickets, before he and Swann (4-16) combined to tear through the tourists, with Stuart Broad finishing them off. With the last eight wickets falling in just over an hour after the tea interval, it left England victorious by an innings and 14 runs.
47.6 Perera strike, Raval fails to reach his century once again. Length on middle and leg, Raval was looking to work it on the leg side, gets an inside edge on to the pads that lobs towards short leg, Mendis accepts it gleefully, tumbling to his right 121/1
An English wicket in 2018– Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)– (Photo credit should read ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Item in Daily Mirror, 10 November 2018, with this title “Rangana’s swansong and Lanka’s future in spin bowling”
When Rangana Herath takes the field for one last time in Galle today, there will be tributes for the gentleman cricketer who has an unblemished record on and off field. Sri Lanka will host England in a three-match Test series but Herath will only play the first Test starting on November 6, thereby ending a career spanning nearly two decades.
With 430 wickets and counting, Herath can walk off the field with his head held high. He has achieved what no other left-arm bowler has done in the history of the game. With five more wickets in his last appearance, he will become number seven in the all-time list of highest wicket takers, led by our own Muttiah Muralidaran (800). It is a phenomenal achievement for a late bloomer. Among them are 34 five wickets hauls out of which 26 came off in home conditions. Continue reading
Lankan cricket greats witness Herath’s farewell Test
Sri Lankan cricket legends Arjuna Ranatunga, Muthiah Muralitharan and Sidath Wettimuny along with other former cricket board officials were present at the historic Galle International Cricket Stadium to witness veteran spinner Rangana Herath’s farewell Test appearance on the first day of the first cricket Test against England yesterday. In fact Muralitharan also made his final Test appearance at this same venue eight years ago. Seated from left: Arjuna Ranatunga, Muthiah Muralitharan, Kushil Gunasekara, Nishantha Ranatunga and Sidath Wettimuny.
Rangaiyaa! Rangaaiyya! Budu Ammo! Herath raised aloft after securing a match fo Sr Lanka … or so one can imagine
Mark Nicholas in ESPNcricinfo, 22 October 2018, where the title runs “Sri Lanka’s cricket legacy is glorious, but what does the future hold?”
The first two Sri Lankan cricketers to catch this observer’s eye were Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis. Dias, slim and elegant at the crease, played the game in beautifully straight lines and had a hand in important moments during Sri Lanka’s early days at the top table, most especially against Pakistan and India. Mendis was a bull of a fellow on first look but the most genial of cricketers, whose explosive strokeplay at Lord’s in 1984 won him many a heart. It was for the Indians, however, that he reserved his very best cricket, making hundreds in both innings of the 1982 Madras Test and then leading his country to a famous series win in 1985 with a match-saving hundred in the final Test at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. It is close to impossible to describe how much this meant to his people. It was more than a victory for cricketers; it was a victory for character and for relevance – a precursor to the days when Arjuna Ranatunga would bow before no one in the pursuit of his country’s place in the world order.
