Category Archives: Sri Lanka Cricket

February 19, 2019 · 1:30 am

Akila, Avishka & Kamindu among those in the ODI Squad for South africa

Sa’adi Thawfeeeq in Daily News, 19 February 2019, … http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/02/19/sports/177932/akila-dananjaya-picked-sa-odi-series

Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya who was reported for a suspect bowling action following the first Test against England at Galle last November was named in the 17-man squad for the five-match One-Day International series against South Africa starting on March 3 at Johannesburg. Dananjaya underwent remedial action to his bowling and was cleared by the ICC (see separate story) that has resulted in him finding a place in the one-day side. Dananjaya was the most consistent bowler in Sri Lanka’s ODI ranks over the past year and had begun to have success in the Test format as well when he was reported.

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February 17, 2019 · 1:19 pm

Kusal Perera’s Blast from the Past: 336 runs … in 2012

Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, in ESPNcricinfo, 2012, http://www.espncricinfo.com/thestands/content/story/626666.html

A hurricane hit Sri Lankan cricket last week, but it was barely mentioned. Kusal Perera, a 22 year-old left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper blasted 336 off 275 balls for Colts CC against Saracens at Havelock Park, Colombo. The innings featured savage hitting with 14 sixes and 29 fours.

The innings is the highest score in the Sri Lankan domestic competition. It is also the only triple century in the 75 year history of the Sri Lankan domestic competition. Domestic cricket in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) was not recorded as first-class until the 1988-89 season, but there were no triple centuries in club cricket before that. The only other triple centuries in Sri Lankan first-class cricket were at Test level – Sanath Jayasuriya’s 340 against India in 1997 and Mahela Jayawardena’s 375 against South Africa in 2006.

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February 17, 2019 · 2:47 am

A Sporting Appraisal from Faf du Plessis

Liam Brickhill, in ESPNCricinfo, ….http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26010989/test-cricket-be

His team ended up on the losing side in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory, but after South Africa’s one-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the first Test at Kingsmead, captain Faf du Plessis insisted: “This is what Test cricket should be.”

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 13: Faf du Plessis of South Africa during day 1 of the 1st Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead Stadium on February 13, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

ALSO READ: Five great knocks in one-wicket wins

“It should show people, whether it’s three or four or five days, that it is still the number one format if you see games of cricket like this,” du Plessis said. “It’s incredible the amount of times the game goes to the opposition and then comes to you and goes back. It’s always that to and fro. It’s great to be part of an amazing Test match.”

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February 16, 2019 · 3:51 pm

Topsy-Turvy: Sri Lanka’s Insane Triumph in Durban

Liam Brickhill, in ESPNcrcinfo, 16 February 2019, where the title is “Kusal Perera’s epic 153* leads Sri Lanka to insane victory”

A see-sawing Test match reached an incredible finale on the fourth afternoon at Kingsmead as Kusal Perera and Vishwa Fernando put on a record-breaking 10th wicket stand to see their team home in an atmosphere of almost unbearable tension.

Sri Lanka’s last pair came together with 78 still needed and victory virtually assured for South Africa, but as Vishwa clung limpet-like to the crease Kusal slugged, slapped and swiped his way to the target. Along the way, both men reached their highest Test scores – Kusal finishing on 153, while Vishwa’s more modest – but no less vital in the final analysis – contribution was 6 not out.

Kusal Perera showed guts in tough conditions Getty Images

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February 14, 2019 · 2:03 pm

Mahes Goonatilleke: Wicket-keeper from the Top Drawer

Jamie Alter, in ESPNcricinfo, 5 September 2009, where the title is “The One that got Away”:

“Today’s wicketkeepers dive too much. It shows a lack of foot movement and speed. There’s too much of it. I hardly dived, and neither did my wicket-keeping peers. It makes your clothes dirty.” The voice on the line is soft yet commanding. It still cares for Sri Lanka cricket, despite a bitter history with its authorities.

Mahes Goonatilleke is regarded by many in the country as the finest Test wicketkeeper produced by Sri Lanka. But few outside the country will have heard of him, because his international career was over before it could take off, and a nation was robbed of a great talent. Continue reading →

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February 9, 2019 · 2:25 pm

Kusal Perera Incident: How to Manage Head Knocks

Ben Horne, in The Weekend Australian, 8 February 2019, where the title is ICC Head Rules are exposed”

The International Cricket Council’s lack of action on concussion is in the spotlight again after it emerged an unfit Sri Lanka batsman was allowed to defy doctor’s orders and face the blazing Australian attack in Canberra last week.

It is understood Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Perera was theoretically ruled out of the second Test with concussion when, in the absence of a Sri Lankan team doctor, he was assessed by Australian doctor Richard Saw. The assessment came after Perera was forced to retire hurt in the first innings after he was struck by a bouncer from Jhye Richardson.

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February 8, 2019 · 6:42 am

Rex in Q and A with Michael Hussey

Rex Clementine, in Island, 7 February 2019, with the title “Murali is Mr Cricket –Mike Hussey”

No batsman in Test cricket played Sri Lanka better than Australia’s Mike Hussey. Numbers prove it. His average of 110 against Sri Lankan attacks is better than that of Brian Lara (86), Virat Kohli (77), Sunil Gavaskar (66), A.B. de Villiers (62) and Sachin Tendulkar (60). Hussey’s average against Sri Lanka is the best by any Test cricketer.

Rival players at one point, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mike Hussey went onto become great friends when they were team mates at Chennai Super Kings.

The Island caught up with the man who was nicknamed Mr. Cricket for his deep knowledge about the game. In this interview, Hussey opens up on his battles against Murali, his close relationship with the man who was once his opponent and later a team-mate. Dismissing Kumar Sangakkara in a Test match and the future of Australian cricket and lots more. Here are the excerpts. Continue reading →

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February 8, 2019 · 2:32 am

Further Reflections on Sri Lanka’s Cricketing Defeats in Australia

Michael Roberts

Many factors contributed to the resounding defeats suffered by the Sri Lankan squad in Australia, A few were dictated by the dice of the gods. But as many were due to serious shortcomings in the capacities displayed by individuals in the team on the field.

Dimuth Karunaratne being attnded to after being hit on the helmeted head

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February 7, 2019 · 2:53 am

Thoughts on Sri Lanka’s Recent Cricketing Defeats

Michael Roberts, 7 February 2019

Marvan Atapattu has contended that “Sri Lankan Cricket has been in a rut for the past two years” and that whereas “there have been bad times, …. we always could see a light at the end of the tunnel. But the way things are being handled and what I see now, there’s nothing like that.” [1]

Balanced thoughts? Up to a point. The fact remains that the Sri Lanka cricket administration has been a roller-coaster from 1996 to 2018; and some of the squads secured pretty good results despite this background situation – no more so than 2016 when they bested the Australians three-zip — admittedly in home terrain.

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February 5, 2019 · 9:35 am

Profound Problems for Sri Lanka Cricket

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, 4 February 2019, where the title is “No quick fixes, Sri Lankan cricket needs a bottom-up overhaul”

Sri Lanka have lost 16 of their last 18 international matches, so there are rumours floating around about replacing the coach again. Rumours that Sri Lanka Cricket has inquired about the availability of top coaches overseas. That the island’s sports ministry – essentially running cricket in the country at present – has consulted lawyers about the legal ramifications of firing or demoting Chandika Hathurusingha. Perhaps they will remove him from the national side and send him to the High Performance Centre. This is what they have just meted out to batting coach Thilan Samaraweera, who was replaced in the national set-up in December.