Photographs to complement Rohan Wijeyaratna’s classic account in Thuppahi = https://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2020/06/13/gamini-goonesena-leading-cambridge-to-victory-in-1957/
Category Archives: Sri Lanka Cricket
Roshan Mahanama: Staying True in Tempestuous Cricketing Times
Sanjeewa Jayaweera, in Island, May 2020, with this title “Roshan Mahanama a gentleman par excellence” ….. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=222098
I recall meeting Roshan Mahanama and his father Upali Mahanama 15 years ago, both not known to me, while climbing a narrow staircase in a hospital. Presumably, the elevator was not functional. I was taking my mother for a consultation. What struck me and my mother, who was then about 75 years, was the innate politeness and humbleness of Roshan and his father. They quickly got aside and made way for my mother and me to go up as they were coming down. Also, they acknowledged us with a heartwarming smile despite not knowing us.
Galle Cricket Stadium tops the Twitter Chart
Rex Clementine in Island, 1 May 2020 where the title reads “Galle voted world’s best cricket ground ahead of Lord’s”
Galle International Cricket Stadium has been voted as the best cricket ground in the world ahead of home of cricket – Lord’s and other leading international cricket grounds. In a survey conducted by cricket statistician Jarrod Kimber through twitter, an audience from all over the world voted and Galle earned the top price.
Sanath Jayasuriya’s Near-Misses … in Records
Anonymous, In Island, 20 April 2020, with this title “Jayasuriya on missed World Records”
In the space of three years, Sanath Jayasuriya came agonizingly close to break the two most important batting records in cricket. The highest score in Test and ODI cricket was there for the left-hander’s taking but he missed out on both milestones by a whisker. In 1997 at RPS, Jayasuriya missed out on Brian Lara’s highest individual score of 375 in Test cricket and in 2000, now captain of Sri Lanka, he missed Saeed Anwar’s highest score in ODIs by just five runs in Sharjah. Both efforts were against his favourite opponents – India.
West Indies vs Ceylon at the Oval in January 1967
Sanjeewa Jayaweera, in Sunday Island, 19 April 2020, with this title “Ceylon vs. West Indies in 1967”
Neil Chanmugam in full flow
I have been fortunate to have watched two World Cup finals at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia and Wankhede in India in addition to several matches at Lords and Oval in England and Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Australia. However, my fondest and most precious memory as a spectator was the encounter between West Indies and Ceylon played at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo, then known simply as ‘Oval.’ The three-day match was played between 21 and 23 January 1967.
Ashantha’s Frank Thoughts on Team Selection
Champika Fernando, in Sunday Times, 5 April 2020, with this title ‘Continuity’ – De Mel’s mantra
Chief cricket selector Ashantha De Mel often speaks of ‘continuity’ to give players a fair run in the team. The strategy seems to be bearing fruit. Sri Lanka’s 3-0 triumph against West Indies in the ODIs came against the backdrop of resolute selection, something that will be adhered to again as the team prepares for the World T20 qualifiers in Australia later this year.
A Cricketing Treasure Trove: SLC Museum
The Sri Lanka Cricket Museum at Maitland Place seemed to attract few visitors even during the Royal-Thomian …. so our sparkling moments in cricket history enshrined in trophies remain buried though not quite dead.
England Cricket Matches in Lanka scuttled by Coronavirus
Andrew Miller, in ESPNcricinfo, 13 March 2929, where the title is “England tour of Sri Lanka postponed amid COVID-19 spread”
England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka has been called off at the request of the ECB, due to the growing threat of the the COVID 19 pandemic, but on the understanding that it will be rescheduled at a later date.
Fist-Touch not Namasthe between Captains at the P Sara Oval Today
Captains Joe Root (England) and Lahiru Tirimanne (SL President’s XI) faced up the creeping threat of coronavirus cheerfully in novel style — foregoing the alternative path of a namasthe as a replacement for the normal handshake that was deployed prior to matches in the era before the CV has all of us concerned …..
Ashantha’s Balanced Reflections on Sri Lanka’s T20 Cricket Squad
Saádi Thawfeeq, in Daily News, 11 March 2020, with this title No need to panic we are on the right track says chief selector””
Sri Lanka’s 0-2 defeat at the hands of T20I world champs West Indies is not something to get too excited or worried about says chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel. “I am not saying I am 100 percent satisfied but there is an improvement. We have a lot to go forward but from where we were we have come up. The structure is coming and there are little areas that we have to fine tune, our bowling and all that,” said De Mel reflecting on the ODI and T20I series.
West Indian Andre Russell hit six sixes off 14 balls against Sri Lanka in the second T20I at Pallekele.
Filed under performance, player selections, Sri Lanka Cricket, T20 Cricket