ONE = Simon Barnes: “Muttiah Muralitharan as Cricketer of the Year 2006″
writing in 2007 on the year 2006 = https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/350915.html
The time has come to grasp the nettle, to remove the mental and, to reject the frown, the shrug, the pursed lips and the quizzical look. Muttiah Muralitharan was, without qualification, the finest cricketer on the planet last year and, by implication, is one of the best cricketers that have ever played the game.
Filed under bowling average, Bradman, child of empire, cricket and life, cricketing icons, cricketing records, cricketing rules, ICC, Mahela Jayawardene, memorable moments, murali, performance, politics and cricket, spinning art, technology and cricket, tower of strength, unusual statistics, work ethic
David Runciman reviewing No Spin –Warne’s Autobiography
When the Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were exposed tampering with the ball during last year’s test series in South Africa there was, along with all the faux outrage, some genuine incredulity. Why did they take such an insane risk? The subterfuge was so cack-handed – rubbing the ball with lurid yellow sandpaper, perfectly suited to be picked up by the TV cameras – and the potential rewards so slight that they seemed to be putting their careers on the line for next to nothing. Confronted with the filmed evidence, Smith confessed straightaway. As conspiracies go this one barely got to first base, since almost no thought had been given to keeping it secret. They can’t have wanted to be caught. Each of the three culprits looked distraught in the aftermath. But it does appear that they didn’t think getting caught would matter much.
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.
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.
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.
Trevor Jayetilleke, in The Island, 14 March 2020, with this title “West Indies cricket teams of the 1960’s and Frank Worrell”
Apropos the letter written by Mr. K. K. S. Perera and published in the Opinion Columns of your journal of the 4th March, please permit me to add my comments/observations to the facts expressed by Mr. Perera.
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.
Michael Ramsey,of AAP in Courier Mail. 22 February 2020, with this title “How conversation with ‘absolute rock star’ inspired Ashton Agar’s historic hat-trick”
Ashton Agar has revealed how a conversation with Indian superstar Ravindra Jadeja inspired his match-winning hat-trick in South Africa. Agar stole the show in the T20 series-opener at Johannesburg, snaring 5-24 to lead a rampant Australia to a thumping 107-run win.
The left-arm spinner is just the second Australian after Brett Lee in 2007 to deliver a hat-trick in a T20 international.
ESPNcricinfo staff …. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28749203/we-want-play-defensive-cricket-anymore-sri-lanka-mickey-arthur
Australia were cruising at 2 for 67 chasing 133 with Alyssa Healy rolling on 51 from just 34 balls. Poonam Yadav didn’t bowl in the first nine overs and Healy hit her fourth ball for six over long-on. But the legspinner changed the game with a dazzling spell. She bamboozled Australia’s much-vaunted middle order to take 4 for 19 and guide India to victory. She nearly took a hat-trick with Taniya Bhatia dropping a tough caught-behind chance from Jess Jonassen. Here’s how Alex Malcolm and Deivarayan Muthu described the action on ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary.
Poonam Yadav is ecstatic after taking a wicket Getty Images
Daily News Report, 19 February 2020
Australia and India tuned up for Friday’s blockbuster ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 opener with hard-fought warm-up victories over South Africa and West Indies respectively. But by far the biggest shock of the day was Sri Lanka’s 10-wicket victory over England as Shashikala Siriwardana snaffled four wickets and Chamari Atapattu starred with bat and ball to earn an unlikely triumph.
Atapattu in full flight
