Category Archives: welfare through sport

June 13, 2017 · 3:55 pm

Rare Cricketing Images from Yesteryear: Bodyline

W M Woodfull of Australia ducks to avoid a rising ball from Harold Larwood of England during the Fourth Test match at Brisbane on the infamous ‘Bodyline’ Tour of Australia … Photo by Central Press/Getty Images

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Filed under cricket and life, cricketing icons, English cricket, patriotic excess, performance, taking the mickey, tower of strength, unusual people, welfare through sport

May 23, 2017 · 2:19 pm

Sri Lankans at Cricket for Fringe Countries in Cricket World

Bhavindu Shakya AdhihettyBhavindu Adhihetty …. Canada

Full name Bhavindu Shakya Adhihetty

Born February 29, 2000

Current age 17 years 83 days

Major teams Canada Under-19s

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Left-arm medium

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May 11, 2017 · 9:30 am

Windies Guard of Honour for Younis Khan

Indian Express News Item ...and A Note from Errol Fernando** of Kandy & Melbourne: “On a rain-shortened day Pakistan is 169 for 2.  Holder won the toss and INSERTED on a dull drizzly day. The highlight of the day’s play was Holder and friends giving Younis a Guard of Honour as he arrived at the crease.He responded by giving Holder a gracious handshake and then marked out  his guard. He has made a quiet 10 not out and will resume his innings at midnight Melbourne time. Captain Misbah, the next man in, will then receive HIS guard of honour and hopefully will join Younis at the crease. Pardon me for being a sentimental old duffer, G…, but this stuff GLADDENS my old heart!!

 Younis Khan came out to bat in what could be his last innings for Pakistan on Day 1 of the third Test — PCB Official Twitter  http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-pakistan-2017/content/image/1097242.html?object=207428;dir=next

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May 10, 2017 · 2:49 am

Brian Lara to deliver Cowdrey Lecture in 2017

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara will deliver the 2017 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s on Monday 4 September.

Lara is set to become the second West Indian to give the Lecture, after Clive Lloyd imparted the keynote address in 2006. Following the speech, a question and answer session with Lara and a selected panel of cricketers, hosted by Mark Nicholas, will discuss topics arising from the Lecture and other cricketing issues.

The MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture has become a notable feature in the cricketing calendar, provoking debate and discussion on the major issues facing the game today. This year’s Lecture will take place in the week of the Investec Test Match between England and West Indies at Lord’s. Previous speakers at the event include the Most Reverend Dr Desmond Tutu (2008), Kumar Sangakkara (2011) and Sir Ian Botham (2014). The inaugural address was delivered in 2001 by the late Richie Benaud.

 

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Filed under cricket and life, cricketing icons, Sangakkara, sportsmanship, unusual people, welfare through sport, West Indian Cricket

May 10, 2017 · 2:16 am

Sri Lankan Cricketers gain Equanimity before Champions Contest in UK

Sri Lanka’s cricketers — plus coach and training staff  — visited the Dalada Maligawa yesterday to invoke blessings ahead of the Champions Trophy tournament….. Pictures Courtesy Sameera Pieris 

Definitely a defining moment for Graham Ford and other foreign members of the support staff.

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Filed under Angelo Mathews, cricket and life, cricketing icons, performance, Sri Lanka Cricket, technology and cricket, tower of strength, unusual people, welfare through sport

May 4, 2017 · 3:51 pm

Ravi Karunaratne Allrounder Extraordinary in Moonee Valley Cricket

Tim Michell, in the Moonee Valley Leader, 3 May 2017,  where the title is “Aberfeldie all-rounder Ravindra Karunaratne crowned VTCA North West Division player of season”

Ravi Karunaratne flights a delivery for Aberfeldie. Picture: David Smith.
Ravi Karunaratne flights a delivery for Aberfeldie. Picture: David Smith.

KIEREN Gray doesn’t have to be concerned with managing the workload of star off-spinner Ravindra Karunaratne. The Sri Lankan is one of the fittest players in Turf Cricket, allowing Gray to entrust him with bowling long spells to keep batsmen in check or chase wickets. Against Sunshine United in Round 11 of 2016-17, Karunaratne bowled the second over of the North West Division fixture. He was still rolling the arm over hours later and took the last wicket when the Tigers were dismissed for 147 at Selwyn Park.

 

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Filed under Australian cricket, performance, welfare through sport

May 1, 2017 · 10:59 am

Anthonians Celebrate their Cricketing History — Pictorial

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April 24, 2017 · 8:48 am

Ranjan Mellawa’s Pursuit of Cricket Luv’ly Cricket

Elmo Jayawardena, with the title Winds Behind The Willows – The Full Monty to Cricket

One has to know something about cricket to enjoy this magnificent book. Suited me ideally as I do not know much about cricket matters but like almost all Sri Lankans I too am connected umbilically to international cricket and especially when the home country is at the crease. Let me try and express my views on author Ranjan Mellawa writing a book. I can categorically state that if not the bull’s eye, he certainly has hit pretty close to it as a new author in his maiden venture on cricket journalism.

The man has managed to vagabond his way to be present at six World Cup finals. That alone gives him credentials to be somewhat an expert on the international scene from a spectator’s point of view. Ranjan has been an ardent cricket fan. He’s played too, starting with a plastic bat as a kid to rustic cricket in neighborhood tennis-ball matches. From there he graduated to club level domestic league. Hence, his story begins at grass-root level and then blossoms and spreads wild and wide taking him to the world of international cricket as a die-hard knowledgeable fan. Continue reading →

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Filed under Australian cricket, cricketing icons, performance, sportsmanship, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual people, verbal intimidation, welfare through sport, West Indian Cricket, World Cup 2015

April 19, 2017 · 6:17 am

Media Madness in Sumathipala

Andrew Fidel Fernando,  in ESPNcricinfo, 19 April 2017, where the title runs “Why is SLC in public-relations overdrive?”  … and the by-line urns: “Thilanga Sumathipala’s board has done as much for Sri Lanka’s cricket as any other, but the chairman’s desperation for the limelight does them no favours;”

Five men stand in front of the sponsors’ backdrop at the presentation that follows Sri Lanka’s T20 win over Bangladesh. Four of them are holding cheques; the man who holds nothing is Thilanga Sumathipala, SLC president and unelected deputy speaker of the House. He stands closest to the presenter, and his presence seems gratuitous at first. When proceedings begin, however, it becomes clear that the camera is smitten with Sumathipala and that he is smitten with it. When Kusal Perera comes up to be interviewed about his Player-of-the-Match performance, there Sumathipala is, looking paternally over the player’s shoulder with a benevolent grin. While other awards are being handed out, the camera may stray, but as if bound by fate, it always has a way of finding its way back to Sumathipala. It captures his coy smirks and his firm handshakes.  Continue reading →

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Filed under backyard cricket, cricket and life, cricket governance, cricket tamashas, cricketer politicians, ICC, Mahela Jayawardene, performance, politics and cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket, welfare through sport

April 13, 2017 · 10:59 pm

Arjuna in Frank Review of the Cricket Scene with Bangla Press in Q and A

Rex Clementine, in ISLAND, 9th April 2017, where the title is “Our Cricket has no Planning”

A large entourage of Bangladeshi journalists toured with the team covering the bilateral series against Sri Lanka. Over 50 journalists from Bangladesh had been accredited for the series giving you a sense of the interest the game of cricket has created in the country. When the Sri Lanka team tours overseas, very rarely we get five journalists covering the series. On Thursday, the last day of the tour, World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga spoke to the Bangladeshi media after a large number of tourists made requests for interviews with the man who brought unprecedented success to the national cricket team during the two decades he represented the national team. A large entourage of Bangladeshi journalists toured with the team covering the bilateral series against Sri Lanka. Over 50 journalists from Bangladesh had been accredited for the series giving you a sense of the interest the game of cricket has created in the country. When the Sri Lanka team tours overseas, very rarely we get five journalists covering the series. On Thursday, the last day of the tour, World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga spoke to the Bangladeshi media after a large number of tourists made requests for interviews with the man who brought unprecedented success to the national cricket team during the two decades he represented the national team. Here are the excerpts.Here are the excerpts. Continue reading →

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Filed under Bangladesh cricket, politics and cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual people, welfare through sport