Category Archives: World Cup 2019

Ranjan Mellawa’s Magnum Opus on Sri Lankan Cricket

Mahinda Wijesinghe, in Island, 19 May 2020, where the title runs “Winds behind the willows. An Encyclopaedic history of SL cricket with”warts and all,

  a rare photo taken in Colombo (October 1930) of S.P. Foenander, then the Sports Editor of ‘Ceylon Observer’, gifting a replica of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy (Temple of the Tooth) to Don Bradman. Foenander is carrying Australian skipper Bill Woodfull’s son, Jack, in his arms. (Courtesy State Library of South Australia – PRG 682/16/108)

Almost a century ago, S.P.Foenander, referred internationally as the ‘Wisden of the East’, authored his 268-page classic tome ‘Sixty Years of Ceylon Cricket’ (Ceylon Advertising & General Publicity – 1924). That was the first book which authoritatively enlightened the cricket world about cricket and cricketers between the years 1863 to 1923, in the then fair isle of Ceylon. One must also remember that Foenander, who even rubbed shoulders with the legendary Bradman – see photo below- must have experienced the difficulties at that time in collecting/collating information and statistics and so on in compiling his book. After all, the print media at that time was not developed; TV nor Internet was not even thought of. In short sophisticated communication systems were not even in its infancy. So the accolade of being the pioneer of cricket journalism in Ceylon falls squarely on the shoulders of the late S.P. Foenander.

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Filed under confrontations on field, cricket and life, cricket governance, cricketing icons, English cricket, International Cricket Council, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments, player selections, politics and cricket, unusual people, World Cup 2015, World Cup 2019

The Spirit of Cricket

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July 18, 2019 · 3:58 pm

Semi-Final Coincidences …. Mama Mia!

Some freaky facts from the semifinal of the World 🏆
*India* lost 3 early wickets
*Australia* also lost 3 early wickets
*India* were all out in the 49th over
*Australia* were also all out in 49 overs
*Dhoni* got run-out at a crucial stage
*Smith* also got run-out at a crucial stage
Dhoni got run-out when India were 216/8
Smith got run-out when Australia were 217/8
7 batsmen scored single digit score, 4 scored double digit score for *India*
7 batsmen scored single digit score, 4 scored double digit score for *Australia*
……..   and finally, the teams that lost are Austral *ia* and Ind *ia*, and the teams that landed in the finals are Eng *land* and New Zea *land* 😊🤔😉

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Rashid Khan takes over as Afghanistan’s Captain in All Formats

Rashid Khan will lead Afghanistan across all formats, while former captain Asghar Afghan has been appointed his deputy. The change comes after Afghanistan lost all their matches at the World Cup under Gulbadin Naib, with his decisions on the field during a thriller against Pakistan, in particular, coming under the scanner.

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Filed under cricket and life, performance, tower of strength, World Cup 2019

Dismemberment at Edgbaston: Way Out Thoughts from a Fella Way Out

Anonymous Aficianado

I cannot believe that I have just witnessed such a clinical dismemberment of the invincible  Australian one-day team. They were made to look like junior school novices. Cousin Ralston predicted this with the utmost confidence.  Through gritted teeth I will concede that if Finch had inserted he would have won the match. On this occasion it was obviously an advantage to bowl first.

New Zealand will be licking their lips because they will not encounter either Roy or Bairstow. Bairstow is obviously injured and Roy will most certainly be suspended for high level dissent.No reprimands,no raps on knuckles but kicked out big time for several matches. No question.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Jason Roy of England hits out for six runs during the 4th ODI Royal London One-Day match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge on June 17, 2015 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

He got a shocking decision from Kumar Dharmasena but so have we all. I will never forget how Tuffy dealt with me when I merely raised my eyebrows when I was given an appalling LBW decision. Roy did far more than raise his eyebrows and I would love to have seen Tuffy deal with him if he had been in the English dressing room this evening.  His body would have been beyond identification!

That was one of the worst cases of dissent I have seen and Roy will be out till Christmas. Certainly no Final and no Ashes. Cannot imagine Kane Williamson or Kumar Sangakkara behaving like that.

 

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Filed under Australian cricket, cricket and life, performance, Sangakkara, taking the piss, unusual people, violent intrusions, World Cup 2019

Smith’s Testicles skimmed in Buttler’s Penetrating Strike

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler threw the ball from a little to his left and the ball went speeding through Steve Smith’s legs at thigh height and hit the wickets at the bowler’s end

One thing is certain: Steve Smith would have preferred to be smashed in the balls or his buttocks …. He values his wicket …. more than his balls.

https://www.cricketworldcup.com/video/1277263/cwc19-sf-aus-v-eng-sensational-throw-from-buttler-runs-out-smith

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Filed under cricket and life, memorable moments, taking the mickey, World Cup 2019

Hilal Suhaib’s Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Selections and World Cup Performance

Hilal Suhaib, in IslandCricket.lk, …., https://www.islandcricket.lk/news/featured/sri-lanka-2023-world-cup/?fbclid=IwAR2tOft4Zg5HmX4SSCo3HuD-Sv3V6h-ptSW6g16PdG9EZ9ymFMduSzdcoWg

Sri Lanka exceeded my expectations at the 2019 World Cup — a winless exit was a strong possibility. Dimuth Karunaratne’s men overcame the challenges set by their own camp to end the tournament with three wins. There is no criticism of this team for not making the semis. Not losing to Afghanistan is a praiseworthy accomplishment today for a nation that once won the ODI world title and were for many years considered strong contenders to enter the final stages of any ICC tourney.

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Filed under cricket and life, cricket governance, cricketer politicians, Hathurusingha, Hilal Suhaib, Lasith Malinga, memorable moments, performance, player selections, politics and cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket, taking the piss, World Cup 2019

The Kiwi-India World Cup Thriller

Karthik Krishnaswamy in ESPNcricinfo,com, !0 July 2019, where the title is New Zealand in final despite thrilling Jadeja-Dhoni counter-attack”

It was a semi-final spread over 28 hours and 24 minutes, and it contained some of the defining features of this World Cup. Rain, enough of it to force the match into a reserve day. Terrific new-ball bowling. Incredible fielding. A tricky, two-paced surface that kept scoring rates down, but also ensured neither team was ever entirely out of the contest.

The New Zealand side celebrate as MS Dhoni of India is run out by Martin Guptill. Photograph: Gareth Copley/IDI via Getty Images

At the end of it, it was New Zealand who remained standing, reaching their second successive World Cup final with an 18-run win. India went out at the semi-final stage for the second successive tournament, but not without scripting a dramatic comeback that showed just why they are one of the world’s top ODI teams.

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Kumar Sangakkara Reviews Sri Lanka’s Performance in the World Cup

Kumar Sangakkara, in Sunday Times, 7 July 2019, with this title “Sri Lanka — near yet too far from the CWC semis”

So, Sri Lanka’s World Cup journey has ended without qualification. Few predicted they would reach the semi-finals and their final mid-table position represents a decent performance in the circumstances. Nevertheless, it was ultimately a disappointing campaign. In hindsight, it feels like we could and should have done better and could have competed harder for the fourth qualification spot secured by New Zealand. Sri Lanka were dogged by the inability to balance out the side with a specialist spinner, injuries, and the presence of players with no or little ODI experience within 18 months of the World Cup.

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Filed under Australian cricket, cricket and life, English cricket, Lasith Malinga, memorable moments, New Zealand cricket, performance, Sangakkara, Sri Lanka Cricket, World Cup 2019

Avishka Fernando’s Breakthrough Ton

Rex Clementine, in Island, 2 July 2019, where the title is “Avishka goes past Kohli and Tendulkar as third youngest World Cup centurion”

Young batting sensation Avishka Fernando has made an impact with cameos against Australia and South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup from the moment he was given a break at the expense of Lahiru Thirimanne. On Monday, he converted a start against the West Indies into a match winning knock posting a less than run a ball century. Aravinda de Silva was 30 when he made a World Cup hundred while Sanath Jayasuriya was 33 and that makes Avishka’s achievement a remarkable one.

Sri Lanka’s Avishka Fernando plays a shot during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the Riverside Ground, in Chester-le-Street, northeast England, on July 1, 2019.

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Filed under Angelo Mathews, player selections, politics and cricket, Rex Clementine, Sangakkara, Sri Lanka Cricket, World Cup 2019