Category Archives: world cup squad

February 17, 2015 · 12:57 am

Too Many Captains & Serious Shortcomings ruin Lanka

Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, courtesy of Sunday Leader, 15 February 2015, where the title is “Too Many Cooks Spoil the Christchurch Soup”

Sri Lanka has broken new ground in cricket. They have introduced a novelty – captaincy by committee.  Though Angelo Mathews is the official captain, the two aiyas (elder brothers) Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene openly set the field. Lasith Malinga, the Twenty20 captain, and TM Dilshan provide their two cents worth. Lahiru Thirimanne, the official vice captain, can just as well be the twelfth man.

Today, they proved that ”too many cooks spoil the soup”. The committee made some shocking blunders. The reliance on seam bowlers was inexplicable. There was hardly any movement for the aging seamers. Jeevan Mendis’s horizontal leg-spin was under bowled, despite a fine spell. Continue reading →

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Filed under Mahela Jayawardene, performance, player selections, Sangakkara, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual people, world cup squad

February 13, 2015 · 10:06 am

Sri Lanka’s “Near Allrounders” in Comparative Statistical Focus

Michael Roberts. courtesy of http://www.islandcricket.lk/

On the cusp of the World Cup’s inauguration I am venturing bold and surveying Lanka’s stock of potential allrounders in support of Matthews and Dilshan. I also have one eye on the future. The category “allrounder” is classified here in an expansive and tendentious manner to include bits-and-pieces players and those who can be injected into the upper order as pinch-hitters (for e.g. Seekkuge Prasanna now and Dilhara Lokuhettige in the past). In the present XV Thisara Perera would be classed as an allrounder, while Jeevan Mendis would be a batting allrounder; while Nuwan Kulasekera may, with some reservations, be termed a bowling allrounder. In brief, the brief I have constructed encompasses “near-allrounders” as well as those in the Matthews- Sanath Jayasuriya-Shane Watson category. Continue reading →

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Filed under performance, player selections, Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual statistics, world cup squad

February 11, 2015 · 11:10 pm

An Amateur Cricket Lover’s Recipe for a Lankan Cakewalk at the World Cup 2015

A Cricket Lover, from The Island, 12 February 2015

There is a lot of cricket talent in Sri Lanka and they are being coached and guided well at school and at Club levels. But once they progress to the national level most of them lose track simply because they are mismanaged by the authorities. The reason for this is that there is no sound programme to carefully nurture them up to the expected level and sustain them there. As a result, SL has lost so many talented players in the past. They have come and gone. The authorities, in the past and present, are solely responsible for the downfall of these talented players.

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Filed under Angelo Mathews, patriotic excess, performance, player selections, Sri Lanka Cricket, world cup squad

February 11, 2015 · 1:14 pm

Sri Lanka’s Potential ODI Allrounders in the Camera’s Glare

Michael Roberts

The focus in this article is on those whose spot in the Sri Lankan Fifteen can be questioned by attention to potential challengers. There is no questioning of Angelo Matthews’ place as a genuine allrounder and captain. Nor can one challenge Tillekeratne Dilshan’s spot as a batting allrounder. While Nuwan Kulasekera’s selection was in doubt after the recent bowling performances in India and Sri Lanka, the Selectors wisely chose to adhere to his potential qualities in the climatic and pitch conditions in New Zealand.

Australia v Sri Lanka - Twenty20: Game 2 Jeevan THISARA PERERA Thisara Prasanna 22 Prasanna maharoof 33Maharoof

Since this investigation will be pursued in a separate posting, I introduce the descriptions and images of certain players that have been compiled by ESPNcricinfo. This enables us to have fun as well: by asking how Ritchie Benaud would have coped with a name such as Narangoda Liyanaarachchilage Thisara Chirantha Perera or, for that matter, with a surname such as Ridigammanagedera.  Benaud will not be gracing the commentary box, but this is an opportunity for Russell Arnold and Andrew Fidel Fernando to explore the capacities of their mates in TV box and Reporters’ Corner. Chaminda Vaas is not an isolated case. These names are among the ones they can play with

Full name Narangoda Liyanaarachchilage Thisara Chirantha Perera

Full name Balapuwaduge Manukulasuriya Amith Jeevan Mendis Continue reading →

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Filed under Angelo Mathews, performance, player selections, Sri Lanka Cricket, world cup squad

February 10, 2015 · 1:54 pm

Glen Maxwell keen to destroy his “big Show-Off” Tag

 Courtesy of Reuters, Sydney, 7 February 2015 — where the title is I’m no ego-centric show-off, says Australia’s Maxwell

gLEN MAXWELL 33 Maxwell hammers – www.hdwallpapersinn.com

Allrounder Glenn Maxwell has admitted to being upset by the frequent criticism directed at him but most of all by the implication that he is not a team man dedicated to helping Australia win the World Cup. The enigmatic 26-year-old was saddled with the nickname “The Big Show” after receiving a million dollar Indian Premier League contract in 2013 just a few months after his international debut.

That and his flamboyant batting have attracted the ire of some in Australia, including former test skipper Kim Hughes who branded his test performance against Pakistan last year as “diabolical”.

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Filed under Australian cricket, performance, unusual people, world cup squad

February 10, 2015 · 10:34 am

Come in Spinner! Murali punts on the Spinners who will stand out at 2015 World Cup

Muttiah Muralitharan, also in http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/news/12075/9701768/world-cup-muttiah-muralitharan-picks-his-11-spinners-to-watch-out-for — where the title is “Muttiah Muralitharan picks his 11 spinners to watch out for”

murali plusI do not expect spin to play a major role in this ICC Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC) as a combination of two new balls, fielding restrictions and the pitches will all count against them. But that does not mean spinners will be redundant and they will still have a part – maybe even a crucial part – to play.

History shows spinners can be very effective in an ICC CWC in Australian and New Zealand conditions and the last time it was held there, in 1992, Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed grabbed 16 wickets, a mark bettered only by fellow countryman Wasim Akram. True, Mushy was an outstanding spinner but it highlights the fact there will still be opportunities for the very best slow bowlers to perform key roles and even become match-winners. So, who are those spinners who have the potential to be key men for their teams in this tournament? I thought it would be fun to select eleven to keep an eye out for during the action. Continue reading →

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Filed under cricketing icons, murali, performance, player selections, Rangana Herath, world cup squad

February 1, 2015 · 2:27 pm

Sri Lanka and the World Cup in 1975: Striking Images

The photographs are reproduced in reverse temporal order.

98508_Oval Demo one -ESPN 1. Tamil demonstrators invade the field during the World Cup match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Lords 11 June 1975  and lie down in protest — Pic from Fazals photostream in http:www.Flickr.com/photos/

Tamil demo LORDs  2. Ground staff seem to have been the first to intervene … before the bobbies were called in (Pic 3). … obviously we were in an era without heavy security within the grounds. Continue reading →

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Filed under Australian cricket, cricketing icons, Lords cricket ground, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, violent intrusions, world cup squad

February 1, 2015 · 10:38 am

Michael Tissera comments on Sri Lanka’s World Cup Prospects … and Anandappa looks back to 1975

Ranjan Anandappa, in http://www.islandcricket.lk/news/srilankacricket/force-to-be-reckoned-with-at-the-world-cup-michael-tissera

MICHAEL TISSERAFormer Sri Lanka cricket captain and administrator Michael Tissera is confident that the present lot of cricketers representing the country at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be a force to be reckoned with once they get their act together. He said that the last ODI against New Zealand which the Lankans won, will boost the team’s confidence although losing the Test and ODI series. After a seven back- to-back ODI series against New Zealand, the Lankans will take on the Kiwis for the eighth consecutive time on February 14 in their real testing game in the World Cup opening match at the Hagley Park in Christchurch. Continue reading →

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Filed under Australian cricket, child of empire, cricketing icons, performance, player selections, Sri Lanka Cricket, world cup squad

January 9, 2015 · 8:31 am

Upul Tharanga should have been in SL Fifteen says Murali

MURALIMuttiah Muralitharan,  in The Island, 8 January 2015

The Sri Lanka squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 contained two big surprises for me: the absence of opener Upul Tharanga and the inclusion of Jeevan Mendis as a spin-bowling all-rounder. Tharanga’s omission shocked me. True, he had not been picked against England or New Zealand, but he has a decent One-Day International record, averaging just under 34, and he has the precious gift of experience, with 176 matches under his belt.

He was a key member of our squads in both 2007 and 2011 when we reached the final on both occasions, and in that latter tournament he made 395 runs, including centuries against Zimbabwe and England, at an excellent strike-rate of almost 84 runs per hundred balls.

UPUL T -www.adaderana.lk www.adaderana.lk

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Filed under Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardene, performance, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual people, world cup squad

September 26, 2014 · 10:18 am

Two England Squads for Sri Lanka

Andrew McGlashan in ESPNcricinfo.com. 24 September 2014 …where blog comments can also be found

Alastair Cook has been confirmed as England’s captain for the World Cup while James Taylor has been given the chance to make a late claim for a place at the tournament and Ravi Bopara has the opportunity to revive his one-day career after both were named in England’s 16-man squad for the tour of Sri Lanka which starts in November.

Despite England’s poor one-day record since reaching the final of the Champions Trophy – they have won just one bilateral series, against West Indies, and Cook was not captain on that occasion – he has the chance to play his first World Cup although the suggestion was that it was not a completely straightforward decision.

“We debated all the positions in the team and Alastair’s was no different, but we are 100% committed behind Alastair Cook to captain not only in Sri Lanka but also the World Cup,” James Whitaker, the national selector, said. “He’s had his ups and downs the summer but he shown immense dignity and fortitude and we are 100% behind him.” Continue reading →

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Filed under child of empire, English cricket, performance, player selections, Sri Lanka Cricket, world cup squad