August 14, 2015 · 2:14 pm

Tharinda Kaushal from Ratgama takes Five in Neighbouring Galle

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of ESPNcricinof, where the title is “The roughest of diamonds”

Tharindu Kaushal‘s 30th over was to Ishant Sharma. It was the ultimate battle of wills. Ishant, with a Test match strike rate of 29, bats like the plague will break out if he tries a scoring stroke. Making 3 from 39 today, he was basically a carcass attached to a bat. Kaushal, with an economy rate upwards of four an over, sends a gift-wrapped full-toss almost every over.

In the end, it was Ishant’s stubborn passivity that triumphed. He played out the whole over to give Kaushal his first maiden of the innings. But through all the dross he sent down, through all the cheap leg-side singles and juicy overpitched deliveries, Kaushal was by a distance Sri Lanka’s most menacing bowler of the day.

kaushal Pic from www.dailymail.co.uk Continue reading →

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August 12, 2015 · 5:14 am

Kumar: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow –Q and A with Rex

Rex Clementine in Q and A with Kumar Sangakkara, in The Island, 12 August 2015,where the title is “Sanga on cricket and life after cricket”

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The curtains will come down on Kumar Sangakkara’s illustrious Test career following the second Test Match against India at P. Sara Oval. The star batsman is the highest run getter (12,305) among those still playing while his batting average of 58:03 is significantly higher than several modern greats like Sachin Tendulkar (53:78), Brian Lara (52:88), Rahul Dravid (52:31) and Ricky Ponting (51:85). The 37-year-old, who returned home on Friday after his stint with English county Surrey, spoke to journalists here in Galle on the eve of the first Test on a host of subjects.

Question: What’s the reason for you to play only two Test Matches?

Kumar Sangakkara: The reason for the two and two Test split even though it is not ideal was the agreement I had with the previous selection committee when I was discussing my future. I had plans to retire immediately after the World Cup but they wanted me to try and play a bit more Test cricket. This was all I could offer them and I said as long as they were okay and the board was okay, I will be willing to play four more Test matches. They were ok with that and I said if they were not, to tell me that that would be fine. And that I can then retire after the World Cup. That’s why it’s a two and two split. Continue reading →

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Filed under Australian cricket, cricket and life, cricketing icons, farewell game, Indian cricket, murali, performance, player selections, Rex Clementine, sanath jayasuriya, Sangakkara, sportsmanship, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people, verbal intimidation, work ethic

August 8, 2015 · 2:35 pm

Mark Nicholas analyses Seam and Swing though Chris Broad’s Work at Trent Bridge

Mark Nicholas, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, where the title is “Beautiful Broad swings it for England”

Cricket is a beautiful game. The beauty comes in many forms, though usually it is associated with elegant batsmanship, masterful bowling and athletic fielding. In Ashes contests alone, David Gower and Mark Waugh were beautiful batsmen; John Snow and Shane Warne, in their very different ways, turned bowling into an art form; Derek Randall and Ricky Ponting gave us a tour de force each time they set foot on the field.

chris Broad‘A day you dream of’ – Broad…..Stuart Broad was at his best on an extraordinary first morning at Trent Bridge, where swing and seam destroyed Australia and all but sealed the fate of the urn

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Clearance Sale of Aussie Cricket Bats

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August 8, 2015 · 2:19 pm
August 3, 2015 · 1:40 pm

Kumar calibrated within the Sangakkara Family and the World of Cricket

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo and Cricket Monthly, August 2015, where the title reads “The cult of Sanga”

the Sangas Kumari & Kshema Sangakkara Sanga cover drives Kumar’s classic cover drive —Getty

When clients came to see Kshema Sangakkara in the late 1980s and early 1990s, many were made to wait. A renowned civil lawyer, Kshema would be busy in the backyard of his colonial home, which had sat proudly on a Kandy hillside for close to a century. “Why don’t you come now?” his wife Kumari used to ask. “They have been waiting here a while.”

“So?” Kshema would reply. “Let them wait. They have come to see me. I can’t see them until I’ve finished working with my son.”

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August 3, 2015 · 1:10 pm

Sanga interviewed in CRICKET MONTHLY on Sri Lankan Cricket Today

SANGA--AFP Pic from AFP

‘First-class cricket was a lot tougher when I started’

Kumar Sangakkara on the need for Sri Lanka to shift their focus from school cricket to the domestic first-class tournament

August 3, 2015, ….. ESPNcricinfo at http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/904059/-first-class-cricket-was-a-lot-tougher-when-i-started
With FULL INTERVIEW at http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/902493

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August 3, 2015 · 1:02 pm

How Hathuru changed the Bangladeshi Fortunes

Mohammad Isam, in ESPNcricinfo.com, 3 August 2015, where the title is  “Biggest thing for me is the change in players’ mindset – Hathurusingha”

With ODI series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa in 2015, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha looks at the changes that are helping the side move forward. Following his appointment in May 2014, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha had a crucial role overseeing the side’s World Cup campaign and three successful home series thereafter. On the final day of the second Test against South Africa, which was abandoned due to a wet outfield, Hathurusingha spoke to ESPNcricinfo about the side’s results in the last seven months, the change in the team’s mindset, how he spotted Soumya Sarkar and his future plans for the team.

The last few months have been great for you. How do you feel having coached this side since last year? It gives me great satisfaction at the way the boys responded to the challenges that we had before with us, and then changed the culture we had before, believing in themselves mainly. I was very satisfied as coach.

Hathuru and bangla Continue reading →

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July 19, 2015 · 5:24 am

Chandika Hathurusingha and the Rise of Bangladesh

Rex Clementine, in Sunday Island, 18 July 2015, where the title reads, “Hathurusingha has transformed Bangladesh cricket”

In just over a year, the way Chandika Hathurusingha has transformed Bangladesh cricket has been truly amazing. The former Sri Lankan opener was appointed as Head Coach of Bangladesh in May last year and many predicted a turnaround for the lowest ranked cricket team in the world, but the success they have enjoyed in recent times was hardly imaginable then. When he took over, Hathurusingha was asked about his immediate target and entering the second round of the ICC Cricket World Cup excited him. This Bangladesh achieved by reaching the quarter-finals knocking out England in the deciding game in Adelaide.HATHURU

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July 19, 2015 · 4:21 am

Buttler vs Dharmasena

Picture of the Day
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena shakes his head but Jos Buttler overrules by walking. Kumar miraculously changed his mind.

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July 18, 2015 · 9:44 am

Giantkillers Ireland giant-killed at home by Hong Kong

Peter Della Penna, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 17 July 201E

mark Chapman batting Mark Chapman lines up a shot on the off side, Ireland v Hong Kong, World T20 Qualifier, Group A, Dublin, July 17, 2015 ©Peter Della Penna

After winning 21 straight matches at the World T20 Qualifier, Ireland’s batting funk has now led to two straight defeats, as Hong Kong stunned the hosts by defending 129 for a five-run win. Mark Chapman‘s gritty 30 in Hong Kong’s innings was backed up by an inspired bowling unit spearheaded by captain Tanwir Afzal‘s opening four-over spell of 0 for 9 to hold Ireland down to 124 for 8. After rain delayed the start of the second innings, Hong Kong’s pace bowlers also benefitted from intermittent bursts of showers that were never enough to take the players off the field but added moisture to the pitch and made batting difficult as the chase wore on. Continue reading →

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