Cricketing Feats at Galle over the years …. Mahela, Sehwag and company
Bill RicquIer, courtesy of The lsland, 115 July 2014, where the title is “Welcome to Galle“
The first Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa, which starts on Wednesday at the Galle International Stadium will be the twenty third Test to have been played at that iconic ground. Of the twenty two played previously, Sri Lanka have won twelve and lost four. The first Test played at Galle, in June 1998, provided what might almost be called a template, setting as it did a precedent that has been followed reasonably faithfully since. Continue reading
Match-Fixer Lou Vincent’s Lonely Adelaide Days: A Boulder as Best Mate
Courtesy of INDAILY, 2 July 2014 … see http://indaily.com.au/news/2014/07/02/prospect-cricketers-lonely-road-match-fixing/ for Video
ADELAIDE | The troubled life of former Adelaide-based international cricketer Lou Vincent has taken a sad turn with his life ban from the sport. In a video statement released overnight, Vincent, who played district cricket at Prospect Cricket Club, said he had lived with his “dark secret” for many years, and had only recently decided to come forward and tell the truth.
“I am a cheat. I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money through fixing,” he said. “I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me. I lost faith in myself and the game. I abused the game I love.”
The punishment, which was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, stems from one-day matches that Vincent admitted he helped rig in English county cricket. His former Sussex team mate, Naveed Arif, was also banned for life last month after admitting similar corruption offences. Continue reading
Ramachandra Guha waxes elqoent on four great Sri Lankan batsmen
Ramachandra Guha, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo where the title is “Four Sri Lankan Masters“
In 40 years of watching international cricket, one of the absolute highlights remains an innings I saw by the stocky Sri Lankan Duleep Mendis. It was played at Delhi‘s Feroz Shah Kotla ground in the first week of November 1975. Sri Lanka, who had not yet been awarded Test status, were touring India, and playing the North Zone in preparation for the unofficial “Tests” to follow.
Mendis’ father was a cricket fan, and named his son after KS Duleepsinhji, nephew of the immortal Ranji. Duleep, who – like his uncle – played for Cambridge University, Sussex, and England, was an artist with the bat, using skill and timing to great effect. His Sri Lankan namesake, however, relied more on brute power. On this day at the Kotla he took apart an outstanding attack, which included India’s new-ball pair, Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath, and the great slow-left-arm spinner Bishan Bedi. Also bowling for North Zone was Rajinder Goel, a left-armer almost in the Bedi league, who would have played many Tests himself had his career not overlapped with the sardar’s. Continue reading
Chris Adams revels in Sri Lanka’s historic win
Andy Wilson, in The Guardain, 25 June 2014, with the title “Chris Adams has no mixed feelings as he hails Sri Lanka’s famous win”
There were no mixed feelings for Chris Adams as he celebrated his involvement in a famous Sri Lanka victory against an England team coached by his old Sussex friend Peter Moores. Adams and Sri Lanka also had the last laugh on England and Paul Farbrace, who was lured from their coaching set-up to work with Moores weeks before the series, shortly after being involved in their World Twenty20 triumph in Bangladesh.
Chris Adams, who was consutltant to Sri Lanka for the tour of England and has been a former Surrey cricket manager –Pix by Gareth Copley / Getty Images
“It’s been an incredible two Tests, hasn’t it?” said Adams, who had been looking for a fresh opportunity in the game since being dismissed by Surrey last summer. “I had a feeling England would dig in and do everything they could, so all credit to them and especially Moeen – that was a sensational first Test century for him, but I’ve really enjoyed my time with Sri Lanka. They are a great set of lads, very talented and absolutely delighted with the history they’ve made today.” Continue reading
Oddities in Cricket – that sturdy trier from Chilaw & that rotund bloke from Kurunagala. Sri Lanka is a Special Place
Jarrod Kimber, at ESPNcricinfo, where the title was “The Pearl and the Bank Clerk” …. with apologies for the liberties taken in my switch in terminology
Sri Lanka’s GDP ranking in 2013 was 112, the UK were 21. They have a very small population compared to the other subcontinent cricket nations. Transparency International ranks them as the 91st least-corrupt nation on earth. They have only one really big modern city. Their cricket is mismanaged by selfish inept politicians. The team is signed off by the government. They don’t always pay their cricketers.
But this year they have beaten the world. And now they’ve beaten England with men who have lost their houses in tsunamis, been shot at by terrorists, competition winners and a tubby man who works at a bank.
Sri Lanka is a special place. Continue reading
Angelo Mathews’ Comments in Review
Courtesy of Espncricinfo
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Angelo Mathews 160 run century in the second innings was not only a performance for all time, but also was one of the turning points in a pulsating topsy-turvy match – Pic by Getty Images Continue reading
Eranga bowling, Herath catching, Anderson OUT — the winning moment
SEE https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/146d3471e9daff34?projector=1
the final moments at Headingly — Pix by Getty Images Continue reading
Shaminda Eranga’s Hard Yards: an example to us all
Andrew Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, 21 June 2014, where the title is “Eranga leads Sri Lanka’s survivors”
The Sri Lankan community in Leeds is small and scattered. Only a smattering turned out at a sold-out Headingley on Saturday. It is partly because the Sri Lanka fans abroad are yet to develop a taste for days out at a Test, much like the hordes at home. Maybe there are more pragmatic reasons as well. This Sri Lanka team, with this bowling attack, will inevitably spend long, tortuous days in the field. Many times, there are modest rewards for the team, and their supporters.
On social media, Sri Lanka fans likened most of the day’s play to watching plants grow, but that is exactly what the team is doing too. This is a green pace attack, on their first trip to England. There is a little bit about each bowler that suggests they could be a force in Test cricket in the future. But for now, Sri Lanka is tending shoots, hoping the opposition do not trample on them too heavily. The pitches at home are about as lively for seamers as Colombo morgue. In recent years, good fast bowlers have lined up at the hospital as well, with long-term, career-threatening injuries. Continue reading
Nimal, Lanka’s cricketing stalwart, dies in tragic accident
Rex Clementine: “SLC baggage master PD Nimal dies in accident,” in The Island, 18 June 2014
Nimal Perera
Last year as Kumar Sangakkara unleashed a new array of strokes, that were never seen from him before, during the first ODI against Proteas at the R. Premadasa Stadium, it came to light that the star batsman had been working with coach Graham Ford on paddle sweeping and reverse sweeping off medium pacemen. That day Sanga hammered a career best 169. Sanga and Ford got all the accolades for pulling off some sensational results, but the man who spent many hours seasoning Sanga’s bat for those strokes to win the admiration of all fans remained unknown for many.
On Tuesday, P. D. Nimal was killed after an accident and Sri Lankan cricketers have been mourning his death with unbearable sorrow. Nimal wasn’t just someone who seasoned players’ bats. He was the Jack of all trade and master of all of them too. In Indian cinema, there’s no role that was impossible for Kamal Hasan and similarly no role was impossible for Nimal in Sri Lankan cricket. Continue reading