Padraig Colman, September 3, 2013
Michael Roberts how do you like this?
Murali is teaching Aussie Spinners how to carrom and doosra … plus more… now in Lanka
Brydon Coverdale, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 17 June 2914, where title is “Muralitharan joins Australia coaching staff”
Australia have made a dramatic move in their attempts to improve their spin credentials in Asian conditions, hiring Muttiah Muralitharan as a coaching consultant for this year’s Test series against Pakistan in the UAE. And while Muralitharan has no intention of turning Nathan Lyon into a master of the doosra, he is already helping Lyon add a carrom ball to his arsenal..
The two men have been working together in Sri Lanka this week and Muralitharan said he was confident Lyon would be ready to deliver the carrom ball to Pakistan’s batsmen in the Test series in October. But the appointment of Muralitharan for the short-term role is not only about helping Lyon but also equipping Australia’s batsmen to face Saeed Ajmal and the Pakistan spinners. Continue reading
So near and yet so far — for England
Pic by Ian Kington for AFP
Rex Clementine in the Island, 18 June 2014
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews praised his tail-enders for the remarkable guts and fight showcased in the dying moments of the Lord’s Test to save the game. With new ball in hand, James Anderson and Stuart Broad were creating havoc and amidst all the drama, last man Nuwan Pradeep saw off the final five deliveries to help his side earn a hard fought draw.
In the first innings, Pradeep had been intimidated by some well-directed short pitched deliveries and he was out hit wicket after being struck on the shoulder by a vicious Chris Jordan bouncer. So when he walked in to face the music with still five deliveries left in the game, many wondered how he would fare. “When Herath was out, all Pradeep said to me was, ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to hold on. If they bowl short at me I’m just going to leave it.’ That was very encouraging from the tail-ender. I actually thought he did that exact thing,” Mathews said after Sri Lanka’s great escape. Continue reading
Botham and the FOG Unity Team at Lords Cricket Ground
What a moment for the young multi-ethnic reconciliation cricket team from the length and breadth of Sri Lanka … our congratulations to Kushil Gunasekera, Anura and others at the Foundation of Goodness … and our thanks to Sir Ian Botham an Family
Foundation of Goodness is a GOOD CAUSE
IF YOU ARE INSPIRED BY THIS FORM OF CRICKET … and Ian Botham’s works of charity please do follow up and support FOG… which has two centres of committed charity via sport and more: MANKULAM and SEENIGAMA
Foundation of Goodness
Temple Road, Seenigama, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
Direct : +94 (0) 91 5 623 390
Mobile : +94 (0) 77 7 699 304
Fax : +94 (0) 91 2 277 942
Donate online http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org/submit donations.php
North action plan update
North action plan update
Botham and Kushil Gunasekera of FOG
Filed under FOG, Ian Botham, unusual people, welfare through sport
Unity Team beats ETON College as well as Trinity Group Combined
GAME ONE
MHC UNITY TEAM – 164 all out in 42.1 overs….. Kaveesh Dilranga 42, Sudesh Indunil 12, Ravin Sayer 13, Kasun Veeranga 21, Roshen Fernando 14, P Thuvarakaseelan 15
— A.Gravin 3 for 20, Ros Powel 3 for 30, P.Mclanghlan 2 for 26
Trinity Group Combined Team 141 all out in 45.2 overs.G Thomas 20, A Gravin 21, G Jackson 34, R Powel 2
— Janith Liyanage 4 for 21, Ravin Sayer 3 for 2
Result: MHC UNITY TEAM WON BY 23 RUNS. ………MAN OF THE MATCH: Janith Liyanage
GAME TWO
MHC UT winning the toss made 244 for 09 in 50 overs……… Kaveesh Dilranga 41, Janith Liyanage 27, Sudesh Indunil 25, P Thavarakaselan 22, Kasun Veeranga 59
— Bowling – R Macmillan 2 for 50, J Watt 2 for 24
Eton College 161 all out in 46.2 overs…. D Gandde 41, G Lanax 27, P Watt 26
— Bowling – Ravin Sayer 2 for 31, Sudesh Indunil 2 for 32, K Thanushan 4 for 34
Result: MHC UT Won by 83 Runs. ……… Man of the Match : K Thanushan from Tamil MMV – Vauniya Continue reading
Cricket in 19th century Ceylon
with thanks to Hugh Karunanayake
Alastair Cook’s descent into absurdity
Quotes of the Week
ANDY BULL: “There’s a line and that line was crossed here” – so said Alastair Cook after Sachithra Senanayake dismissed Jos Buttler while he was
backing up. He was quite right, of course. There is a line. It’s called the popping crease. And Buttler certainly crossed it, which is why he was out. As for the spirit of cricket, long-time readers will know my own feelings well enough by now. Suffice to say that by warning Buttler – twice – about the risks he was taking, the Sri
Lankans had already extended him a courtesy entirely unrequired by the Laws. If Mankading is really considered so objectionable by so many,
then it should be proscribed.
ASANGA W: “What an absurd cry baby the usually sound Alastair Cook has been about this complete non-issue. Totally agree with Andy Bull …” Continue reading
Reconciliation through cricket sponsored by FOG and the Bothams
Murali Harmony Cup Unity tour to UK
The Foundation of Goodness confirmed last Friday that it is organising a Murali Harmony Cup Unity tour to the United Kingdom. The Unity squad includes exceptionally talented U-19 cricketers from 14 different schools island-wide, including seven from the previously war affected areas in the North and East.
click PIC to enlarge
The young cricketers were invited to participate in the tour after their outstanding performances during the 2013 Murali Harmony Cup, initiated by Sir Ian Botham. The Unity Tour, designed to showcase Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity, while promoting nation building and reconciliation, will depart for the UK on Monday (tomorrow), and play three matches against top English schools. The 50-over limited overs matches will be played against Emanuel School (11 June), Eton College (12 June) and Oundle College (15 June). Continue reading
Pistol-Packing Paul Reiffel
Mahinda Wijesinghe, whose favours this title for his article “The Umpire who said ‘HURRAH! We won’,”
Leave a comment
Filed under Angelo Mathews, confrontations on field, cricket and life, DRS, fair play, Lords cricket ground, Sri Lanka Cricket, technology and cricket, television commentary