No special Australian security for Murali

No special Australian security for Murali
----Daily Mirror
SYDNEY, Oct 27, 2007 (AFP) -Cricket Australia on Friday denied introducing special security measures to protect Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan from crowds Down Under, saying existing measures would catch any offenders.

Muralitharan arrived this week for his first full Australia Test tour in 12 years, braced for a chilly reception from fans as he bids to break local hero Shane Warne's Test wicket record.

His arrival on Wednesday raised eyebrows when a federal police officer escorted him through the media throng in Adelaide, unusual in laid-back Australia, where England players last year often mingled freely with fans.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Friday that plainclothes security officers would be sent to sections of Australian grounds near Muralitharan's fielding positions to swifty idenitfy and eject trouble-makers.

There are fears the Sri Lankan could receive unsportsmanlike treatment in Australia, where he has been called for “throwing” on two previous tours and subjected to constant crowd calls of “no ball.”Sensitivities about crowd behaviour in Australia are particularly high after the recent one-day series in India, when the only black player in the Australian side, Andrew Symonds, was subjected to racist chants.

The Sri Lankan boycotted a 2004 tour to Australia because of constant crowd abuse about his bowling action -- and Australian Prime Minister John Howard's assertion that he was a “chucker”.

Cricket Australia said its existing crowd monitoring programme, introduced after South African players were racially abused two years ago, would protect Muralitharan.

“There's not a specific Muralitharan protection programme,” Cricket Australia public affairs manager Peter Young told AFP.

“But we have a national programme to ensure that we have a family friedly environment in cricket, and as part of that we do have plainclothes people in crowds.

“We (also) have closed circuit television and any spectator who subjects a player to inappropriate behaviour will be detected and ejected very, very quickly.”'Murali' needs just nine wickets to overhaul Warne's 708 Test scalps in the Test matches in Brisbane and Hobart starting in November.

Lambs to the slaughter - The Sri Lankans

Lambs to the slaughter

By Pelham Juriansz - The Friday's News Paper

The Sri Lankan team left for Kangaroo land on Tuesday to participate in two Test matches. It is true that Mahela and Muthiah won two awards bringing fame to Sri Lanka but if Sri Lanka’s batting form is anything to go by, then the think-thank has a lot to worry about. At the press conference before departing for Aussie territory Mahela said that the bowling is great and the batting is good. Well, if the recently concluded English tour is anything to go by, the batting is anything but good. In fact, it is downright awful. With the late, somewhat controversial decision to send former skipper Marvan Atapattu into the Lions den, or should I say ‘Kangaroo territory’, the batting on paper or psychologically seems to be strengthened. It is yet to be seen as to how Marvan would perform after such a long lay-off, thanks no doubt to some hot-headed decisions made by the man in charge of selection.

Going back home as it were is Trevor Bayliss, who has never looked at ease in Sri Lanka despite all reports to the contrary. He too, at the Press Conference underlined the fact that Sri Lanka’s bowling or ‘bawling’ as he calls it, is the best in the world. It is Bayliss’ first Test series abroad and one really wonders whether he is throwing the Sri Lankan Lions into Kangaroo territory or sending Lambs to the slaughter. The manner in which the top order in the Sri Lankan outfit fared against England leaves much to be desired.

Bayliss, 44, a former New South Wales batsman who went on to coach them, was appointed as Sri Lanka’s national coach for a two-year term beginning in August. His first one-day series ended in Sri Lanka going down 3-2 to England. But of course one- day cricket is a different kettle of fish.
Let’s look at our Test record in Aussie-land. Sri Lanka has a poor record in Australia. They have lost six of the eight Tests played Down Under. The Sri Lankans would be hoping that Muttiah Muralitharan would be fully fit for the two-Test series, starting on November 8. Murali was ruled out of the one-dayers against England due to a bicep injury. He has a chance of breaking Shane Warne’s record as the leading wicket-taker in Tests.

Dramatic turn-around
Sri Lanka’s poor record in Australia is due to the fact that they have struggled with the extra pace and bounce on the wickets on previous tours. But the home side will take the field in a Test for the first time since the retirements of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, while Jayawardene feels there is time to adjust to conditions before the opening encounter at Brisbane on November 8. In a dramatic about-turn Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lanka captain, has been included in the Sri Lanka squad for the tour of Australia following a request made by the sports minister Gamini Lokuge.
Atapattu joins the team as the fourth opener - alongside Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga and Michael van Dort - increasing the tour party to 17 players. Atapattu was originally selected in the squad on the belief that he met the national selection committee and thrashed out his problems. But Atapattu refused to attend as long as Ashantha de Mel was the chief selector.

The matter was then taken up by Lokuge who summoned the national selectors and the hierarchy of Sri Lanka Cricket to sort out the issue. The outcome of the meeting was that the minister spoke to Atapattu and persuaded him to tour Australia and he was included in the team.

Atapattu’s return to the national team marks the end of a six month or so ordeal which began with the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean where he, although being a member of the team, was not selected to play in any of Sri Lanka’s 11 matches in the tournament. He was then overlooked for the one-day series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and when the selectors named him for the home Tests against Bangladesh, Atapattu pulled out saying that he was not mentally prepared to play Test cricket.

Atapattu then wanted Sri Lanka Cricket to release him from his central contract and went on to play a season of league cricket in England with Lashings. He was subsequently left out of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament and the recently concluded one-day series against England.
The 37-year-old veteran, who has the support of Sri Lanka’s sports minister, was added almost two weeks after the initial 16-man squad was announced.

Atapattu was not named in the original line-up despite chief selector Asantha de Mel saying the batsman’s experience would be useful on the two-Test Australian tour.
The opener last played a Test in 2005 and did not feature during this year’s World Cup. He has scored 5,330 runs in 88 Tests and 8,529 runs in 268 one-day internationals.
Atapattu had earlier lashed out at the selectors, saying he had no faith in them although he planned to play for at least two more years.

Touring ‘Down Under’
Meanwhile, a small crowd watched Sri Lanka’s cricketers leave for Australia on a cloudy morning last Tuesday but the uncertainty of what to expect ‘Down Under’ was clearly visible as skipper Mahela Jayawardene and his predecessor Marvan Atapattu, an unprecedented late inclusion, cautioned that the tour was too important to let petty issues get in the way.

The present and the former captains followed the usual send-off tying holy threads around their wrists as they guarded against uttering anything that would add to an already uneasy feeling apparent among players in the tour party.
Jayawardene chose to stay away from the unsavoury circumstances covering the recall of Atapattu but said on-field issues should take precedence over politics. Among the gathering to see the team off was Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge who virtually imposed Atapattu on the squad in a move that took everyone by surprise.
But Atapattu pleaded that he be given a chance to put back the events leading to his re-entry for a Test series after more than two years.

It will certainly be a make or break tour for the 37-year old Atapattu or what is left of his 16-year career. He has never played a Test since December 2005 and his every move on tour is likely to be followed by critics and promoters alike as Sri Lanka take on Australia in what is arguably the closest the team could come to winning a Test in Australia after four unsuccessful tours and eight attempts in 19 years since 1988, when Ranjan Madugalle, the present Chief Match Referee skippered the team. Since then six of the eight Tests have been lost.

Sri Lanka has just two three-day preparation games to test and put the best 11 players together ahead of the first Test in Brisbane which is alien territory for nearly the entire side that includes the 38-year old veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya who could see himself making his last Test appearance in Australia.
On the last Test tour of Australia in 2004, Jayasuriya was a lost cause with 21 as his top score in four innings.
Jayawardene said the two side games, the first of which is against the Australian Academy in Adelaide beginning on Saturday, will serve as virtual trials for picking the playing eleven for the two Tests.

Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael van Dort, Marvan Atapattu, Chamara Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Fervez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welagedera, Muttiah Muralitheran, Malinga Bandara, Prasanna Jayawardena and Thilan Samaraweera.

Feedback : editor.friday@lakehouse.lk

Murali , Again in the Danger Zone ? Schedule of the matches

With the silent of this blog, I'm going to break it again after a few weeks. Now again , time to live with cricket. The matches will begin in next month.Until then, we have something to talk about. Also, you can see the schedule of Sri Lankan tour in Australia, below.



************************ No doubt, Murali on Top *************

Darell Hair


Some of Murali loving people burning a stunt of Darell Hair to show their openion



Beginning from Arjuna Ranathunga's time, a gap between Murali and Australia has raised. Some times it must be between Shane Warne and Murali, but both of them are not responsible for the matter, it's between some people in both countries like umpire Darrell Hair ,who created this big controversy. Darrell Hair, who called No-Ball action against Murali, before the world cup of 1996, has created many troubles for him after that.But Murali has reached to the world no.1 figure through those rival activities.


************************ Arjuna advised Muralidharan ************

Darell Hair, Murali and Arjuna Ranathunga in the ground when the trouble aroused


In this juncture again, Former Captain Of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Ranatunga has advised Murali, not to play in Australia in the coming series of November.The only solution for him is refrain from face to face action on Australian soil to avoid more controversies, according to the former skipper, who was the giant figure behind Murali when the last trouble era.Murali respect much for him but this time he disclaimed the idea and said,
"I am used to any situation and will accept the way it comes perhaps it may motivate me more to take on the challenge" as a real lion as a replay but he respects the former captain as before.

We can't predict what'll happen for Murali in time to come. Hope nothing trouble in this time avoiding much talked controversy.

********************* Schedule of the matches ****************

October 2007-------------------------------
Sat 27 - Mon 29
10:30 local, 01:00 GMT Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI v Sri Lankans
Adelaide Oval

November 2007-----------------------------
Fri 2 - Sun 4
10:00 local, 00:00 GMT
Queensland v Sri Lankans
Allan Border Field, Brisbane

Thu 8 - Mon 12
10:00 local, 00:00 GMT
1st Test - Australia v Sri Lanka
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Fri 16 - Tue 20
10:30 local, 23:30 GMT
2nd Test - Australia v Sri Lanka
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

January 2008-------------------------------
Wed 30
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
Prime Minister’s XI v Sri Lankans
Manuka Oval, Canberra

February 2008------------------------------
Sat 2
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
Tasmania v Sri Lankans
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Tue 5
Floodlit Match
13:15 local, 03:15 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Fri 8
Floodlit Match
14:15 local, 03:15GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
Sydney Cricket Ground

Tue 12
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Manuka Oval, Canberra

Fri 15
Floodlit Match
11:30 local, 02:30 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth

Tue 19
Floodlit Match
13:45 local, 03:15 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Adelaide Oval

Fri 22
Floodlit Match
14:15 local, 03:15 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
Melbourne Cricket Ground

Tue 26
10:00 local, 23:00 GMT
India v Sri Lanka
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Fri 29
Floodlit Match
14:15 local, 03:15 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka
Melbourne Cricket Ground

March 2008---------------------------------
Sun 2
14:15 local, 03:15 GMT
1st Final - TBC v TBC
Sydney Cricket Ground

Tue 4
Floodlit Match
13:15 local, 03:15 GMT
2nd Final - TBC v TBC
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Fri 7
Floodlit Match
13:45 local, 03:15 GMT
3rd Final - TBC v TBC
Adelaide Oval
if required

Lanka 'ready' for Australians

Sri Lanka 'ready' for Australians

Bayliss (left) and Jayawardene meet the Australian press in Adelaide

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene says his side are full of confidence ahead of the Test series in Australia.

Jayawardene's side arrived down under on Wednesday ahead of a two-Test series and he insists they have the bowlers to test the world's number one outfit.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will complement a four-strong seam attack and Jayawardene said: "We have proved we can handle pace and bounce."

Coach Trevor Bayliss added: "Our pace bowling attack is extremely strong."

The Sri Lankans kick off their tour with a warm-up three-day match against Queensland on 2 November, before Tests from 8 November and 16 November.

The tour precedes their home series against England and Jayawardene believes his side can stand up to the task against Australia, who have not lost a home series since 1993 against the West Indies.

Australia will also be without recently retired paceman Glenn McGrath and spin legend Shane Warne.

"I think with Glenn and Shane not being there, they probably lack a bit of experience in their bowling attack, that is an area we can look forward to," said Jayawardene.

"But Australia have still got a very good side. We have to challenge them in bowling, batting, fielding and mentally be very tough under different conditions.

"It's not just one area, but if you are to beat Australia in Australia, you have to play your best game possible."

Conditions in Australia have historically been tough for Sri Lanka, with Muralitharan in particular taunted by home crowds on previous tours.

But Bayliss hoped the majority of people would respect his side, saying: "There's always idiots in every crowd, but most realise it's wrong and don't get involved."

Derbyshire swoop for Jayawardene - BBC

Derbyshire swoop for Jayawardene

Derbyshire fans will see one of the world's best batsmen in action

Derbyshire have signed Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene for the first half of the 2008 season.

The 30-year-old batsman, who will arrive before the end of April and stay until mid-July, is the county's fifth signing since the end of last season.

"I knew he was the right player after I spoke to him," said boss John Morris.

"And I could tell that he has the desire to play county cricket and contribute both experience and flair to Derbyshire's batting line-up."

Counties can have only one overseas player from 2008 and Jayawardene - who has scored 6,630 runs in Test cricket at an average of 49.84 - can be replaced at the halfway stage.

His signing comes on the back of the captures of Rikki Clarke as captain and West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds.

Jamaican opener Hinds will be classed as a Kolpak player and thus will not count as an overseas player.

Batsman John Sadler, previously of Leicestershire, and former Surrey spinner Nayan Doshi were the first two new arrivals.

But it is the coup of bringing in Jayawardene that will cause a stir on the county scene.

Morris added: "With everything that has happened over the last three or four weeks, in terms of players coming to the club, it is even more exciting to think that we have been able to attract a current international captain."

India beat Australia in Twenty20

India beat Australia in Twenty20

TWENTY20 INTERNATIONAL, Mumbai: India 167-3 (18.1 overs) bt Australia 166-5 (20 overs) by 7 wkts

Gambhir's 63 came from 52 balls

India beat Australia by seven wickets in the Twenty20 International in Mumbai, Gautam Gambhir hitting 63.

Australia had posted 166-5 in their 20 overs, captain Ricky Ponting top-scoring with 76.

But India won with 11 balls to spare as they eased to victory with Australia uncharacteristally sloppy in the field.

The Indian opener enjoyed a 82-run partnership with Robin Uthappa (35), Yuvraj Singh hit an unbeaten on 31 as India won for the first time at home.

Australia had won the toss and Ponting led the way with a 53-ball 76 which included 14 fours before he edged Irfan Pathan onto his stumps.

Despite losing Adam Gilchrist in the first over, Australia got off to a typically bullish start, reaching 58-1 off six overs, before Matthew Hayden (17) edged a Harbhajan Singh delivery onto his stumps.

Ponting then put on 50 with Andrew Symonds before the latter was run out for 20 by Harbhajan as the batsmen dithered in the middle.

Ponting and Michael Clarke (25 not out) ensured Australia finished with a competitive total despite the best efforts of Harbhajan (1-17).
India lost Virender Sehwag (5) early on, edging Brett Lee behind, but were in three figures before the next wicket fell, Robin Uthappa doing the same to a Clarke delivery.

After Gambhir went with 24 needed from 26 balls, is fell to Youvraj Singh and Mahendra Dhoni to steer the hosts, World Twenty20 champions, to victory, which they did with a series of huge boundaries.

---

India captain Mahnedra Dhoni: "We were superb today. We wanted to prove the World Cup victory was not a fluke and we did just that.

"Gautam played excellently - the way he batted was amazing. I hope he bats the same in the Pakistan series.

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting: "Their spinners bowled well in the middle [of our innings] and we did not get enough runs. Then, while bowling, we gave away no-balls and they scored off the free hits.

"The Indians bowled and batted well, they deserved to win the game. I guess they are not the world champions in this format for nothing.

"[But] We played well overall and won the one-day series, which is not easy in India. We can go back happy."

Woolmer died from heart disease

British coroner tells Jamaica inquest:
Woolmer died from heart disease

Howard Campbell

Heart disease was the likely culprit in the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer during last spring’s Cricket World Cup, a British pathologist said Wednesday.

The enlarged condition of Woolmer’s heart, the fluid in his lungs and blood on his pillow were all signs of a death from natural causes, Dr. Nathaniel Cary, told a jury on the second day of an inquest convened to determine what killed Woolmer.

Cary examined photos of the coach’s body as part of a global investigation sparked by a Jamaican’s pathologist’s conclusion that Woolmer, 58, had been strangled in Kingston’s downtown Pegasus Hotel. But the British expert said he saw no signs of foul play.

“Forget Bob Woolmer, forget the Pegasus,” he said. “If this was a routine autopsy, I would account IHD (ischaemic heart disease) as the cause of death.”

Woolmer, a highly regarded coach and former player from South Africa, died March 18, a day after his team was eliminated from the World Cup in an upset loss to Ireland.

Jamaican police announced four days later that Woolmer had been strangled.

Authorities closed the homicide case nearly three months later after pathologists in Britain, South Africa and Canada concluded the coach died from natural causes.

Cary, a consultant to Britain’s Metropolitan Police and other agencies, is one of about 50 witnesses expected to testify in the inquest to formally determine the cause of death.

The exchanges between Cary and Kent Pantry, director of public prosecutions, were testy at times.

Pantry asked if it were possible Woolmer was strangled with a pillow, a suggestion the pathologist dismissed as “foolish” and impossible.

“I would like you not to regard my questions as foolish,” the prosecutor responded. “I have shown you courtesy and I would like you to show me the same.”

Testifying Tuesday, the first witness, a hotel maid, described finding Woolmer’s body sprawled on a blood-spattered bathroom floor on March 18, with an overturned chair in the room and blood on a pillow on the unmade bed.

The inquest is scheduled to run through Nov. 9 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday (AP)

Sri Lanka spring Atapattu surprise -Marvan To Australia

Sri Lanka spring Atapattu surprise


COLOMBO, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's selectors on Thursday named former captain Marvan Atapattu as a surprise late inclusion for the upcoming trip to Australia, nearly two years after his last Test match.

The 36-year-old veteran, who has the support of Sri Lanka's sports minister, was added almost two weeks after the initial 16-man squad was announced.

“Marvan has been included as the 17th player in the squad,” Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Samantha Algama told AFP.

Atapattu was not named in the original line-up despite chief selector Asantha de Mel saying the batsman's experience would be useful on the two-Test Australian tour.

The opener last played a Test in 2005 and did not feature during this year's World Cup. He has scored 5,330 runs in 88 Tests and 8,529 runs in 268 one-day internationals.

Atapattu had earlier lashed out at the selectors, saying he had no faith in them although he planned to play for at least two more years.

But Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge voiced support for his inclusion for Australia. Sri Lanka leave on Tuesday for two Tests in Brisbane and Hobart.

Atapattu, who is overseas, was not immediately available for comment.

Rugby World Cup 2007 - Semi Final :Ashton targets historic final win

Ashton targets historic final win

Ashton said the defeat by South Africa helped England

England coach Brian Ashton insists his side are not content just to have reached the World Cup final and have set their sights on creating history.

England beat France 14-9 in Saturday's semi-final and now have the chance to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups.

"The players have come so far on a very difficult journey," said Ashton.

"I can't imagine they will be satisfied with reaching the final. They will want to create history."

England's achievement comes after being beaten 36-0 in the group stages by South Africa, who will play Argentina in Sunday's second semi-final.

And Ashton cited that early group game as the turning point in his team's fortunes.

"The South Africa game came at the right time because it gave us a massive kick up the backside and a wake-up call to make sure we got our act together.

"In many ways, that was the defining moment of the tournament for me.

"Since then we have won four games on the bounce and, hopefully, we will make it five next week."

Ashton said the experience within the England camp was crucial to their success so far and suggested their exploits had come as a bit of a surprise.

"We've got the players who know how to win a game," he said. "We have got the armoury within the side to get us in positions where we know we can win it.

"I think that was the big advantage we had over the French team.

"I'd be a liar if you'd have asked me that question five weeks ago - are you going to get to the World Cup final? I would have had to think deep and hard before I said 'yes'.

"But then again hindsight is a wonderful thing. You pick a squad to do a job and this squad was specifically selected to defend the World Cup and that is exactly what they are doing.

"Now that they are in the position they are in, it wouldn't surprise me if they completed the job."

The tense victory over France saw England score a try in the opening exchanges before falling four points behind just after half-time.

But they got over the finishing line thanks to the kicking of fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.

Phil Vickery captained the side and Ashton praised his skipper for helping the team raise themselves for the game.

"Phil is by nature a fairly quietly-spoken person," explained Ashton. "But for a prop forward he thinks pretty deeply about what he is going to say and always comes up with the right thing.

"He made a very moving speech to the team on Friday at seven o'clock, only for five minutes.

"It was about what it meant to him and what it should mean to everyone in the room about playing in a World Cup semi-final and beating France on their home ground.

"I can only assume with the performance that it had some sort of effect.

"From my point of view, and from the way I deal as a coach with the team, he is my ideal sort of captain."

Sir Clive Woodward was coach when England beat Australia to win the tournament four years ago and echoed Ashton's view about experience being the key to their success this time around.

"When you are playing under pressure you want experience," he told 5Live's Sportsweek.

"That's what England have got and is one of the big secrets of this World Cup so far.

"I would definitely keep the same team (for the final). You have got a real momentum going now and whoever they play will be very worried about the England team."

Win clinches series for Australia

Win clinches series for Australia

SIXTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Nagpur:
Australia 317-8 (50 overs) bt India 299-7 (50 overs) by 18 runs

Symonds put India's bowlers to the sword with some big hitting

Andrew Symonds blasted an unbeaten 107 and Brad Hogg took 4-49 as Australia beat India by 18 runs to take a winning 4-1 lead in their one-day series.

Symonds smashed nine fours and four sixes in his 88-ball knock while Adam Gilchrist made 51 and Ricky Ponting 49.

Sachin Tendulkar (86) put on 140 with Sourav Ganguly (72) but Hogg profited from poor shots to leave India reeling.

Robin Uthappa hammered 44 off 28 balls to give them a chance but once he was caught the hosts faded away to 299-7.

After Ponting won the toss, Michael Clarke was caught behind off left-armer Zaheer Khan in the first over.

But Gilchrist, who was dropped on 16 by Rahul Dravid at gully off Sree Santh, struck eight boundaries and put on 96 with Ponting, who lashed seven fours and a six.

The duo fell in quick succession, Ponting edging off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to Dravid at slip and Gilchrist driving paceman Irfan Pathan to Robin Uthappa in the covers.

India's spinners were on top when Murali Kartik removed Brad Hodge to make it 129-4, but Symonds cut loose as he shared 75 with Brad Haddin and 90 with James Hopes (39).

Symonds was dropped by Santh aiming to sweep Harbhajan when on two but other than that he was was merciless on the Indians - one straight six off slow left-armer Kartik nearly cleared the ground.

Hogg ripped through the middle order with some crucial wickets

He reached his sixth ODI century as 102 runs came in the final 10 overs but India's experienced opening duo replied in kind.

Ganguly, who was once again strong in his favoured region square on the off-side, flayed two boundaries off Mitchell Johnson in the second over and Tendulkar crashed three successive fours off Brett Lee.

Tendulkar and Ganguly both reached their half centuries by swinging sixes off Hogg but the former was stumped off James Hopes when he lost balance trying to flick a leg-side delivery.

Irfan Pathan continued the assault by hammering Bracken down the ground and heaving Symonds for maximums in his run-a-ball 29, before cutting Hogg to point.

And Hogg put his side in charge by having Ganguly snapped up at wide long-off, trapping Yuvraj Singh lbw with a low full-toss and seeing Rahul Dravid hole out to long-on.

The game and series looked up for the hosts but Uthappa and Mahendra Dhoni (26) launched a ferocious assault, smashing the ball to all parts to leave Ponting scratching his head.

Dhoni dispatched Lee over long-off for six, while Uthappa deposited Clarke over exta-cover and Bracken down the ground for maximums as 50 runs were garnered in only four overs.

Lee inexplicably dropped a sitter when Uthappa flipped Johnson to fine-leg but Hopes and Ponting held on to steeplers during a double-wicket maiden from Johnson to end any doubt about the outcome.

---

India captain Mahendra Dhoni:
"We lost wickets at crucial points and the death bowling was a concern. They got quite a few runs at the end and if Sachin or Sourav had continued till the end you never know what could have happened.

"We're not clicking as a team. I don't think we've bowled, batted and fielded well in the same match apart from the Chandigarh game so that's an area of concern.

"With one match to go we will look to rectify that because after that we have Pakistan coming in."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting:
"This is a great win, no doubt about it. We came here having not played any cricket for four months and had a couple of games in the World Twenty20 that didn't really go to plan for us.

"But since we've been here I've been unbelievably impressed with the way we've gone about our cricket. It's not an easy place to win and we've won most of the games comfortably so I'm really proud of the boys.

"Andrew Symonds' innings and effort with ball were probably the difference in the end. He's an unbelievable cricketer and not many guys can do what he does.

"Some of his striking was pretty effortless and Hogg was exceptional. I said when we were batting that he had to take wickets if we were going to win the game.

"Even though we scored over 300 the wicket was good, the outfield very fast and the ground small. It was a chaseable total if we didn't bowl well but Hoggy stood up again and got some vital wickets for us."

Gibson takes England bowling role

Gibson takes England bowling role

Gibson (right) has made a significant impact in Sri Lanka

England have appointed Ottis Gibson as their full-time bowling coach after the team's one-day success in Sri Lanka.

The 38-year-old had been filling the role on a temporary basis but helped England to their first major series win on the sub-continent for 20 years.

"I am delighted to be a part of the England team in a full-time capacity as bowling coach," said Gibson.

Barbados-born Gibson won a host of awards after a successful final season for Durham in which he took 80 wickets.

He has been instrumental in helping seamers Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson and Stuart Broad produce a string of consistent performances in the 3-2 series win in Sri Lanka.

"The way you've seen the bowlers improve and learn quickly is a credit to Ottis for communicating well with them," one-day skipper Paul Collingwood told BBC Sport.

"It does help that he's just come out of playing cricket. He's got new techniques and approaches on how to get batsmen out."

England head coach Peter Moores said: "Ottis will do a great job. He was with the performance squad last winter in Perth and did a good job over there.

"We know we're getting a good coach. He's shown over here he can have an influence over the bowlers and talk about some of the things he feels are very important to be successful."

Gibson, who played two Tests and 15 one-dayers for West Indies in the 1990s, has been involved with the England and Wales Cricket Board's fast bowling programme for the past four years.

And he will work alongside bowling coach Kevin Shine to develop England's current and next generation of pacemen.

"As a level four qualified coach who's worked with both the senior England bowlers and several younger England bowlers, I feel I'm well equipped to take up the position as fast bowling coach," said Gibson.

"With the future looking so bright for England's bowling stocks, I'm extremely excited by the prospect of working alongside Kevin Shine with such a talented group of bowlers in both the Test and one-day arenas."

Former South African paceman Allan Donald had filled the role until recently, but he did not want to continue because of family reasons.

Gibson's decision will come as a blow to Durham, who had been hoping he would return to the north east next season to improve on their second place in the county championship.

Sri Lanka v England 5th ODI - Sri Lanka has won after two defeats

Sri Lanka v England 5th ODI
FIFTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Colombo:
Sri Lanka 211 (48.1 overs) bt England 104 (29.1 overs) by 107 runs

By Paresh Soni

Fernando cleverly mixed up his pace and lengths to floor England

England were shot out for 104 as they ended their one-day series in Sri Lanka with an embarrassing 107-run defeat.

Seamers Ryan Sidebottom (2-41) and Stuart Broad (3-36) helped bowl the home side out for 211 in Colombo, with only Chamara Silva (73) resisting.

But Dilhara Fernando ripped through the tourists with a superb spell of 6-27.

Apart from Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen, who both hit 28, there was not much else as England, who won the series 3-2, crumbled in 29.1 overs.

It was a disappointing climax for the visitors, who had claimed three successive victories thanks to excellent bowling performances.

There was more of the same once Sanath Jayasuriya's aggressive knock of 26 was ended by the expensive James Anderson and debutant Dilruwan Perera (30) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene fell in the same over from Sidebottom.

Part-time spinner Owais Shah bowled Kumar Sangakkara (26) with a vicious off-break and Tillakaratne Dilshan was run out attempting a reckless single.

However, Silva timed the ball beautifully at times, producing peachy cover drives off Anderson and Broad as he reached 50 off 79 balls.

The problem was at the other end, with Jehan Mubarak tamely steering a short and wide ball from Monty Panesar - who came in for Graeme Swann (torn hamstring) - straight to gully before Ravi Bopara angled one in to trap Kausal Lokuarachchi lbw third ball.

England became slightly ragged in the closing stages and Silva added 34 with Chaminda Vaas before Broad returned to dismiss both and clean up Fernando.

Sidebottom took his tally to 12 wickets in the five ODIs in Sri Lanka

At that point the visitors were strong favourites to seal a comprehensive series triumph which would have lifted them to fourth in the ICC rankings.

But that idea was brutally exposed as fanciful when they produced an even more inept batting effort than Sri Lanka.

Vaas struck first in the third over by inducing an edge from Phil Mustard which Sangakkara brilliantly snaffled, while Ian Bell was undone by a slower Fernando delivery which he lofted straight to mid-on.

While Cook and Pietersen were together, there appeared to be no sign of the carnage to come.

Cook produced some delightful shots square of the wicket on both sides, and Pietersen, as always, was keen to get on top of the bowling by stepping forward and working the ball through the covers and mid-wicket.

But Fernando was mixing up his pace and length quite fantastically and it yielded rich rewards to leave England's hopes in tatters.

Another terrific catch from Sangakkara sent Cook packing after Fernando found the edge, Paul Collingwood was somewhat harshly ruled lbw to Fernando, while Pietersen was bowled by a leg-stump yorker from Vaas.

Broad chipped another slower Fernando ball to mid-wicket and Sidebottom was cleaned up in the space of three deliveries.

When Anderson edged Lasith Malinga behind, England were in danger of falling short of the 88 they were bundled out for in Dambulla four years ago.

They managed to avoid that ignominy thanks to Bopara (16no) but that was of scant consolation.

Murali absence irrelevant - Shah

Murali absence irrelevant - Shah

By Oliver Brett

I'm just lucky and really happy to be part of Peter Moores' plans Owais Shah

England's Owais Shah says the absence of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan knocks none of the gloss off his team's one-day series victory on the island.

England have a 3-1 lead with the last match to follow on Saturday in Colombo.

And Middlesex batsman Shah told BBC Sport: "It was unfortunate for Sri Lanka they were without their ace card.

"But if people think this is a hollow victory they should also consider we were without Andrew Flintoff, one of the best all-rounders in the world."

Shah, who hit a match-winning 82 in England's first victory of the series in Dambulla, added: "You can't take any credit away from the guys. We delivered what we were picked to do.

"We have achieved something which is amazing - beating Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in a one-day series for the first time in 25 years."

Now 28, Shah played his first one-day international against Australia at Bristol in 2001 and scored 62 against Pakistan in the triangular tournament that summer.

But he was immediately consigned to the role of occasional player in subsequent series, despite a general liturgy of failure for Duncan Fletcher's England in 50-over cricket.

He has, however, played in 12 of the 14 one-day internationals under the new Peter Moores regime and appears to have taken occupancy of the number six position.

Shah said: "That's just how things work I suppose. Duncan Fletcher had his ideas and Peter Moores has got his ideas.

"I'm just lucky and really happy to be part of Peter Moores' plans and really excited to get an opportunity to get a run in the side which I didn't quite get before."

"Hopefully I can carry on being part of Peter Moores' plans."

Would that, therefore, extend to Test cricket?

England have a Test series in Sri Lanka in December and there is talk that Shah's Middlesex colleague Andrew Strauss could be overlooked.

That would open possible squad places to the likes of Ravi Bopara, Mark Ramprakash, Rob Key and perhaps Shah himself.

"I don't look too far ahead - I'll leave that to the selectors," Shah said, philosophically.

"If they think I'm good enough to play in the Tests then hopefully they'll select me; if they don't then that's life.

"I'll get on with my life and concentrate on the one-day side of things - that's what I'm in at the moment - and I'll try to keep performing in the one-dayers."

But he admitted he still harboured hopes of adding to the two Test caps he has so far gained, in Mumbai in 2006 and Lord's in 2007.

"It's everyone's ambition to get a long run in the Test side, that's my dream.

"But there's a lot of competition in sport at the top level and I've just got to wait my turn."

FOURTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Colombo:

FOURTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Colombo:
England 212-5 bt Sri Lanka 211-9 by five wickets

By Sam Lyon

England last won a one-day series in the Asian subcontinent in 1987

England produced a fantastic display with both bat and ball to ease to a five-wicket win in Colombo and seal a first one-day series win in Sri Lanka.

James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom were the heroes with the ball, taking three wickets apiece as Sri Lanka made 211-9.

Even a 126-run stand between Chamara Silva and Kumar Sangakkara (69) could not disguise a superb bowling effort.

And Kevin Pietersen (63no) and Alastair Cook (80) then dug deep with the bat to help England home with 19 balls left. It put the tourists 3-1 up with one to play in the five-match series, sealing a second successive one-day international series win following their home defeat of India in September.

The result rarely looked in doubt after England shook off the disappointment of losing the toss to take crucial early wickets.

Anderson and Sidebottom have found good rhythm in the opening overs throughout the series, and the pair did not disappoint skipper Paul Collingwood again in Colombo.

Sidebottom (3-27) led the way and he had conceded just one run off the bat when he had Upul Tharanga caught at slip by Owais Shah in just his second over.

But, despite being flicked for four off his very first delivery, it was Anderson (3-33) that snared the key wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.

Jayasuriya fell looping a slower ball straight to Kevin Pietersen at mid-off, before Jayawardene lashed an attempted cut high to third man, where Stuart Broad took a good catch on the run.

They were Anderson's first wickets of the series and when he and Sidebottom had completed 13 overs between them, Sri Lanka were limping along at 25-3.

The replacement bowlers fared almost as well in the early stages, Broad, Collingwood and Graeme Swann restricting Sri Lanka's scoring with persistent line, length and some turn.

Sangakkara dug in to make his first real contribution of the series

But, despite being another slow wicket, pre-match suspicions that the pitch would yield runs to the better batsmen rang true as Sangakkara and Silva settled.

The pair dug in impressively, nudging and nurdling for ones and twos and only occasionally opening their shoulders for a boundary shot, as the hosts slowly edged towards 200.

The stand was not without scares, with Sangakkara lofting a leading edge safe off Swann.

And Ravi Bopara, in his first bowl of the series, was frustrated three times in his efforts to remove Silva - once when Phil Mustard shelled a thin edge standing up to the stumps and then when two confident lbw appeals were turned down by Rudi Koertzen.

However, just as the duo began to cut loose, Silva top-edged a wide bouncing delivery from Broad down to third man to leave the hosts 146-4 with 10 overs remaining.

The new Nottinghamshire man struck again 12 balls later when Sangakkara pulled straight to Bopara to end his 102-ball stand and Collingwood brought himself back on to remove Kaushal Lokuarachchi plumb lbw for nine.

Dilshan and Mubarak racked up a stand of 23 off three overs, before the former was bowled by Anderson, and Sidebottom wrapped up the tail to keep England's noses in front.

Chasing under lights has proved troublesome throughout this series, but a typical top-order burst from Phil Mustard suggested the pitch was better than the Sri Lankan batsmen had made it look.

The Durham keeper once again failed to capitalise on a good start, driving four boundaries before dollying a return catch to Lasith Malinga, but Cook and Ian Bell rotated the strike nicely to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Cook top-scored with 80 to see England to an historic series victory

Bell was left cursing his choice of shot in the 20th over when he lobbed Lokuarachchi to mid-on, but after that England cruised.

Pietersen, averaging just nine on this tour before his innings, looked determined to make a score and he and Cook refused to take chances on a slow pitch.

It made for turgid viewing at times, and a short rain delay slowed the outfield even more to ensure it barely got better in the latter stages.

However, there was no denying England's application and Cook and Pietersen did what had to be done in taking the tourists to within 50 runs of victory with 11 overs remaining.

Cook had already brought up his half century by that stage - off 76 balls - and Pietersen greeted the 40th over with a welcome display of aggression, smashing the first six of the match down the ground to bring up his own 50.

He eventually registered four more boundaries with typically wristy shots in a stand of 110 with Cook, and ended unbeaten on 63 for a welcome return to form.

Even after the Essex man played on off Dilhara Fernando and was followed immediately back in the hutch by Collingwood lbw first ball, the tourists looked untroubled.

There was still time for Owais Shah to be bowled by Malinga, but Pietersen and Ravi Bopara saw England to 212-5 to secure the historic victory and send the visiting dressing room into raptures.

Tendulkar rewrites record books

Tendulkar rewrites record books

CHANDIGARH (AFP) -Prolific Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar established a slew of records en route to his 79 in the fourth one-day international against Australia here Monday.

Tendulkar, who reached his 84th fifty with a double off Andrew Symonds, became the most prolific half-centurion in one-day international cricket, surpassing Inzamam-ul Haq's 83.

He also became the player with the highest run tally against Australia in one-dayers, surpassing Desmond Haynes of West Indies. From 51 matches against the Aussies, Tendulkar has 2,321 runs while Haynes scored 2,262 in 64 games.

The Mumbai “master blaster” also surpassed 1,000 runs in the current calendar year, becoming the second Indian to do so after Sourav Ganguly.

Ganguly has compiled 1,065 runs in 25 matches while Tendulkar has 1,026 from the same number of games.

Tendulkar has now achieved this feat seven times in his 18-year career, the most by any player and one more than his nearest rival in the list, Ganguly.

Murali to miss next two ODIs

Murali to miss next two ODIs
---Daily News
Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: Sri Lanka who are trailing 1-2 in the five match series suffers a major blow as ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the crucial fourth and fifth one day internationals against England at the R. Premadasa stadium this week.

Sri Lanka are faced with a must win situation in their remaining two games after going down to England in successive outings at the Rangiri Dambulla International stadium last week. Sri Lanka's solitary victory in the series was recorded in the first one day international where they triumphed by a massive margin of 119 runs.

But England have bounced back in style by registering back to back victories and now they in line for their first ever one day international series win on Sri Lankan oil. The Lankans have somewhat struggled to dismiss the England side in their last two outings where the visitors have scored 234 for 8 and 164 for 8 respectively.

Kushil Gunasekera the manager of Muttiah Muralitharan confirmed that the Sri Lankan off spinner has decided to rest him as he has not fully recovered from his bicep injury which he sustained while bowling long spells for his English County side Lancashire this season.

Earlier Muralitharan indicated that he would keep away from only the first three one day internationals and would make a comeback during the last two games which are scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

However Gunasekera said that Muralitharan has just started to bowl following his injury and will not risk himself especially with an important tour to Australia coming up in November.

The 35 year old champion off spinner is chasing retired Australian spinner Shane Warne's world Test record of 708 wickets and will travel to Australia needing nine wickets from the two Test matches to become the highest wicket taker.

Muralitharan has also captured 455 wickets from 297 one day internationals at an average of 22.68. In fact he is the second highest wicket taker in the shorter version of the game behind Wasim Akram of Pakistan who has a total of 502 scalps from 356 matches at an average of 23.52.

Muralitharan picked up 23 wickets in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies although Sri Lanka were unable to repeat their 1996 final win against Australia. His previous international assignment was when he played in the home Test series against Bangladesh With the last of his 26 wickets in this he became the second player to claim 700 Test wickets.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Farveez Maharoof is out of danger and is recovering well after having suffered a strain muscle above his rib cage during the third one day international against England at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday.

The fast bowler who opened the attack for Sri Lanka was in some pain while bowling and needed assistance from the physiotherapist Tommy Simsek.

However Sri Lankan team manager Shriyan Samararatne said that Maharoof will be fit to play in the fourth one day international against England on Wednesday although they had taken a scan as a precautionary measure.

Maharoof is currently the leading wicket taker from either side in the one day series with ten wickets from three outings for a splendid average of 9.50.

Atapattu rejects Australia tour

Atapattu was Test captain for three years until December 2005

Former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu has rejected the opportunity of a return in the two-Test series in Australia starting on 8 November.

Selectors met with Atapattu, who has not played at international level since February, but he declined their offer.

Jehan Mubarak and Thilan Samaraweera are included, with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Malinda Warnapura omitted.

Fast bowler Chanaka Welagedera, 26, earns a chance after impressing in domestic action recently.

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is expected to recover sufficiently from the bicep injury that kept him out of the opening matches of the one-day series against England.

The mercurial 35-year-old, who had his action called into question on previous visits to Australia, needs only eight wickets to level Shane Warne's Test record of 708 victims.

---

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Chamara Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welagedera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.

Victory puts India back in series

FOURTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Chandigarh:
India 291-4 (50 overs) bt Australia 283-7 (50 overs) by eight runs

Tendulkar was not at his fluent best and could have fallen early

Sachin Tendulkar hit a record 84th ODI fifty as India beat Australia by eight runs in their fourth one-day match.

On a slow turning pitch, Tendulkar (79) hung on to provide a platform Mahendra Dhoni (50no) and Robin Uthappa (30no) built on as India amassed 291-4.

Matthew Hayden hit a blistering 92 in reply and Andrew Symonds smacked 75 but wickets tumbled as the scoring slowed.

Australia finished on 283-7 to cut their lead in the seven-match series to 2-1 with the next game on Thursday.

It was just what the series and India needed after being outplayed in the previous matches, but they were again under pressure in the early stages as Brett Lee swung the ball at pace in an impressive opening spell.

Tendulkar, who had struggled for form after opting out of the World Twenty20, should have been given out caught behind and lbw to the speedster when he had scored only one.

He waited 43 balls before hitting his first boundary and punctuated periods of scratching around with some delightful drives, whlile the more aggressive Sourav Ganguly (41) was also beaten several times before nicking James Hopes behind to end a stand of 91.

The "Little Master" somehow battled through to overtake Inzamam-ul-Haq's 83 ODI fifties and together with Yuvraj Singh (39) upped the run rate, which Tendulkar's delicate touch and skipper Dhoni's brute force turned into an assault.

Once Tendulkar had been run out, Uthappa and Dhoni launched a series of powerful drives, particularly down the ground, to end the innings with a flourish.

Dhoni sent the final ball flying into the crowd for the only six off the innings to bring up his fifty and lay down the gauntlet to the world champions.

Hayden was in aggressive form

With Hayden and Gilchrist helping themselves to leg-side sixes off left-armers Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, Australia replied in kind and Hayden was a figure of awesome power at times.

The left-hander latched on to anything too full or just short of a length to crash the ball away either side of the wicket in reaching 50 in 39 balls and he had the perfect ally in captain Ricky Ponting who lashed three fours off one RP Singh over.

Australia's 100 was up inside 13 overs and they were cruising to victory when an unhappy Ponting was stumped lunging forward to Irfan Pathan and Michael Clarke spooned a catch back to Harbhajan Singh.

With Symonds around, the run rate was never going to be a problem and he illustrated that by smacking Murali Kartik for a maximum.

And though Hayden was caught on the mid-wicket boundary off the left-arm spinner, Symonds kept the scoreboard ticking with quick running to dominate a half century partnership with the out-of-sorts Brad Hodge.

However, Hodge was stumped off Harbhajan, Symonds was bowled trying to make room to carve RP Singh away and Brad Hogg was run out attempting a reckless single.

The innings fizzled out to breathe life into home interest in the series.

---

India captain Mahendra Dhoni:
"We were not able to chase earlier on in the series so we decided to bat first.

"Credit should go to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly for giving us a good start.

"Our bowlers also bowled very well in the middle overs.

"We needed to be aggressive otherwise we could not have come back in the series like this."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting:
"The Indians played very well, they kept wickets in hand and opened up only at the end. "We were in a comfortable position while chasing but then lost crucial wickets."

Sanath, Done it again !!! Playing 400 Matches with 300 Wickets

Sanath Jayasiriya, the unbelievable cricket sports star in our era, has done and proved it again with 400 cricket one day matches. The first cricketer in the history has played 400 one day internationals.

Jayasiriya, who started the career in 1989 , scored more than 12,175 runs with 306 wickets. He has scored 100's in 25 matches with highest score 189. The best bowling figure is 29 runs for six wickets. Got 114 catches and five wickets in 4 times.The batting average for Sanath is 32.79 , for bowling 39.48.

Then, those figures have proved without any argument, The world's best cricketer is Sanath Jayasiriya.The only cricketer in the world's history played more than 400 matches, scored more than 12,175 runs and got more than 306 wickets, we can't expect even Sanath know that.

The Second place , Sachin Tendulkar (India) has started the sports career in 1989 too, has played 398 one day internationals, scored more than 15,450 runs with average 44.11 , 41 centuries, got only 152 wickets with average 43.86, best 5/32, has got 5 wickets in 2 times according to the reports.

The Third Place, Inzamam-Ul-Haq, played 378 one days, scoring 11,739 runs to the average of 39.52 ,10 centuries ,got only 3 wickets had started the career in 1991, finished in 2007 with the "ICC Cricket World Cup - 2007".

Sanath Jayasiriya, at 38 of age, congratulation for the Un-Disputed success in the field.

(
Is there any important information about Sanath Jayasiriya ? Please keep it here as a comment to share the knowledge !)

New fast bowler Welagedera in Sri Lanka squad for Australian tour

New fast bowler Welagedera in Sri Lanka squad for Australian tour

Dilshan dumped and Warnapura ignored

Middle order batsman Tillekaratne Dilshan has finally faced the selectors’ axe for a poor show over the past couple of months while promising batsman Malinda Warnapura has been given a raw deal in the formation of Sri Lanka’s Test squad for this month’s tour of Australia.

Dilshan will not be part of the 16-man squad for the tour of Australia after failing to come to grips with rival bowlers during the past two years while he averaged 34.65 which is below par to compete against the best.

He has failed to score a century in his last 15 games and his place has been taken by 31-year old Thilan Samaraweera.

But a surprise omission from the line-up is left-handed opening batsman Malinda Warnapura who is also capable of playing in the middle order batting.

Warnapura replaced an injured Upul Tharanga in the last home series against Bangladesh in July this year and scored an inspiring knock of 82 in the second Test. He was surprisingly dropped from the third Test against the same opposition and replaced by Tharanga who is still struggling to find his feet.

Analysts believe that the treatment meted out to Warnapura would see Sri Lanka lose another of its promising players.

Meanwhile the controversy-ridden Selection Committee has also decided to continue with 38-year old opener Sanath Jayasuriya after failing to win back Marvan Atapattu who shunned a meeting with the selectors on Wednesday evening.

Jayasuriya was to be left out of the Australian tour had Atapattu consented to return. Having turned his back on a second recall Atapattu has effectively retired from Sri Lanka cricket after being a virtual tourist during the World Cup in the West Indies in March-April this year.Chanaka Welagedera a 26-year old left arm fast bowler, is the only new face in the tour party after nudging the selectors with some sound performances for the Sri Lanka A team. In his last match for a Sri Lanka Invitation X1 he captured a match bag of 10 wickets for 95 runs against Tamil Nadu at the Colts ground in Colombo.

Sri Lanka play against Australia in two Tests at Brisbane starting on November 8 and at Hobart from November 16.

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Chamara Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welagedera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.

Animals magic in Dambulla where England- Sri Lanka Matches are being held

Animals magic in Dambulla - BBC.UK

There is a bit of an animal theme developing on the Dambulla leg of this Sri Lanka tour: bats flitting around the hotel corridors, monkeys stealing fruit from the players rooms, cobras lurking in the undergrowth and dogs invading the outfield.

The dogs probably feel quite at home though, knowing the England team is captained by a Colly!

It is a fascinating location for an international cricket stadium. The backdrop is a lush, dense jungle, with Dambulla lake flanking the ground on one side and Dambulla rock rising majestically in the distance on the other.

Cows graze on the wiry grass on the lake shore, able to wander right up to the practise nets if they please and when darkness suddenly falls and the floodlights are switched on, there is no glow from orange street lights to pollute the stark blackness of the night sky.

The 60 acre site itself is owned by the Rangiri Dambulla Temple, and while the stadium was built in only 167 days to enable cricket to be played all year round in Sri Lanka while monsoon rains batter other parts of the country, there was a dispute over tenancy, and following the inaugural match in 2000, it was starved of any international fixtures for three years.

The temple in question - the Golden Rock Temple - is home to Dambulla’s famous Cave Temples complex, which is one of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. To reach the caves you pick your way past the monkeys up steep steps cut out of the rock face.

It is a little disillusioning to learn that the imposing 30-metre high golden Buddha overlooking the main road was built just seven years ago, but some of the caves, their wall paintings and 14-matre statues are thought to date back to around the first century BC when King Valagamba took refuge, having been driven out of Anuradhapura. Buddhist monks still visit the temples three times a day.

Walking back down from the caves it is impossible to miss the inevitable sellers making the most of the visiting tourists. We happened across a snake charmer, who hastily began piping a haunting tune which brought forth two swaying cobras with intricate diamond patterns on the back of their heads.

I was happy enough to watch from a distance but was less enthused when the chap shut the cobras back into their wicker basket and approached me with a python in his hands, which he seemed eager for me to touch, hold, hug, kiss, you name it.

Pythons aren’t poisonous, but knowing they prefer to kill their prey by constriction, I was far from keen to let this chap drape one around my neck.

There is only one more game for England in Dambulla, before heading back to Colombo and Paul Collingwood isn’t getting carried away with the significance of Thursday's first ODI victory in Sri Lanka for 25 years. He told me after the match that he will only rate the win if they can go on to take the series, something that has never been done before.

The toss is certainly playing a big role in these Dambulla matches, although both captains are keen to play that down. Were it not for Owais Shah, England could easily have been 2-0 down already.

At 1-1 though, the third and last game in the jungle could prove crucial to the outcome of the series. The rains have already arrived in Colombo, and the forecast doesn’t look too promising for the two games there.

Whatmore up for India Academy job

Whatmore up for India Academy job

Whatmore has coached Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

The India Cricket Board say they are in talks with ex-Bangladesh and Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore about the role of director of their National Academy.

The 53-year-old Australian had been linked with the vacant post as India's head coach following Greg Chappell's departure after the World Cup in March.

He has also been tipped to replace Bennett King as West Indies coach.

But an India Cricket Board spokesman confirmed that Whatmore was in talks with their Academy chief Ravi Shastri.

Whatmore guided Sri Lanka to World Cup triumph in 1996 and helped minnows Bangladesh reach the second round in the Caribbean this year after a shock win over India.

He quit his post as coach on 29 May and has since been linked with the vacant coaching roles in India and West Indies as well as being overlooked for the role of Pakistan coach in favour of Geoff Lawson.

Inzamam to retire after SA Test

Inzamam to retire after SA Test

Inzamam could join the rebel Indian League being set up

Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq will retire from international cricket after the second Test against South Africa in Lahore starting on 8 October.

Inzamam, 37, a veteran of 119 Tests, gave up the captaincy and quit one-day internationals after Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup this year.

He has been included in a 16-man squad also featuring Mohammad Yousuf, having opted out of the opening Test.

"I want to give way to youngsters and allow them centre stage," he said.

"I don't want to stop any youngster's progress.

"I have taken this decision after much thought and I realise that my presence in the dressing room could be a pressure on the younger players.

"So I have decided this is the best time for me to bid farewell to a game I have loved so much.

"It is a tough decision but it is the best for me and my country."

Inzamam needs another 20 runs to overtake Javed Miandad's 8,832 runs become Pakistan's record runscorer in Tests.

He already hold his country's record for runs in the one-day game with 11,739 in 378 matches.

Inzamam made his Test debut in 1992

But Inzamam could not stop his side suffering an early exit from the World Cup.

"It was one of the biggest disappointments of my long career the way we performed because we had a good team," he said.

"But there have been other disappointments as well and that is part of the game."

He said winning the 1992 World Cup final against England was the best moment of his career plus the hundred he scored against Bangladesh in 2003 in his hometown Multan to help Pakistan win the match.

"It was my comeback match after disappointing form in the 2003 World Cup and it was an important innings for me," he added.

The prolific Yousuf, who scored nine Test centuries in 2006, is back in the frame after a change of heart over a switch to the breakaway Indian Cricket League.

---

Pakistan squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar.

Australia win despite Yuvraj ton

Australia win despite Yuvraj ton

THIRD ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, HYDERABAD:
Australia 290-7 (50 overs) bt India 243 (47.4 overs) by 47 runs

Hogg and Johnson claimed vital wickets for Australia

A magnificent 121 from Yuvraj Singh could not prevent Australia taking a 2-0 lead in the series with a 47-run victory over India in Hyderabad.

After three wickets fell in the first five overs, Yuvraj smashed 12 fours and three sixes before he was eighth out.

India were eventually dismissed for 242 in the 48th over in reply to a score of 290-7 by the tourists.

Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke shared 123 in 16 overs, Symonds hitting five sixes in a superb 89 off 67 balls.

Following the no result in the opening match and Australia's crushing win in the second, India recalled Rohit Sharma for Ramesh Powar and the tourists welcomed back skipper Ricky Ponting, with Brad Haddin left out.

Matthew Hayden struck successive boundaries in Zaheer Khan's opening over and hit two more in an over from Sree Santh as 61 came from the first 10 overs.

Symonds was a danger to the crowd with his big hitting

But the scoring slowed after Adam Gilchrist (29) was deceived by a slower ball from Irfan Pathan and was through his swipe across the line by the time the ball reached him and uprooted the middle stump.

Hayden departed for 60 when he toe-ended a catch through to the keeper when he tried to heave one through point and lost his balance, and the Indian spinners then imposed a stranglehold on the scoring rate.

Sachin Tendulkar was introduced and dropped short to allow Ponting to pull the first boundary for 10 overs but the captain was soon on his way back to the pavilion for 25 when he tried to hit over the top and was well caught by Santh on the run.

Ponting made way for Symonds, who proceeded to wrestle back the initiative, pulling Pathan into the crowd in the 39th over - a shot that struck a lady spectator in the packed gallery - and brought up the century stand with Clarke with successive maximums.

Even respectable length deliveries did not escape punishment as Symonds flayed a near yorker from Pathan low over long-off for six more in the penultimate over.

There was still time for some final-over shenanigans from Santh, who totally bamboozled Brad Hodge with a slower ball, only to spill the top edge and concede an overthrow.

But another slower ball leg-break accounted for Symonds, who had survived a difficult return catch to Harbhajan when on 46, although the burly all-rounder's contribution left India with much to do.

That task was intensified by a dreadful start, which began when Gautam Gambhir was trapped leg-before by some Brett Lee swing in the third over.

Six balls later Robin Uthappa was also plumb lbw and Rahul Dravid was then caught millimetres from the turf at slip off Lee, Hayden holding the catch despite the distraction of Gilchrist diving in front of him.

Given that start, Tendulkar and Yuvraj had to keep risks to a minimum and ensure they remained at the crease.

Yuvraj matched Symonds with some remarkable strokes for six

Tendulkar brought up the 50 from the final ball of the 15th over with a deft pre-meditated sweep off the metronomic James Hopes but Yuvraj was unusually becalmed early on, clearly hampered by an illness.

But the stylish left-hander soon found his touch and reached fifty from 61 balls by pulling a chinaman from Brad Hogg into the stands at mid-wicket for the first six of the innings.

Hogg dismissed Tendulkar for 43 shortly afterwards, however, when the maestro backed away and was bowled by one that skidded on.

Lee returned to silence the crowd as Mahendra Dhoni, after four fours in his 33, edged off the back foot, leaving 118 to score from the final 84 balls.

Yuvraj lost two more partners and the equation became 103 from the final 10 overs with only three wickets intact.

But Yuvraj reached his eighth one-day century from 104 balls and quickly brought up the 200 with a front front sweep into the second tier at mid-wicket off paceman Mitchell Johnson.

He backed away to drive 10 from the opening two balls of a Stuart Clark over before finally losing his middle stump to Johnson 72 runs short of victory.

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Man-of-the-match Andrew Symonds:
"I was pretty lucky I had a platform and time to get in. It was a bit low and hard to get underneath the ball but we knew 290-300 would be a competitive score."

India skipper Mahendra Dhoni: "Every match is tough against Australia. We'll try to do the thing you need to do to win."

Indian selectors dropped off-spinner Ramesh Powar and recalled left-arm spinner Murali Kartik on Friday for the fourth and fifth matches of the series.