Bar star Kash back four Sri Lanka

Bar star Kash back four Sri Lanka

March 2008

Kash Weeraratne bowling for Potters Bar against Hertford last summer

WITH the cricket season fast approaching, Potters Bar players will be keeping a keen eye on the fortunes of Kaushalya Weeraratne, despite the all-rounder being unavailable for selection for their 2008 campaign.

Weeraratne, known as Kash by his Bar team-mates, has been selected to play for Sri Lanka in the three match, one-day series in the West Indies, which starts next month.

This means the right-arm medium-pace bowler and destructive left-handed batsman will be unavailable to play in the Home Counties Premier League Division Two (East) for the coming season.

The selection of the Gampola born-Weeraratne is all the more interesting in that he could well come face to face with another ex-Bar player in Patrick Browne.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Kash Weeraratne batting for Potters Bar against Hemel Hempstead

Wicketkeeper-batsman Browne is set to be called up by the West Indies and should the players face each other, it will be the first time that two players who have represented a Herts club cricket side have met at international level.

Mark Shepherd, of The Walk cricket club's committee, said: "The fact that Potters Bar will be mentioned should this actually happen shows how we are developing for the future.

"There is a good chance it will, and we're proud that both have represented our team in the last few years."

Weeraratne, 27, has spent five years on the sidelines of the Sri Lanka team, but he has forced himself back into the reckoning after successfully remodelling his action.

West Indies international Patrick Browne batting for Potters Bar

Kash also scored a blistering half-century off just 12 balls, which was the fastest 50 in one-day cricket, during a domestic match in 2005.

In his first game for Bar against Hertford back in 2006, he showed the difference between good club cricketers and professionals as he blasted an amazing 118 not out from just 92 balls.

He finished the 2006 campaign as the leading scorer in the division with 837 runs to his name at an average of 55.80 after hitting two tons and six half centuries.

The Sri Lankan also took 22 wickets during the campaign.

Last season Weeraratne took 8-27 with the ball when Potters Bar faced Sawbridgeworth at The Walk.

Barbadian Browne, 26, was called into the West Indies pre-tour squad ahead of the 2007-08 South Africa trip and made his ODI debut as a specialist batsman.

A Potters Bar cricketer in 2004, Browne played in three matches in South Africa and finished the series with a batting average of 59.

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Sri Lanka confirm one-day series in Pakistan

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Sri Lanka have agreed to play a five-match one-day series in Pakistan to help fill the gap created by the postponement of Australia's tour over security fears, officials said.

"We are thankful to the Sri Lankan board, who have agreed to tour for a series of five one-day internationals on our invitation," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters Thursday.

The series is likely to take place after Mahela Jayawardene's Sri Lankan team ends a tour of the West Indies on April 15. The only hitch could be the Indian Premier League (IPL) for which top Sri Lankan players have signed up.

The inaugural IPL is due to be held from April 18 until June 1.

Pakistan have already convinced Bangladesh to take part in a tour that includes a five-match one-day series and a Twenty20 international from April 7 to 22.

The two unscheduled tours will fill the gap created by Australia, who were due to be in the country between March 27 and April 29.

Cricket Sri Lanka chairman Arjuna Ranatunga praised Pakistan's support for his country and said he was ready to send his team.

"India and Pakistan have always supported us in our needs like big brothers so I am ready to send my team whenever Pakistan want," Ranatunga said.

The PCB said dates of the series will be finalised shortly.

West Indies v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Guyana

West Indies v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Guyana

West Indies and Sri Lanka seek to end long wait

The Preview by George Binoy

	Chris Gayle has recovered from injuries sustained in South Africa and has returned to lead his side © Getty Images

At the launch of West Indies' home season earlier this month, a senior official of the West Indies Cricket Board said its goal was to "regain the pinnacle of world cricket by 2012." Given West Indies' current form, and their results over the last ten years, they are probably a bit behind schedule. Yet if they are to start now, the portents are favourable: their last series victory against strong opposition, with due respect to Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, was in 2003 - at home against Sri Lanka.

Their last Test series showed a flicker of unprecedented promise when a fully fit fast-bowling attack led by a new captain, Chris Gayle, spurred West Indies on to their first-ever Test victory in South Africa in December 2007. That elation, however, was deflated by injuries to key members and they were crushed in the remaining two Tests, squandering the opportunity to record a historic series victory. That performance, though, led the management to retain Gayle as captain for the home series against Sri Lanka, though he was only a stop-gap replacement for the injured Ramnaresh Sarwan, who has now joined the ranks to bolster a middle-order heavily reliant on Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

On paper Sri Lanka will have a tough task combating the experience of Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul; the hot and cold form of Marlon Samuels; and a three-pronged pace attack formed by Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor. The attack could have been stronger if not for Pedro Collins' decision to choose county over country and honour his contract with Surrey. There were rumblings of three key players missing the Australia series because of lucrative IPL contracts but for the Tests against Sri Lanka, West Indies' squad is at full strength while their opponents aren't. A first-choice squad combined with the home advantage of quick pitches that would aid their fast bowlers could combine to produce the ideal scenario for West Indies to beat Sri Lanka, like they did in 2003. That, however, is in theory and theory counts for precious little.

To say Sri Lanka and West Indies have a rivalry would be over-stating the contest. Brian Lara and Muttiah Muralitharan have had their moments against each other but the history between the two countries has been astonishingly brief. Sri Lanka have been a Test-playing nation for 26 years but have played just ten Tests over four series against West Indies. They have a favourable overall record with five wins and two losses but all five wins were achieved in Sri Lanka. They are yet to win a Test in the Caribbean and the two defeats - one each in 1997 and 2003 - led to 1-0 series defeats.

	Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan will bear a lot of responsibility in the absence of experienced support bowlers © AFP

However, to expect Sri Lanka to be a relatively easy opponent to beat away from home would be an injustice to the amount they've improved in the last two years. Their most recent results have been poor, a 2-0 defeat in the Tests in Australia and a awful CB Series, but in 2006, they drew a Test series in England and won the one-dayers 5-0 after which they drew the Test and one-day series in New Zealand. They also registered convincing Test wins at home against South Africa in 2006 and England in 2007.

Those victories were built around solid batting performances from experienced hands - Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene - and the reliable bowling partnership of Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan. What has given Sri Lanka an edge in recent times is the development of Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando as potent Test bowlers to back up Vaas and Murali. Their absence from the touring party to the West Indies will be felt if the new faces in the squad fail to grab opportunities caused by injury and change.

Malinga is out with a knee injury, Fernando with a long-standing ankle problem and Farveez Maharoof with a side strain. The depleted bowling resources adds to the responsibility borne by Vaas and Murali but presents the bench-strength bowlers - Ishara Amerasinghe, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara and Chanaka Welegedara - to stake a claim for a regular spot in the squad.

The major change to the squad, however, is the absence of Sanath Jayasuriya, who retired from Tests and was axed from the ODI squad, at the top of the order. Upul Tharanga has also been cut because of indifferent form, which means that Sri Lanka will open with the inexperienced pairing of Malinda Warnapura and Michael Vandort. Warnapura scored 132 and 50 in a warm-up match against Guyana but the bowling attack he faced comprised of several under-19 players and was below the standard that awaits in the Test series.

Given the unpredictable form of West Indies and the fact that they have their three most experienced batsmen back in the side to balance their pace attack, they should have enough to match a below-full strength Sri Lankan outfit, who will rely heavily on the batting of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara and the brilliance of Muttiah Muralitharan. The downside is that the two-Test appetizer could be over just as the contest heats up.

George Binoy is a staff writer at Cricinfo

Sri Lanka make most of inexperienced attack

Sri Lanka make most of inexperienced attack

PROVIDENCE, Guyana (AFP) — Malinda Warnapura and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene warmed-up for the first Test against West Indies later this week when they took advantage of an inexperienced Guyana Cricket Board President's Select XI attack on Monday.

Warnapura retired out on 132 and Jayawardene was dismissed for 99, as the visiting Sri Lankans reached 343 for five when stumps were drawn on the opening day of their three-day, non-first class, tour match at the Guyana National Stadium.

Warnapura struck 14 fours and one six from 184 balls in just over four hours and shared in significant partnerships with opener Michael Vandort, who scored 29, and Jayawardene, whose knock contained a dozen boundaries from 110 balls in just over two hours.

No GCB President's Select XI bowler distinguished themselves, as they were made to toil in sweltering heat, after allowing the visitors to bat first.

GCB President's Select XI captain Patrick Browne is the most experienced player in his side, since choices for the composite West Indies side were restricted by the involvement of more established players in the sixth round of the West Indies first-class championship which ended on Monday.

As a result, Kemar Roach, playing his first full season of first-class cricket for his native Barbados, and uncapped, teenaged, fellow fast bowler Jason Dawes, a Jamaican member of the West Indies Under-19 side that won the Plate Championship of the ICC Youth World Cup in Malaysia, were the new-ball bowlers.

This failed to dampen the desire of the Sri Lankans for solid batting to send a strong message to their opponents for the upcoming Test and One-day International series, and Warnapura and Jayawardene made sure they achieved this objective.

Warnapura added 115 for the first wicket with Michael Vandort, but they were both fortunate to have survived until lunch, when Sri Lanka had reached 102 without loss.

After the interval, Sri Lanka lost Vandort to leg-spin bowler Davendra Bishoo when he was bowled for 29.

Kumar Sangakkara came to the crease and added 59 for the second wicket before leg-spin bowler Shamarh Brooks, the West Indies Under-19 captain at the Youth World Cup, bowled him behind his back for 22.

Jayawardene joined Warnapura and fortune also favoured him, when Roach dropped him on six on the mid-wicket boundary off Steve Jacobs, the West Under-19 vice-captain at the Youth World Cup.

The Sri Lanka captain continued to play as languidly as he always does and reached his 50 minutes ahead of tea, but not before Warnapura reached his hundred.

At tea, Sri Lanka were 253 for two, and Warnapura retired his innings during the break to allow Thilan Samaraweera to join Jayawardene.

They continued to dominate the bowling and put 68 for the third wicket before Jacobs bowled Jayawardene and Samaraweera was run out just before the close.

The first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka will contested from March 22 at this same venue, and the second Test will be from April 3 at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

The first two One-day Internationals will be on April 10 and 12 at Queen's Park Oval, and the third ODI will be a day/night affair at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia on April 15.

Sarwan back for Sri Lanka series

Sarwan back for Sri Lanka series

By Simon Evans Daily Mirror MIAMI (Reuters) - West Indies return to home international action for the first time since last year's World Cup when they take on Sri Lanka in Guyana from Saturday in the first of a two-test series. Since their poor showing at the one-day showpiece, West Indies have shown sparks of a revival only for disappointment to quickly follow. Following last year's 3-0 test defeat by England, the Caribbean side claimed their first ever test win in South Africa - their first test win since May 2005 - but then lost the next two tests and all five matches in the one-day series. Spinners Sulieman Benn and Amit Jaggernauth are included in the squad for the first time, while captain Chris Gayle has Barbados all-rounder Ryan Hinds back in the side for the first time in nearly three years. The biggest boost though is the return from injury of Guyanese batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who will share the top-order pressure with Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. "It is a pretty balanced team, it's a good all round team, the expectation is high and we're looking forward to it," said Gayle. "Sri Lanka is a good team, they have been playing terrific cricket and it is up to us now to play some good cricket and back our talent," he added. Sri Lanka are without two of their most consistent performers of recent years --Sanath Jayasuriya, who has retired from tests, and explosive pace bowler Lasith Malinga, who is injured. But with the prolific wicket-taking ability of spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and the reliable swing bowling of Chaminda Vaas, Gayle sees no reason to underestimate the Sri Lankan threat with the ball at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown. "They have a good bowling attack without Malinga, they have Vaas and Muralitharan who have been taking most of Sri Lanka's wickets so hopefully we can make the adjustment necessary," said Gayle. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara provide the experienced core of the Sri Lankan batting line-up and despite several new faces the captain is hoping for his country's first test win in the Caribbean. "We're very good at home. In our conditions we dominate but away from home we've also been winning games recently. If we can keep competing away from home, challenging ourselves to be better cricketers every day that's the way forward. It's going to be a great challenge," Jayawardene said. The second test follows on April 3 in Trinidad and the tour is completed with three one-day internationals.

Umpire Hair plans to communicate better with players when he returns

Umpire Hair plans to communicate better with players when he returns

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Darrell Hair says he hopes to communicate better with the players when he returns to international test cricket umpiring after an absence of nearly 18 months.

"I've always been a little bit ... standoffish in that I've always preferred to let them play the game themselves and only get involved when things go overboard," Hair told a Sydney radio station Thursday.

Hair, reinstated as a test match umpire this week by the International Cricket Council, had been banned since November 2006 because of his conduct during a test between Pakistan and England that led to the first forfeit in test cricket's 129-year history.

"I won't say my whole attitude to umpiring has changed but I think I have picked up a few things that are going to be very helpful to me in the future," he said. "Probably just ... having a broader understanding of what everybody else is thinking and the old communication issue of making sure that what you say and what you want is understood by the other people."

His return comes after he completed a so-called "rehabilitation program" him handed him in September when he agreed to drop a claim of racial discrimination by the ICC.

Hair accused Pakistan of ball tampering and, when the team refused to take the field after a break, he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove awarded the forfeit.

The ICC declined to say if the 55-year-old Australian could umpire any match involving Pakistan. Hair's position will be reviewed at the end of March 2009, the ICC said.

On Thursday, Hair said the incident "caused me a lot of stress. I suppose it caused a lot of people some stress along the way."

"The laws now have been changed to take those decisions out of the hands of the umpires and I fully support the way that that's going to happen in future," he added. "So, it's time to move on.

Hair said he would be available to umpire in Pakistan.

"Part of my contract is that I'm available now to umpire test matches and one-day internationals," Hair said. "Now whether that (umpiring in Pakistan) is going to happen I think you'll need to ask the people who make the appointments."

Sri Lanka follow Tigers tour lead

Sri Lanka follow Tigers tour lead - BBC

Captains Ashraful (left) and Malik will play a one-day series

Sri Lanka have joined Bangladesh in agreeing to fill the gap left by Australia and tour Pakistan in April.

Australia called off this month's tour because of security concerns following a spate of bombings in Pakistan.

The Tigers will play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match from 6-22 April in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Karachi.

And Sri Lanka will play a five-match one-day series, probably after their tour of the West Indies on 15 April.

Pakistan chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said he intends to blood youngsters during the forthcoming one-day series with Bangladesh.

"We want to try out more rookies in the home series," he said.

"Bangladesh can be a dangerous team on their day. For us, the most important task would be to win the series and win comfortably."

Selection puzzle

Suddenly the bubble seems to have burst with team selections for the ODI’s against the West Indies. The tour of Australia has caused concerns and some action has been taken or certainly that seems to be the case. Two of the mainstays of recent years Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan will not don the Sri Lankan coloured clothing in the West Indies.

End of the road for the living legend?

Every great player has to face the reality that someday, his playing days will come to an end. Most players, particularly those from the sub continent persevere to extend their careers to the maximum. That is their choice. It is up to those who select and coach to have a systematic manner of introducing younger up and coming players and make the transition a happy and acceptable process.

In recent times two players have departed with much bitterness. Upul Chandana and former national captain Marvan Atapattu were both unhappy when they went. Both are now playing for the outlawed Indian Cricketers League. It’s sad, particularly in the case of Atapattu whose contribution to the games has been immeasurable. Chandana too was around for a long period of time and served with dedication. Often this bitterness against authorities and the governing regime will exist for a very long, long time. It can never be eradicated completely, but must be reduced to a minimum. The one way is to have a dialog between players and selectors, be open with views, so that both parties come to a win-win agreement. Lack of communication has been the cause of many an unpleasant ending of playing careers.

Sanath Jayasuriya has lived on playing cricket. He has focused all his energies on absorbing and learning of all aspects of the game. His growing up days did not have the glamour, the prominence, the money and the entire professional manner in which the game is now conducted. He ventured into the unknown, from small beginnings in Matara, to become a legend in the game in every part of the cricketing world.

He has to part company from the game in the not too distant future. It will be a sad day. His intentions are clear, in that he wants to squeeze out every drop of his playing career. Now contracted to play Twenty20 cricket at county level and in the Indian Premier League he would still like to compete in limited over cricket. It must be said that the match winning and the ability to set-up a match winning situation for his team, has diminished but, still he is able to produce a brilliant innings.

The problem the selectors have is in replacements. It’s all well and good to talk of bringing in young players, but they have to be good to go out and perform. Good examples are Upul Tharanga and Chamara Silva. Both have displayed ability to get runs, but only on certain pitch conditions. That does not make them complete. Both are being persisted with the hope that they will come good. This is a big chance for them to cement their places in the team.

Newcomers into the squad are Kaushalya Weeraratne, Jehan Mubarak and Ajantha Mendis. Weeraratne and Mubarak have been there before and get another opportunity while Mendis has been plucked out of domestic cricket.

Kaushalya Weeraratne got his break just out of school cricket and did impress. However, injury and loss of form pushed him into the wilderness. He has been performing in the shorter version of the games, including being a member of the Hong Kong sixes squad, which won the tournament. Now, more experienced, physically and mentally stronger, this is a big break for him. He must not let the chance go waste.

Jehan Mubarak gets yet another chance. He has been tried and tested. A player with a lot of talent and although still young has been around for about six years. He could consider himself lucky to get in again. He has to string together consistent performances now. It could well be the last opportunity.

Ajantha Mendis of the Sri Lanka Army has bowled himself into the reckoning. He plays two day club cricket where his medium pace/spin has encountered problems for many a batsman. The unorthodox variations he delivers even had some of the top batsmen in trouble in the recently concluded Provincial one day tournament. He has gained a place with the thinking of using Muttiah Muralitharan sparingly from now on. Time will tell how he will fare at this level.

Still the selections are puzzling. Are these replacements the correct choice for the long term? What of players like Ishara Amarasinghe and Nuwan Kulasekera? Will Mahela Udawatte and Upul Tharanga be able to carry on the batting responsibilities? What of two years from now? This West Indies tour is crucial in providing answers to those questions.

* Ranil Abeynaike is a former Sri Lanka cricketer and curator of SSC

Asia Cup to be shifted to Sri Lanka!

By S.R. Pathiravithana

Ranatunga to visit Pakistan

The once rescheduled Asia Cup cricket tournament which is down to be played in Pakistan from June 24 to July 6 is to be shifted to Sri Lanka owing to the present turbulent political situation in that country.

The Asia Cup which was originally scheduled for April this year was rescheduled for July, but now the other participating nations – Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh are concerned about the situation.

Now the Lankan cricket administration has notified their Pakistani counterparts about their willingness to host the tournament.
Sri Lankan cricket chief Arjuna Ranatunga will visit Pakistan on March 20 for cricket related discussion with Pakistan’s cricket head Niyaz Ahmed and the Asia Cup will also be one of the main topics.

Earlier Australia indefinitely postponed their scheduled tour of Pakistan later this month.

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan team which took wing to the Caribbean got on board with only a tour contract. The central contracts of the Lankan players expired end of February 2008.

According to the Chef Executive Officer Sri Lanka Cricket – Duleep Mendis said “They left for the West Indies with only a tour contract, but, upon their return they would be signing a central contract from March 1 2008.”

Also according to a highly placed cricket source Sri Lankan cricketers on this occasion will be slapped with a performance based central contract similar to what is prevailing in India and Pakistan. Here the contract signed by the Lankan cricketers will only mature according to their performances and consistency. The source also added that former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya who was dropped from the ODI leg of the West Indian tour and one of the highest paid contract cricketers will not be afforded a central contract and will only be considered for payment if and when he is selected to play for the country.

Sri Lanka leave out Muralitharan for the future matches

Sri Lanka leave out Muralitharan

Muralitharan has taken 464 one-day wickets

Sri Lanka have left veterans Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya out of their one-day squad to tour West Indies next month.

The 38-year-old Jayasuriya and spinner Muralitharan, 35, have been left out as Sri Lanka build for the 2011 World Cup.

Ajantha Mendis replaces Muralitharan, who will play the two Tests that precede the one-dayers, while Mahela Udawatta takes Jayasuriya's place.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga will miss the series with a foot injury.

Jayasuriya - the only player to score over 12,000 runs and take over 300 wickets in the 50-over format - retired from Test cricket in December but stated his intention to play one-day cricket for a few more seasons.

Muralitharan has a world record 723 Test wickets and 464 one-day scalps and his experience will be missed in the Caribbean.

The indications are that he will be rested from now on in one-day series, only playing landmark tournaments.

But the duo's absence is a clear signal that Sri Lanka are planning for the future as co-hosts of the next World Cup with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

All-rounder Kaushalya Weeraratne, 27, who won the last of his 11 one-day caps in 2003, has been included in the squad

Port of Spain, Trinidad, will host the first two one-dayers (10 and 12 April) while the third will be played in St Lucia on 15 April.

The Test matches will be held in Guyana (22-26 March) and Port of Spain (3-7 April).

---

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Malinga Bandara, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Ishara Amarasinghe, Mahela Udawatta, Thilina Mirando.

India : six-wicket win over Australia in the first tri-series

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar scored his 42nd limited-overs century to lead India to a comfortable six-wicket win over Australia in the first tri-series final Sunday.

Tendulkar celebrates another century as India take a 1-0 lead in the tri-series final against Australia.

Man-of-the-match Tendulkar's unbeaten 117 was his first one-day hundred in 39 matches in Australia.

"I'm not sure why it took so long, but the timing was right tonight," Tendulkar said after the visitors scored 242-4 in reply to Australia's 239-8, reaching the target with 25 balls to spare.

It was India's first one-day win over Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 12 matches.

Rohit Sharma added 66 runs for India, who will take a 1-0 lead into the second match Tuesday at the Gabba in Brisbane. A third match, if necessary, is scheduled for Friday in Adelaide.

Dale Steyn claimed three wickets for four runs on Sunday in Chittagong on Sunday to crush Bangladesh's top order and put South Africa on the brink of an innings victory in the second test.

Robin Peterson claimed the other two wickets as the hosts were reduced to 54 for five following on in the second innings at the end of day three, having been bowled out for 259 in the first innings.

Mushfiqur Rahim (4) and Abdur Razzak (0) will resume Monday, with Bangladesh needing a further 270 runs to make South Africa bat again.

Bangladesh resumed on Sunday at 60-3 in their first innings and at 176-4 looked capable of providing a contest after South Africa's mammoth first innings of 583-7 declared.

But from thereon, South Africa's pacemen Makhaya Ntini and Steyn destroyed Bangladesh's resistance, and hospitalized Aftab Ahmed in the process.