Sri Lankan U-19s tie one-day 2010

Lankan U-19s tie one-day series

CANTERBURY: England Under-19s prevailed over Sri Lanka Under-19s by 51 runs (D/L method) in the rain-affected fifth game in Canterbury as the visitors succumbed for 125, chasing 177 in 41 overs.
England had struggled batting first and only managed 184 before being bowled out in 48.2 overs, but it proved sufficient to level the five-match series two-all. The teams share the spoils with the third game having been abandoned due to rain.

The hosts elected to bat and got off to a confident start, the openers adding 40 in 7.2 overs before Bhanuka Rajapaksa dismissed Joe Root. Lewis Gregory supported the set opener Jack Manuel, taking the score to 74 in 14.2 overs before wickets began to tumble.
Lahiru Jayaratne was the main tormentor, dismissing Gregory and Luke Wells within the space of three balls. Ateeq Javid did not last long and was run out for 9 as the innings began to lose steam. When Manuel fell for a fluent 63 off 74 balls with the score on 117, Sri Lanka sensed a chance to skittle out the opposition under 150. However, captain Paul Best, coming in at eight, put paid to those hopes with a responsible unbeaten 28. The rest of the tail held on to lift England to 184.

Sri Lanka’s top order found the pair of Matt Dunn and David Payne too hot to handle. Ramith Rambukwella scored 16 runs as the opening batsmen added 21 in the first five overs. Things changed quickly after that, and 21 for 0 soon became 28 for 4. When Dhanushka Gunathilleke was dismissed for 5, Sri Lanka had lost half their side for 43. Rain intervened at this juncture and having lost five top-order wickets Sri Lanka came back facing a steeper target. Though three lower-order batsmen managed 20s, it was a task too steep for them and they were bowled out in the 35th over, Dunn and Payne sharing seven wickets in all.

Best was delighted with the result, saying after the match: “It was great to win the final match and level the one day series. The result was a fair reflection of the strength of the two teams and it was fantastic for England players ending their U19s career to finish on a high.”
Scores: England Under-19s 184 (48.2) (J Manuel 63, P Best 28 n.o., Lahiru Jayaratne 3/22)
Sri Lanka Under-19s 125 (34.1) (Denuwan Rajakaruna 28, Akshu Fernando 23, Chatura Peiris 26, M Dunn 3/15, D Payne 4/40).

Yuvraj may have to wait for his sports car

Yuvraj may have to wait for his sports car

By Bipin Dani

Mumbai, Sept. 25 : India's left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh will not be presented a sports car by the Indian cricket board. Instead, the car will be gifted to him by BCCI's vice-president Lalit Modi, it is reliably learnt.

According to the sources close to the BCCI, all victorious team members will be paid a hefty sum and BCCI will be paying a special prize of Rs. 1 crore to Yuvraj Singh for hitting six sixes in an over against England in the Twenty20 match.

All national TV chanels have also been running the news that the all-round will also be gifted a car by the BCCI.

Lalit Modi, a 42-year-old sharp-minded billionaire and vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, is one of the main men behind the astonishing amounts of money coming into Indian cricket. He has created mass money-making vehicles that the previous regime failed to identify and exploit. "The car will be gifted to Yuvraj Singh by him", a source added. Yuvraj may have to wait for few more days to get the keys of the vehicle.

The prize money will not be tax-exemped to the players, it is also learnt here.

Bombs found in Bombay at India cricket team parties

Bombs found in Bombay at India cricket team parties
- Daily Mirror
MUMBAI, , (AFP) - Police found six unexploded bombs in a Mumbai suburb on Wednesday as thousands celebrated on the streets the return home of India's cricket team after winning the Twenty20 world title.

Two people were arrested, one near a railway station, said police, adding they were investigating whether the pair had links to any terror group.

Mumbai, India's financial capital which was shaken by a series of bombs targeting commuters in July 2006 that killed 186 people, was on high alert, police said.

Police did not directly link the festivities to the bombs which were recovered near suburban Andheri railway station, north of the airport and far away from the celebration route.

“These were live, crude home-made bombs... but not of high intensity,”joint crime commissioner Rakesh Maria told reporters.

“Two people have been arrested in connection with this,” Maria added.

“We're investigating whether they have links to any terror group,” he said.

Police staged the arrests on a tipoff.

“We were told about a person carrying these crude bombs in a bag near a railway station. We seized him on the basis of his suspicious behaviour,” Maria said.

He did not say where the second man was arrested.

Huge crowds turned out to welcome the team along a 30-kilometre (20-mile) route south from the airport to the Wankhede cricket stadium.

Indian police last year blamed the bombings on rival Pakistan's intelligence service and the outlawed pro-Pakistan militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, but the claim is not listed in any of the charges.

Islamabad rejected the allegations as “totally baseless.”

Warne vs. Murali debate rages again in Australia

Warne vs. Murali debate rages again in Australia- Daily Mirror

By Daniel MacDonald

Muttiah Muralitharan is poised to become the world's highest Test cricket wicket-taker, but greats of the sport still refuse to acknowledge the Sri Lankan as the game's best bowler of all time.

The 35-year-old has baffled batsmen for 16 years and needs just nine wickets to surpass Australian Shane Warne's record of 708. The controversial off-spinner is likely to do so this summer, in one of two Tests against Australia.

But if former Australian skipper Mark Taylor was a selector, he said he would have no hesitation in picking Warne over Muralitharan. Retired wicketkeeper Ian Healy would do the same, as would current captain Ricky Ponting and retired fast-bowler Glenn McGrath.

All have played with Warne and against Murali. So even though the Sri Lankan will eventually take the most Test wickets of any international player, why will he live in the shadow of Australia's 'Sheik of Tweak'?

"His career lacks wickets in Australia," Healy said. "It'll be Warne then Murali. History will have it, the way I think of it, as one and two."

Murali has taken 55 wickets in 11 matches against Australia - his lowest total against any of the other nine Test-playing nations.

"He hasn't convinced me that he can take wickets against Australia, in Australia but if he does that [this summer] it'll be a great feather in his cap," Healy said.

McGrath thinks Murali's ability to spin a cricket ball is amazing, but still regards Warne as "the greatest bowler of all time".

Taylor made his selection by taking into account what Warne offered around the ground.

"It's always nice to have a leg-spinner to start with," he said. "Warney gave a bit more in terms of batting and in terms of catching. "I wouldn't call Warney a great slips fielder but he's certainly a good one - he hung on to more than he dropped.

"He gave you a lot more in the field, a lot more than Murali ever gives you." The argument will be debated until, if ever, the Test wicket-taking record is under threat of being broken again.

"[Murali] has very similar instincts to Warney in that when batsmen can't pick him he is all over them and just does not let them go," Healy said.

"Whether it's Bangladesh or Australia he nails you."

But doubters of Murali's record will, more than likely, never be silenced.

He has been branded a chucker and a shot-putter for his bent-elbowed, right-arm, off-spin bowling and critics have even labelled him a disgrace to cricket. Taylor witnessed Murali's bowling for the first time in a series in Sri Lanka under former Australian captain Alan Border in 1992.

Border was at the crease and faced what he thought were leg-breaks from the then 20-year-old.

The Australian team, Taylor said, then thought Murali was chucking the ball to Border.

"My thoughts have changed since I first saw him," Taylor admitted. "I think we sort of got to realise he is certainly different, you all sort of get round and say he's cheating and you convince yourself that that's the case.

"If you try and bowl like Murali does you're more than likely going to throw. "It's only from getting to know Murali and seeing the rigorous tests that he's been through throughout his career you can't say that Murali is an out and out thrower."

No cricket player or fan can deny Murali has had a resounding influence on the culture encompassing spin bowling. Cricket academies around the world now teach proteges of the game how to bowl off-spin from out of the front of the hand.

"Controversy has sort of followed him around for most of his career and Australia's a place he hasn't really enjoyed touring in the past but he's a freak at what he does, it's as simple as that," Ponting said.

"He'll be remembered as one of the greats of the game.

"We've just got to make sure that when he comes out here that we pay full attention and respect to him, and hopefully make sure he doesn't win any games for Sri Lanka."

Canberrans have the chance to see Murali twice at Manuka Oval this summer when Sri Lanka plays the Prime Minister's XI on January 30 and in a one-dayer against India on February 12.

Ponting said facing Murali was a hard task, but said the challenge of deferring any record celebrations was one he was looking forward to.

"We actually play him as well as anyone," the Australian skipper said. "The Indians and Pakistanis have grown up playing spin bowling and I think we've managed to play him even better than that.

"It's always a great challenge as a batsman and it's one that I'm definitely looking forward to, that's for sure."

- Canberra Times

Dhoni can swim in his own pool

Dhoni can swim in his own pool - Daily Mirror

By Bipin Dani

Mumbai, Sept. 26 : Before Team India's new young captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni swims in his own under construction swimming pool at his Ranchi-home, he was greeted with the city rain and he saw people had happy tears in their eyes when they gathered to see the glimpse of their TwentyTwety World Cup heros.

"The Jharkhan State government has given a green-signal to him for the construction of a swimming pool at his new house", Madhu Koda, the chief minister and Sudhir Mahto, the Deputy Chief Minister told this scribe over their mobiles from Ranchi. "Few neighbours had objected to Dhoni family constructing a swimming pool when they have been facing scarcity of water problem but the same neighbours are repenting for their objections now and they want Dhoni to come to their houses", a source close to Dhoni family said. "His new swimming pool will hardly be of 15'x20' size and 4' deep which can not store much water, The neighbours wanted cheap publicity and therefore they objected". "We have spoken to the people and the plan for swimming pool is aprooved. Dhoni can go ahead with it", both ministers further added.

None of Dhoni's family members had arrived to receive him at the airport today but thousands of fans gathered at the Wankhede Stadium. "His brother (Narendra) is busy with the constructional activities back home and his old parents were not fit enough to travel to Mumbai all the way from Ranchi", a family-friend Shashikant Pathak said to this scribe.

Dhoni's new house will have four floors with ample parking and a gym. The upper three floors will be occupied by his family members and the fourth floor will be reserved for Mahi", the family-friend added.

T-20 EXPRESS - By - Sanath Jayasuriya

T-20 EXPRESS The Sunday Times

Johannesburg, Friday

Staged just a few months after the World Cup where we reached the finals and a few weeks ahead of England’s tour of Sri Lanka, the Twenty-20 World Cup in South Africa has given our cricketers, and those of most other countries, something to think about.

What most of us agree is that the format of Twenty-20 cricket is still an unknown quantity. While cricketers from some countries such as England have had some exposure to this version of the game in their county circuit, most of our players are new to the concept.

Before this tournament began, Sri Lanka had played only three Twenty-20 internationals, a game against England and two against New Zealand, winning one against each country. I myself missed the second game against New Zealand which we lost. Our first match in this form of the game was in June last year and we played our last Twenty-20 international game nine months ago. This indicates how fresh we are to the format.





Sanath Jayasuriya celebrates the dismissal of Scott Styris for a duck. -AFP

To proceed from such inexperience to a World Cup is a huge challenge. However, we know that most other teams are in similar circumstances. We also have a few factors of our own which we can count in our favour: we are at the top of our form, finishing runners-up in the just concluded World Cup; also, the attacking and adventurous brand of cricket we play should be ideally suited for a shortened version of the game.

I myself gained some experience playing a few games for Lancashire and I believe that has helped me immensely. Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) and Vaasey (Chaminda Vaas) did the same but the squad includes a few fresh faces who are relatively new to international cricket itself, let alone the Twenty-20, so we were poised for an exciting tournament.

What everyone is so uncertain of is how to pace the game. In one day internationals, we successfully adopted the strategy of pinch-hitting in the first fifteen overs, then consolidated in the middle overs with the aim of accelerating in the final slog overs.

In the Twenty-20 format, what we have to realise is that while bowlers are restricted in many ways with only four overs per bowler and a free hit for a no-ball, batsmen are not. The full ten wickets are available to bat for just twenty overs, giving batsmen freedom and confidence to go out and hit out. Therefore, the entire game is played with a fast and furious momentum which means that the line and length in bowling and the fielding have to be spot on because it is essentially a batsman’s game.
Yet, there are questions for which most teams are still searching for answers. What is a good total in a Twenty-20 game? Is there a significant advantage in batting second and knowing exactly how many runs are needed to win the match? As the tournament progresses, I am sure we will learn more about these aspects.





Confidence is high and the team is looking forward to the challenge
- Sanath

We did play two warm up games against South Africa and Pakistan. If the first game against South Africa was a morale booster, the second game against Pakistan was not. Against South Africa we were able to beat our hosts convincingly, by five wickets with more than an over to spare and I was happy to score a quick 46 from 34 deliveries.

In the game against Pakistan, we did post a decent 162 but the game was taken away from us when the Pakistani openers blasted 94 in nine overs. We learnt the lesson that in this format of the game, a match could be won or lost very, very quickly and that there is precious little time for a reversal of fortunes unlike in one day cricket.

It was with this hindsight that we travelled to the beautiful New Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg to take on Kenya. A day earlier, world champions Australia had been humbled by Zimbabwe, so we knew that every game and every opponent was equally important, given the do-or-die nature of the tournament.

Kenya won the toss and asked us to bat first, as there was some moisture in the wicket. Upul (Tharanga) and I were watchful for a couple of overs but then the runs began to flow. Upul was dismissed in the third over but Sanga walked out and demonstrated that he was in extremely good nick. When Sanga was dismissed, misreading spinner Kamande’s line, it was Mahela’s turn at the crease to keep the tempo up, which he did with customary elegance.

We had discussed a game plan of sorts and that was to have at least one of the top four batsmen last through the twenty overs. It didn’t quite work out that way, because I was dismissed for 88 with more than five overs to go and Mahela was out in the 18th over but I was happy with the way I batted; the timing was good and I was able to find the boundaries with ease, even if the outfield was a bit sluggish initially.

We did get to what we have been told is a record score of 260, helped by some lusty hitting by youngster Jehan Mubarak who scored 29 runs off one over. I am especially happy for Mubarak who has been in and out of the side for some time. He gained confidence from batting in a difficult situation in the warm up game against Pakistan. Now that he has demonstrated his ability at this level, I hope he continues his good form.

Kenya simply didn’t have the batting firepower to chase a target that required a run rate of 13 runs an over to be sustained for twenty overs. If they did have any hopes of doing that, Vaasey ensured it did not happen by removing two of their top order batsmen in quick succession inside three overs.

In bowling, I enjoyed my role as a main slow bowler, in the absence of Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan). It goes without saying that I am no Murali and I cannot compensate for his absence but I am working hard at my bowling because this responsibility has been thrust on me and I enjoy the challenge.

Even if the game ended as a one-sided contest, it gave us quite confidence as we prepared to take on New Zealand, a team we have been meeting frequently in the test, one-day and Twenty-20 formats in the recent past. Our passage to the next round is assured because New Zealand have also beaten Kenya and I hope that will help us play our natural game without being under undue pressure.

The morale in our camp is high even though we are in the midst of adjusting to many changes. While the Twenty-20 format itself is a challenge, it is also the first assignment for our new coach Trevor Bayliss. We are settling into a unit with Trevor bringing with him the services of assistant coach Paul Fabrace and trainer Jade Roberts. Our sprint happy physiotherapist, Tommy Simsek of course continues to remain with us.

We have a busy week ahead of us. Regardless of whether we win or lose against New Zealand, we will be playing three games within four days. It will be a taxing schedule but that is the lot of the international cricketer in modern times. Confidence is high and the team is looking forward to the challenge with renewed hope.

President orders Sports Minister to look into Chandana matter

President orders Sports Minister to look into Chandana matter The Sunday times

By S.R. Pathiravithana


President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the country's sports minister Gamini Lokuge to investigate into the matter pertaining to all-rounder Upul Chandana's retirement.

Chandana



Speaking to The Sunday Times Minister Gamini Lokuge said “President Rajapaksa requested me to go into the reasons which led Chandana to announce his retirement. This happened last week and I have informed both the SLC and the national selectors to meet me regarding this matter, but due to my busy schedule I have not been able do that so far. Both the SLC and the selectors are ready with their facts on the matter and I will meet them by Monday or Tuesday.

“Chandana had commented on the unfair treatment meted out to him to the press on Wednesday and we have a duty to look into it. If corrective action is needed, we will take them,” Lokuge said.
Lokuge


He also added that the president himself would take part in the meeting when it takes place on Monday or Tuesday.

Chandana’s name, along with a host of other national cricketers has been linked with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). But he told the press that so far he has not been contacted by the ICL, but, if it happens so he would make his mind up at that time.

Lanka win warm up against South Africa

Lanka win warm up against South Africa - The Sunday Times
Sri Lanka’s senior most batsman Sanath Jayasuriya paved the way for the victory with a well timed knock of 46.






The Lankans made it good in their quest for the Twenty-20 World Cup when they scored a convincing five wickets win over the strong South Africans in a warm-up match at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom, yesterday.

Sri Lanka led by two good knocks from veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (46 in 34 balls) and Mahela Jayawardena (37 not out in 21 balls) saw Sri Lanka scoring 162 for 5 in 18.5 overs after South Africa were restricted to 161 for 9 in 20 overs.

For South Africa skipper Graeme Smith top scored with 46, but it was Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga who stole the show by sending down 3 overs for just 10 runs. The highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka was young Farveez Maharoof who bagged 3 for 31 in his quota of four overs.

Sri Lanka lost opener Upul Tharanga (4) and rookie No.3 Dilruwan Perera (0) cheaply, but Sanath Jayasuriya batted along with the middle order in his 34 balls stay to steady the ship and put Sri Lanka on course for victory.

After the departure of the senior most Lankan batsman Jayasuriya, Chamara Silva and T.M. Dilshan batted along with their skipper Jayawardena to see them through.

South Africa 161 for 9 in 20 overs (Graeme Smith 46, A.B. de Villiers 18, Justin Kemp 32, J.A. Morkel 28 not out; Chaminda Vaas 1 for 25, Farveez Maharoof 3 for 31, Gayan Wijekoon 1 for 35, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 1 for 25, Lasith Malinga 2 for 10)

Sri Lanka 162 for 5 in 18.5 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 46, Kumar Sangakkara 18, Mahela Jayawardena 37 not out, Chamara Silva 16, T.M. Dilshan 22 not out, Shaun Pollock 1 for 9, M. Ntini 1 for 20, V.D. Philander 1 for 22, T. Shabalala 2 for 26)

Upul Chandana slams cricketing establishment and bows out

Upul Chandana slams cricketing establishment and bows out

Sri Lankan allrounder Upul Chandana quit in disgust yesterday blaming the establishment for what he claimed was a raw deal given to him during his career which spanned 13 years.

The 35-year old Chandana did not name anyone responsible for the shabby treatment meted out to him but told reporters that they were in the best position to pass judgement.

“You have seen and continue to see what is taking place. You all know who performs and who does not and who should be in the team and who should not”, Chandana told reporters.

He said he was retiring in utter frustration and disappointment and accused administrators and selectors of leaving room for a few players, which he did not name, to take matters into their own hands.

Chanadana said that as a player it was appalling to note how players with Test ability were drafted into the one-day team and players with one-day ability were picked for the Test team.

“The selections were absurd and what we had was a pre-determined team all the time”, charged Chandana.

Contrary to the belief that he was a mere one-day player who could only contain batsmen with his leg-spinners and slog with his bat, Chandana claimed that he would have silenced critics and pundits had he been given equal opportunities.

“For you to succeed you need your confidence and for your confidence to rise you need to be given fair and equal opportunities like other leg spinners Malinga Bandara and Kaushal Lokuarachchi had”, said Chandana who was also bitter over his omission from the recent World Cup in the West Indies.

"I was hoping to be selected for the World Cup after doing consistently well in domestic cricket. It did not happen and when I was not selected for the Twenty-20 (World Cup) I thought I should go out of international cricket", Chandana said.

There is speculation that Chandana would look to sign up with the Indian Cricket League but the retiring player said he is yet to be nudged."I will have to think about it”, he declared.

Chandana played in 16 Tests between 1999 and 2005 and 147 one day internationals between 1994 and 2007.

He took a career-best nine wickets in a Test match against Australia at Cairns in 2004 in the absence of spinner Muttiah Muralitheran who refused to play.

As a practice Sri Lankan cricketers slam their bosses only after they retire for fear of reprisals and victimization.

--Daily Mirror

Ponting out as Aussies leave for Twenty20 World Cup

Ponting out as Aussies leave for Twenty20 World Cup

BRISBANE (AFP) -Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting may miss the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa because of undisclosed family reasons.

The Australian squad was due to leave for South Africa on Monday morning but Cricket Australia said Ponting would not make the flight.

Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist will lead the Australian squad and a decision on whether Ponting joins them for the tournament is expected later in the week.

All-rounder Shane Watson and paceman Stuart Clark will also remain behind and may join the squad later in the week.

Watson has a hamstring injury, while Clark's son has been taken ill.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said “a private family issue” had arisen with Ponting during the weekend.

“The situation is expected to be clearer later in the week, at which time Ponting's availability would be re-assessed,” Sutherland said.

“Any decision on whether or not a squad replacement is needed will be assessed at that time as well.

“In the meantime, Adam Gilchrist will head the squad as he has done with distinction on previous occasions.

“Our captain is obviously disappointed not to be with the team for the start of tour and has asked if his privacy could be respected in the meantime.”

Ponting holds the record for the highest score in 20-20 cricket which stands at 98 not out made in just 55 balls against New Zealand at Aukland in 2005.

The Australians have also hold the record for hitting the most number of sixes in an innings which is 14 against England at Sydney in 2007 and has scored the highest total of 221 for 5 also against England at the same venue in 2007.

Murali thinks surgery not necessary for his injury

Murali thinks surgery not necessary for his injury

CRICKET: Sri Lanka’s champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes he will need only rest not surgery for his nagging shoulder injury after he was ruled out of the inaugural ICC Twenty/20 World Cup which starts in South Africa on September 11.

Muralitharan returned to Colombo as scheduled yesterday from his English county duties at Lancashire and will be examined by Sri Lankan team physio Tommy Simsek. Muralitharan’s manager Kushil Gunasekera said that the off spinner needs rest for about four week’s in addition to physiotherapy.

Gunasekera also said that the next course of action will depend on Simsek’s advice. He said that Muralitharan is also in contact with Dr. David Young who successfully operated on his shoulder in Australia.

Muralitharan was ruled out of the ICC World Twenty/20 Championships in South Africa next month following muscle pain on his right shoulder.

But he should be fit for the home one day series against England in October and for the two tests against Australia in November where he needs nine wickets to overtake the retired Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708 wickets.

(C.D)

Three Lankans figure in Warne’s list of ‘greats’

Sachin Tendulkar topped Shane Warne’s countdown of greatest cricketers edging out Brian Lara, who was placed second. Curtly Ambrose, Allan Border and Glenn McGrath rounded out the top five in Warne’s Times column.

Warne rated Tendulkar ahead of Lara on account of his mental toughness and hailed him as a “great player and a great man”. He wrote, “Outside grounds [in India], people wait until he [Tendulkar] goes in before paying to enter. They seem to want a wicket to fall even though it is their own side that will suffer ... He [Tendulkar] grew up under incredible weight of expectation and never buckled once - not under poor umpiring decisions or anything else.”

Warne and Tendulkar clashed several times on the field, but their most famous battles were on Australia’s tour to India in 1997-98.
Five Australians were placed in the top ten, including three of Warne’s captains - Border, Ricky Ponting and Mark Taylor. Ian Healy, tenth on the list, was described as the best wicketkeeper he’d ever seen.
Muttiah Muralitharan, who needs nine more wickets to go past Warne’s record haul of Test victims, was the highest rated spinner - at seven.

“He has helped to turn Sri Lanka into a formidable side at home. It is also worth remembering the work he did in the aftermath of the tsunami when he gave so much hope to people in despair.”

Former Sri Lanka batsman Aravinda de Silva was rated 19 in Warne’s list. “At team meetings we would spend more time talking about Aravinda than the rest of the Sri Lanka batsmen — but our plans rarely came off. He was sheer class, a lovely strokemaker and his hundred in the 1996 World Cup final ranks among the best one-day innings.

His off spin was also underrated, especially in his home country,” Warne wrote.
Opener Sanath Jayasuiya is the other Sri Lankan in Warne’s list. He is rated at 38 and Warne describes him as “one of the greatest one-day players in the game, whose aggression in the opening overs of matches during the 1996 World Cup represented a serious development. For a small man, he is very powerful and his left-arm spin is underestimated. He has been a good foil for Muttiah Muralitharan.”

Wasim Akram, who was sixth, was Pakistan’s only representative in the top ten. Warne’s complete list (of 53 cricketers) was dominated by Australia, with 20 players, though none were named among the top three.

Twenty20 will revolutionise world cricket - Mahela

Twenty20 will revolutionise world cricket - Mahela

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq- The Nation reports


Sri Lanka has in its midst after quite a long time a captain who can think straight and is not afraid to put across his opinion about any subject.
One of the nominees for the ICC’s Best Captain of the Year award for the second consecutive year Mahela Jayawardene aired his views to The Nation on the inaugural Twenty20 World Cricket Championships to be held in South Africa from September 13-25 and he made no bones about what he thought of the tournament.

For Jayawardene nothing comes better than Test Cricket. His personal opinion: “As an individual person I feel that Test Cricket is the challenge for any cricketer. One-day cricket is excellent. It develops skill that needs a different challenge. For every player who wants to play cricket and for his country the ultimate goal is to play Test Cricket and challenge themselves to be better cricketers.”

Jayawardene’s views on the new format that has been introduced to international cricket: “Twenty20 is another different format. It will definitely help different skills of individual players. It will be a definite revolution in world cricket. To have a World Cup, I don’t know whether it is the right time, whether it is too soon. It is the first time it’s happening and everyone is looking forward to it to see how they can handle the situation, how big is the occasion. There will be a big role for the players to play in this format.”

Sri Lanka can consider themselves to be novices when it comes to this form of cricket at international level. Their track record is just three Twenty20 internationals of which they have won ----. It is not that other countries have played more international Twenty20 matches than Sri Lanka, but the fact remains that they have been playing it at domestic level for a longer period than us. Twenty20 cricket was introduced in tournament form amongst clubs in this country in 2005 and it has not really caught up as it has in most other countries.

But Jayawardene does not think the lack of experience would be a setback to his team.
“The shorter the game, it becomes more open. There are no clear favourites. A lot of sides have a lot of all-rounders trying to play a different brand of cricket. Everyone has a very good opportunity to do well.”
“We haven’t played that much but we have an understanding of what is required basically. We need to make slight adjustments with a few individuals and how we’ve got to approach it. At the end of the day it has to be basic cricket and play proper cricket. I think we have a very good chance,” Jayawardene said.

Speaking further he said: “It’s important to think that every match we play in the tournament is vital for us. That’s the attitude we have. We are going to make sure that all the challenges that are in front of us, we are going to take it with a smile and see what we can come up with. We’ve got the people to do that in the team.”

“It is very important for us to compete very well in this tournament and try and win it. It’s a World Cup and the first of its kind. We haven’t gone into the finer details of the tournament and how important it is to win it. Once we get there we will motivate the guys to realize how very important this tournament is. It is a tournament we could easily do well. It is definitely going to be another feather in our cap if we can do something special,” Jayawardene stated.
Jayawardene said the emphasis would be on batting. “For twenty overs you’ve got ten wickets in hand. Basically you give a licence to the batsmen to go after the bowling. If the bowlers can keep a cool head and try and take wickets upfront and be more aggressive with the ball, you will definitely create more opportunities.”

“Whoever we put out on the park has to know what role he has to play. We’ve got some experienced players who can adjust to different situations. There are key players like Sanath (Jayasuriya), Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) and myself plus the bowlers. They have a very good opportunity to be an attacking unit. If we can pick up wickets it is always going to be good because we can slow things down. We’ll definitely be looking forward to attacking a lot,” said Jayawardene.
Preparation wise Sri Lanka has not done anything different considering the intensity the much shorter version of the game is going to bring.

“We are gradually getting into the one-day mood of the game and making slight adjustments regarding different situations that we have to face in Twenty20 cricket. We first need to see the wickets, how it is going to be in South Africa. Once we see know that we can have a plan how we’ll go about it and see what our options are. We’ve got a balanced squad with a few all rounders in it,” said Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka has two practice matches against Pakistan and New Zealand on September 8 and 9 before they go into the tournament proper. Sri Lanka’s opening match of their group (Group C) is against Kenya on September 14 followed by the one against New Zealand on September 15. The first two teams in each of the four groups will proceed to the SuperEight stages.

SRI LANKA SQUAD: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Hasantha Fernando, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Gayan Wijekoon, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Officials: Sriyan Samararatne (manager), Trevor Bayliss (coach), Paul Farbrace (assistant coach), Tommy Simsek (physio), Jade Roberts (trainer), Lal Thamal (masseur), Nalin de Alwis (computer analyst).

TeamSpan Mat Won Lost Tied NR %
Australia
2005-2007 5 3 2 0 0 60.00
Bangladesh
2006-2006 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
England
2005-2007 6 2 4 0 0 33.33
India
2006-2006 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
New Zealand
2005-2006 5 2 2 1 0 50.00
Pakistan
2006-2007 2 1 1 0 0 50.00
South Africa
2005-2007 5 2 3 0 0 40.00
Sri Lanka
2006-2006 3 2 1 0 0 66.66
West Indies
2006-2007 3 1 1 1 0 50.00
Zimbabwe
2006-2006 1 0 1 0 0 0.0

Murali has not, and will not join ICL

Murali has not, and will not join ICL

ESPN reports Murali joining ICL for US $ 2.5 million

By Marlon Fernandopulle- The Sunday times reports
Murali needs only 9 more wickets to become the all time great


Sri Lanka’s champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was surprised and furious over a news item in an International Sports Channel ESPN which stated that he has signed a contract with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) for US $ 2.5 million.

In a purportedly exclusive report ESPN said on Friday night that the star spinner has signed the contract and will be a part of the ICL’s controversial Twenty-20 tournament. Reacting to the news Muralitharan’s Manager Kushil Gunasekera contacted the spinner who is currently in England and later told The Sunday Times that the news report is false and Murali has no intentions in joining the ICL.

“Murali was surprised and angry as to how and why his name has been linked with ICL at this stage. He categorically denied the report. He is still a contracted player with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and his priorities are to play for his country. There is absolutely no reason for him to sign with ICL”, said a disturbed Gunasekera.

Last afternoon Gunasekera got in touch with the Sports Editor of ESPN in Singapore and the latter has admitted it was a mistake and promised to broadcast a correction on Monday.

Meanwhile as the Sri Lankan squad made their final preparations for the Twenty-20 World Cup, questions were raised among players and cricket fans as to why their champion spinner, who is now ruled out of the tournament, bowled almost four hundred overs at an average of 50 overs per game for Lancashire in the eight games he played for the county this season.

The Lankan spinner has sent down the second most number of overs this County season -392 overs. Only Mushtaq Mohamed who plays for Sussex has sent out more overs (533) than Muralitharan. However Mushtaq has played in 12 games while Murali played in only eight games. Australia’s leg spin wizard Shane Warne who is captaining Hampshire has bowled only 353 overs in his 12 games for the County.

Muralitharan may be used to bowling 40-50 overs for Sri Lanka in Test matches but should the spinner be bowling a similar number of overs repeatedly for a county? It is evident that his current injury is as a result of the continuous strain on his biceps. As a result of all this Muralitharan will be now confined to a spectator when the inaugural Twenty-20 World Cup begins next week. It is hoped that during this period the 35-year-old off spinner will sit back, take stock of his progress and get his priorities right for the next few playing years.

It is also baffling to note that the cricketers who are representing different counties have not arrived in Sri Lanka to join their colleagues at practices. The general practice is for all the selected cricketers to come back from where ever they are playing and start practicing as a team before any tour or tournament. However in this instance only Sanath Jayasuriya returned and joined the rest of the players at practices while Kumar Sangakkara, Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga are expected in the island today.

Isn’t it the duty of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to ensure that their players, who are their contracted employees, to return on time for practices ahead of an important ICC tournament?

ICC World Twenty20 2007 - Schedule

ICC World Twenty20 2007
Group A: Bangladesh, South Africa (A1), West Indies (A2)
Group B: England (B2), Australia (B1), Zimbabwe
Group C: New Zealand (C1), Sri Lanka (C2), Kenya
Group D: India (D2), Pakistan (D1), Scotland

September

GROUP STAGE (all start times BST)

11 South Africa v West Indies, Cape Town (1900)

12 New Zealand v Kenya, Durban (1100)

12 Pakistan v Scotland, Durban (1500)

12 Australia v Zimbabwe, Cape Town (1900)

13 West Indies v Bangladesh, Johannesburg (1100)

13 England v Zimbabwe, Cape Town (1500)

13 India v Scotland, Durban (1900)

14 Sri Lanka v Kenya , Johannesburg (1100)

14 Australia v England, Cape Town (1500)

14 India v Pakistan, Durban (1900)

15 Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Johannesburg (1500)

15 South Africa v Bangladesh, Cape Town (1900)

SUPER EIGHTS
NOTE: Seeds A1, B2, C1, D2 in one group, seeds A2, B1, C2, D1 in the other. If any non-seed qualifies from their group, they will replace the eliminated seeds in the draw

16 C1 v D2, Johannesburg (1100)

16 B1 v A2, Cape Town (1500)

16 A1 v B2, Cape Town (1900)

17 D1 v C2, Johannesburg (1900)

18 C1 v B2, Durban (1100)

18 B1 v D1, Johannesburg (1400)

18 A2 v C2, Johannesburg (1800)

19 A1 v C1, Durban (1400)

19 B2 v D2, Durban (1800)

20 A1 v C2, Cape Town (1000)

20 A2 v D1, Cape Town (1400)

20 A1 v D2, Durban (1800)

SEMI-FINALS/FINAL

22 1st semi-final, Cape Town (1400)

22 Semi-final, Durban (1800)

24 Final, Johannesburg (1400)

Jayawardene upbeat for Twenty20

Jayawardene upbeat for Twenty20
Jayawardene expects Sri Lankan joy at Twenty20 World Cup




Jayawardene expects Sri Lankan success at the Twenty20 World Cup


Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is confident his side can carry their excellent form to South Africa and win the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.

"Our bowling attack is very good and so is the batting as it consists of proven performers," he said.

"Our intention is to challenge ourselves and we feel we are capable of winning the championship."

Sri Lanka start off with a tough match against New Zealand in Johannesburg on 14 September.

But both sides are expected to progress to the Super Eights stage from a group which also includes Kenya.

Sri Lanka side are relatively inexperienced in the 20-over format of the game having only played three Twenty20 internationals, the most recent of which was in December, when they lost to New Zealand by five wickets in Auckland.

But they have stuck largely to the squad which reached the final of the 50-over World Cup in April before losing to Australia and Jayawardene said: "I believe we should play the way we are used to and adopt our brand of cricket which has served us well up to now.

"I think it is all about keeping a cool head as one cannot make too many mistakes and expect to come back as it is a very short game...the key will be to minimise mistakes as we do in other games.

"We will attempt to take a game at a time which is the best way to move forward."

Test cricket was the real prize for any cricketer- Mahela

Test cricket was the real prize for any cricketer- Mahela




CRICKET: Embattled wicketkeeper Mark Boucher found support - albeit a bit too late - from an unexpected quarter yesterday.

Sri Lanka’s captain, Mahela Jayawardene, in an International Cricket Council conference call, said he too felt that success in Test cricket was the real prize for any international cricketer.

“It is the ultimate goal,” he said, “but these other forms of the game are exciting as well.”

South African Test and one-day wicketkeeper Boucher voiced similar sentiments 10 days ago and was very heavily punished by Cricket SA - apparently for this observation, among others.

Jaywardene, perhaps having heard of Boucher’s woes, said his preference for Test cricket was purely his personal point of view, and that he appreciated the excitement the new form of the game was bringing into cricket.

He admitted Sri Lanka were not particularly experienced in this shortest form of the game, but that they had every chance of doing well in the tournament. “We have only been playing for two years and countries like England have been playing a lot longer, so they have to be favourites,” he said.

“But if we have our game plans - our different strategies - and if we stick to them and execute them properly there is no reason why we should not go all the way,” he said.

He singled out explosive, veteran opening batsman, left-hander Sanath Jayasuriya, as a key figure up at the top of the batting order, but felt, like some others that bowlers would play a key part in the tournament.

“Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan - they are all wicket-takers in all forms of the game, and taking wickets up front in this format is particularly vital,” he said.

“If a side loses quick wickets in a Twenty20 game there is very little time to recover. So bowlers will be a key part.”

He said a challenge would be to get to grips with new tactics and a totally new approach , and it would not surprise him if it became a game for specialists.

“However, many players in my experience have started off in one-day cricket and have had such success that they have graduated to Test cricket.

“When one-day cricket was just beginning, there was a school of thought that Test players would not necessarily make good one-day players and this is still the case in many instances. But there are exceptions and I expect the same will apply to Twenty20 cricket.”

The appeal of Twenty20 cricket, he said, was that it opened the game up and one mistake could completely level the playing field.

“It all happens so quickly any team could suddenly find itself with the advantage. If you make just one mistake, it is very hard to get back into the game.”

That said, if his side did what they had done to get to the final of the World Cup in the West Indies a few months ago, they would do well.

“If we play to our strengths and work hard, there is no reason why we should not succeed in a game which is largely a new one to us,” said Jayawardene.

Business Day, Johannesburg

Collingwood fined for slow over-rate

Collingwood fined for slow over-rate

LONDON (AFP) - England captain Paul Collingwood has been fined 50 percent of his match fee for a slow over-rate during India’s nine-run win in the second one-day international here at Nevil Road.
Match referee Roshan Mahanama ruled that England had been three overs short of its target of bowling 50 overs in the permitted three-and-a-half hours when time allowances were taken into consideration.
The England team was also fined.
And with the shortfall being more than two overs, Collingwood, as captain, was automatically charged with a Level Two breach of the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct, clause 2.11.
Collingwood pleaded guilty to that charge in the hearing that took place after Friday’s floodlit match where he was accompanied by Peter Moores, the England coach, and team manager Phil Neale.


The charge was laid by the two on-field match officials Billy Doctrove and Ian Gould and third umpire Nigel Llong.
Collingwood’s punishment, the minimum available for a Level Two offence, could have been much worse.
Mahanama, if he’d gone to the other extreme, had the option of imposing a full match fee and/or a one Test or two one-day international ban.

Mahela happy with Bayliss and co.

Mahela happy with Bayliss and co.

Champika Fernando



Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayewardene lauded Sri Lanka’s new team management that assumed duties ahead of the next month’s inaugural Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa and said the trio blends well with the team.
“They seem to fit very well with us,” Jayawardene said.
The new team management headed by coach Trevor Bayliss, his assistant Paul Farbrace and trainer Jade Roberts assumed work on Monday and had several training sessions with the team during the week.
“It’s too premature to say anything more at this point since they are just a week old. But, I can tell you that we had a couple of very good training sessions during the week and are looking forward to more exciting moments ahead,” Jayawardene added.
Jayawardene however said that the coach Bayliss does possess similarities to his predecessor Tom Moody but said it’s a bit difficult to elaborate on the matter at the moment.
“He seems quite similar to Moody who keeps a very good rapport with the players but apart from that I can’t elaborate because he is just settling in,” he explained.
Sri Lankans will leave on September 5 for the two-week long inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa where they will confront New Zealand and Kenya in group C in the first round.
Earlier, coach Bayliss said at a press conference that he was very impressed with the team’s approach to the game.
“They are a bright bunch of guys and very friendly people. Before we came here everyone was telling us how good these guys were, lovely people, hard trainers and hard workers. Certainly that’s what we got this morning. I am looking forward to working with them,” he said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Jayawardene also said that Sri Lanka could pull off the first ever Twenty20 World cup title despite little Twenty20 match experience.
Sri Lanka has played only three Twenty20 matches but Jayawardene believed that it wasn’t a disadvantage.
“All the countries do have a realistic chance of winning the cup and it all depends on how you perform on that particular day. I think we have a very good chance of winning too.
“We are very much looking forward to the event; hope we can strike rich in South Africa,” Jayawardene said.

You do selections, I’ll do coaching — Bayliss

You do selections, I’ll do coaching — Bayliss

By Champika Fernando


Sri Lanka’s new cricket coach Trevor Bayliss said that he would not intend to interfere in team’s selections — an approach he had maintained throughout his coaching career.
“I would be quite happy for the selectors to do the selection and for me to coach the team,” said the Australian at a packed press conference at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters last week.
Bayliss, 44, however said he would intend to give his view on the team but would not intend to have a vote on the selections.
“The attitude I had in New South Wales when I was coaching was the same thing. I didn’t actually have a vote on the selections, but the one rule we put in place for the players was that there should be no complains. Whatever you have been dealt, just get on with it,” Bayliss added.
Bayliss was responding to a question from the house whether he would follow his predecessor, Tom Moody, who had a larger say in the team selection.
Bayliss and his support staff, assistant coach Paul Farbrace, and trainer Jade Roberts started their reign with the national team last week ahead of next month’s Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

Twenty20 World Cup

Bayliss, believed that Sri Lanka could give a good showing at the upcoming world cup, as the Twenty20 form of cricket suits best for the attacking style of cricket of the Lankans.
“Sri Lanka hasn’t played a lot of Twenty20 cricket. But the style of cricket they play can be suited to the Twenty20 game.
“Sri Lanka is a team that plays an attacking style of the game. With a bit of experience and playing a few practice games, I am hoping the players can learn fairly quickly. I’m confident that we can give a good showing,” Bayliss said. The new coaching staff had their first session with the national team on Monday, hours before meeting the press.
“Before we came here everyone was telling us how good these guys were, lovely people, hard trainers and hard workers. Certainly that’s what we got this morning. I am looking forward to working with them.”
A middle-order batsman and a brilliant cover fielder, Bayliss quickly made his mark as the head coach of NSW when he succeeded Steve Rixon three years ago before being appointed as the new Sri Lanka coach in mid June.

On Tom Moody

Bayliss admitted that he had consulted his predecessor, Tom Moody on several occasions before and after accepting his first international assignment.
“We have got fairly similar views on the way cricket should be played and the way it should be taken forward,” he said, adding that he doesn’t intend to bring in drastic changes to the national team. “Not a lot will change in the process.
Sri Lanka has been very successful in their last 18 months. I don’t want to change too much but think that it’s appropriate to continue along those lines.
“Tom’s opinion of the team was that they were a bunch of guys, very talented, easy to work with and easy to talk to.
They play an attacking style of cricket similar to Australia. From that point of view and coming from Australia, there won’t be a big change in the way we are going,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bayliss said that he was elated at the opportunity granted on him to train one of the most successful international cricket teams in the world.
“It’s a dream, I suppose, where you can reach the top in whatever endeavours that you try. I am honoured that I’ve been given the opportunity to coach the Sri Lankan cricket team,” Bayliss said.

Assistant coach Farbrace

Speaking on his deputy Paul Farbrace, Bayliss said Farbrace is a hard worker who shared a similar personality to him.
“Paul is a coach who knows his stuff and is a very hard worker. He is also a guy whom I can get on with.
He’s probably got a similar personality and similar views on the way the game should be played. I think it is important that the two of us should work together.” Sri Lanka Cricket had no second thoughts in enlisting former Kent coaching director, Farbrace as assistant coach on recommendation of Bayliss
“To work with Trevor and the other guys here, it really wasn’t a contest. It’s an exciting opportunity.
You don’t very often get the chance to work with exciting teams who are playing good cricket. “I really want to get into and get stuck in.” Farbrace said.
Meanwhile, the trainer Jade Roberts, who is also a dietician, said that he too had a chat with former Sri Lankan trainers Alex Kountouri and C.J. Clark before accepting the job.
“I am excited and thrilled to take this new position,” 29-year-old Roberts said. He was at the strength and conditioning position at the Queensland Academy of Sports before signing up with Sri Lanka Cricket. He has also worked for two years as a Performance Coach at the Australian Acceleration (Brisbane), the sports performance enhancing company in Australia.