Sanga.. still at the top

Sri Lankan star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara is still at the top as the world’s leading batsmen according to the latest release or ICC rankings. The Sri Lankan left hander has 850 points, four ahead of Jacques Kallis who is in the second place. After his incredible performance against India in the just conclude Test series, Australian captain Michael Clarke moved in to the third spot with 821 points. Sri Lankan middle order batsmen Thilan Samaraweera has secured the 7^th spot of the rankings after a successful South African tour where he scored 2 magnificent centuries.

South African pacer Dale Steyn continues to be the best bowler in the world with 896 points, well ahead of the second place, Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal who is probably the best spinner in the world at this point with other spinners in the top ten being Gream Swann and Abdur Rehman.

Two south Africans Hashim Amla and A.B de Villiers hold on to the first and second spot respectively of the ODI batting rankings. The only Sri Lankan in the top ten is Kumar Sangakkara, who is in the 7^th spot with 745 points.
                                       
                                   Spinners dominate the ODI bowling rankings as there are 4 spinners in the top 5 positions. Two Pakistanis, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez are in the 1^st and 2^nd spot while the South African left armer Lonwabo Tsotsobe holds on to the 3^rd place. Sri Lankan pace ace Lasith Malinga is at the 10^th spot with 648 points

-NDM

Muralitharan back at Gloucestershire for T20s

Muttiah Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker in Test and ODI cricket, will be back at Gloucestershire this year to play a part in the county's Friends Life t20 campaign. The Sri Lanka offspinner, who retired from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup final, has most recently turned out for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 competition, the HRV Cup.

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My long term goal is to make SL the best team in the world – Ford

The adage that a good player doesn’t make a good coach has been proved in so many cases, with Sir Viv Richards and Greg Chappell being cases in point. But the contrary seems to be true. An average player can turn out to be an excellent coach. Australia’s John Buchanan played only seven first class games, but won two World Cups and the Ashes three times. Like Buchanan, Sri Lanka’s new coach, Graham Ford also played only seven first class games for Natal ‘B’, but became South Africa’s Head Coach, before he turned 40.

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FACTBOX-Cricket-Australia, India, Sri Lanka Tri-series

FIXTURES          

 Feb 5  - Australia v India, Melbourne          

 Feb 8  - India v Sri Lanka, Perth (0420)      

 Feb 10 - Australia v Sri Lanka, Perth (0420) 

 Feb 12 - Australia v India, Adelaide            

 Feb 14 - India v Sri Lanka, Adelaide           

 Feb 17 - Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney        

 Feb 19 - Australia v India, Brisbane            

 Feb 21 - India v Sri Lanka, Brisbane           

 Feb 24 - Australia v Sri Lanka, Hobart         

 Feb 26 - Australia v India, Sydney  

 Feb 28 - India v Sri Lanka, Hobart

 Mar 2  - Australia v Sri Lanka, Melbourne    

 Mar 4  - First final, Brisbane          

 Mar 6  - Second final, Adelaide      

 Mar 8 -  Third final, Adelaide*

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We’re here for business says Jayawardene

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene wants his team to play good hard cricket and establish themselves as real contenders from the first game onwards in the Commonwealth Bank one-day triangular series in Australia.
“We got a tough challenge ahead of us. There are little, little things we need to improve quite a bit. I don’t know how we will react in Australia but we will definitely fight for all the matches and try and be consistent as a team,” said Jayawardene who has once again taken over the reins as captain to guide his country’s destiny in cricket.

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Mahela expects tough challenge down under

Sri Lanka’s new captain Mahela Jayawardene stressed the importance of carrying on the good work from the last two ODIs in South Africa, where Sri Lanka chased down over 300 runs to record two stunning wins. He said this addressing journalists before the national cricket team took wing to Australia to play in a tri-nation series involving the hosts and India.

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Sri Lanka not complacent about India in tri-series

The new Sri Lankan cricket captain, Mahela Jayawardene, has said that his team will not be complacent about India because of its current run in tests in Australia.


Picture Courtesy APF

Speaking just ahead of the team’s departure to Australia, where Sri Lanka will join India and Australia for a triangular one day series, he recalled that in the last India – Sri Lanka encounter in the finals of the last ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka had lost. “They [Indians] are struggling. But that is in test cricket. One Day is a different ball game altogether. So, once we get there we need to make sure we are not complacent about the Indians. I know they are a very good one-day side. So we are looking forward to the challenge. The last time we played we lost to India in the finals,” he said.

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Commonwealth Bank Series 2012

Sri Lanka leaves today to Australia for cricket triangular

Sri Lanka’s national cricket team will leave for Australia today for the Commonwealth triangular which also includes India and the host nation. This will be the first tour of Mahela Jayawardene who took up the position after previous captain Tillekaratne Dilshan resigned after the islanders’ tour of South Africa. Graham Ford commences duties as the national coach after the sacking of Geoff Marsh.

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Never got a chance to explain ourselves: Jayawardene

Jayawardene’s first assignment is the upcoming
triangular series in Australia. PHOTO: AFP/FILE   

Amidst the shuffling of officials and the exchange of the captain’s arm-band, newly appointed Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene acknowledged that there was immense pressure on the team after the dismal show it had put on recently.

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CB series starts on 5th February

Commonwealth Bank Series between Australia, Sri Lanka and India is set to start on 5^th February at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. Each of the teams’ will play 8 matches in the group stage to decide who will be in the best of three final starting on 4^th March. All the matches including the best of three final will be played under the floodlights.

Watch great memories of Lions in Ausieland...

I took up the captaincy for one year - Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's new captain, has said his second term will be for a year at most and that his priority is to rebuild the team following a string of defeats in Tests and ODIs after the 2011 World Cup. The tri-series in Australia, involving the hosts and India, will be Jayawardene's first assignment after taking over the leadership from Tillakaratne Dilshan.

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No light at the end of Sri Lanka's tunnel

Jayawardene is back in harness, but presumably
not for long © AFP

In 2009, an ODI series loss against India at home was sufficient cause for the Sri Lankan selectors to entertain the idea of a change in captaincy. Just days after the defeat, Tillakaratne Dilshan was named captain for Sri Lanka's maiden Twenty20 international on home soil. Mahela Jayawardene, who up until that point had been Sri Lanka's captain in all formats, found himself sidelined. Shortly after, Jayawardene announced he was stepping down as captain. Two years and two captains later, Sri Lanka have been forced to go back to Jayawardene, hoping that he can somehow change the fortunes of a team that is facing an unprecedented decline.

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Graham Ford appointed Sri Lanka coach

Graham Ford has been appointed Sri Lanka coach, replacing Geoff Marsh, it was announced today. Ford, the former South Africa coach, will begin his assignment with the triangular ODI series in Australia next month. His appointment is the latest decision by Sri Lanka Cricket to revamp the setup around the national team - the captaincy was changed on Monday and, last week, the selection panel was replaced before its term expired - following a string of disappointing results.

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Thank you Dilshan!

When Tillakeratne Dilshan was conferred the captaincy of the Sri Lankan cricket team, Kumar Sangakkara the outgoing captain said that his successor will probably come up with some surprising decisions and noted that Dilshan had a way of ‘making things happen’. This is true. Some of his decisions surprised, yes, and he did make things happen at time.

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Maharoof vs Warne

Farveez Maharoof takes on Shane Warne for 26 runs in an IPL game

Maharoof vs Warne by cricsl

Lanka are working towards stability - Arnold

Jayawardene to lead SL in Australia

Hours after Tillakaratne Dilshan resigned as Sri Lanka captain, Mahela Jayawardene was appointed in his place to lead the ODI squad to Australia for the tri-series in February involving the hosts and India. Angelo Mathews was named vice-captain of the 15-member squad which also included Dilshan.

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Marsh to be replaced by Ford as coach

Sri Lanka Cricket are set to replace current coach Geoff Marsh with Graham Ford, the former South Africa coach, ESPNcricinfo has learned. The decision, which is expected to be announced after the one-day series against South Africa, is the latest by the board to revamp the set-up around the national team - the selection panel was replaced last week and it is believed the captaincy is also set to change hands.

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Sri Lanka vs South Africa 5th ODI highlights

Plenty for Sri Lanka to be happy about - Arnold

Dilshan quits as Sri Lanka captain

Tillakaratne Dilshan has stepped down as Sri Lanka captain in all three formats, a day after the ODI series against South Africa concluded. Dilshan took over as captain from Kumar Sangakkara after the 2011 World Cup, led his team on tours to England, the UAE [against Pakistan] and South Africa and at home against Australia. His captaincy came under severe criticism as Sri Lanka lost both the Test and ODI series against all the four countries.

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Sri Lanka chase down 314 in nail-biter

Sri Lanka won a second straight ODI against South Africa, beating hosts South Africa by two wickets with one ball remaining in Paarl.At 3-1 down, Sri Lanka appeared poised for another defeat when centuries from Graeme Smith (125) and AB de Villiers (125 not out), who added 186 in 28 overs for the third wicket, led the Proteas to 312 for four.

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Big hitting Perera creates an impression

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan finally found the form that has eluded him for most of the tour to lead Sri Lanka to a convincing five-wicket victory over South Africa in the fourth Sunfoil ODI at the De Beers Diamond Oval on Friday evening.Dilshan’s innings of 87 came off the same number of balls, with nine fours and two sixes, and matched the innings of his South African counterpart AB de Villiers, who had earlier made 96 off 76 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes.

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Final chance for Dilshan the captain?

It is hard to believe that less than ten months ago, Sri Lanka were World Cup finalists. After the heartbreak of April 2, 2011, they have lost series to England, Australia, Pakistan and now South Africa. Tillakaratne Dilshan's helpless, yet inwardly hurting, visage has been a common sight in all those defeats. Sunday's game could be Dilshan's last as Sri Lanka captain. There have been calls back home to sack him as leader. Some even want him to be dropped from the side. They want change.

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Dilshan wants strong finish to lost series

What if Tillakaratne Dilshan had come good more than just once in the Tests and in the four ODIs so far? What if Sri Lanka's bowlers had been able to take 4 for 47 in one of the previous matches as well? What if their fielders had shown the commitment they did in Kimberley throughout?

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Asia Cup final 2008 - Sri Lanka vs India

This is the match where Ajantha Mendis announce his arrival at the internationala stage by destroying India with a spell of 6 for 13.


Asia Cup 2008 Final - Sri Lanka Vs India - Part 1 by sanjeewa009

Sri Lanka vs South Africa 4th ODI Highlights

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Perera Leads Sri Lanka To Five-Wicket Victory

Sri Lanka capitalised on a series of uncharacteristic slips from South Africa to win the fourth One-Day International in Kimberley by five wickets.Although AB de Villiers hit an entertaining 96 as his side posted 299 for seven, they allowed Sri Lanka back into the game as their batting failed to kick on and they missed chances in the field as Sri Lanka closed on 304 for five.

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Perera guides Lankans to win

Kimberley - Thisara Perera scored 69 not out to secure Sri Lanka's first win from four one-day internationals (ODI) in Kimberley on Friday.
He shared an unbeaten 58-run partnership with Angelo Mathews to lead his team to victory by five wickets, with eight balls to spare.

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Dilshan, Chandimal, Perera guide Sri Lanka to five wicket win

Sri Lanka pulled off a remarkable five wicket win in against South Africa in the 4^th One Day International to salvage some lost pride in the five match ODI series. Chasing a mammoth 300 runs, Thisara Perera and Angelo Matthews saw Sri Lanka home with eight balls spare at at De Beers Oval, Kimberley, on Friday

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Hard-hitting Perera seals first win for Sri Lanka

It took Sri Lanka three consecutive defeats to get their batsmen firing in unison. Tillakaratne Dilshan finally played with freedom to give the chase momentum, Dinesh Chandimal anchored it in the middle overs, and Thisara Perera stunned South Africa with sustained hitting to overhaul a stiff target in Kimberley. Perera had also struck crucial blows earlier with the ball, making South Africa lose their way in the final quarter of their innings, when 350 had looked achievable at one stage.

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I will think about the captaincy – Mahela

It’s a job that he said he didn’t want three years ago and last year after the ICC Cricket World Cup in April he stepped down from the team’s vice-captaincy too, but Mahela Jayawardene said yesterday that he would ‘think about it’ if the post of captaincy was offered to him on the national cricket team’s return home.

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Sri Lanka sports minister reappoints Ashantha de Mel as chief selector

Former test bowler Ashantha de Mel was reappointed as Sri Lanka's chief selector on Thursday, 19 months after he was sacked amid accusations of inefficiency, favouritism and political bias.

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Cricket Board at urgent meeting

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board is currently having an urgent meeting following which several changes to Sri Lanka cricket are expected to be announced.

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Mahela injured doubtful for remaining ODIs

Out-of-form batsman Mahela Jayawardene is injured with a back strain and he didn’t take the field in the third One Day International played at Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein on Tuesday night

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Captain, coach, selectors to be sacked in complete overhaul

Captain, national coach and national selectors all will be sacked as Sri Lanka cricket team will be completely overhauled before the coming tour to Australia later this month

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Interview with Steve Mount Physiotherapist of the National Team

I have had a life long interest in sport, and played a lot of Australian Rules Football and cricket, in addition to a number of other sports, during my school years. My interest in physiotherapy was triggered by dealing with my own injuries, and experiencing first hand the difference a good physiotherapist can make. I have also always enjoyed science based subjects, in particular anatomy and physiology. This being the case, physiotherapy seemed like a good career to pursue, in that it gave me the opportunity to work in elite level sport and to also study the type of subjects that I was interested in.

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Angelo Mathews spectacular fielding

This marvelous effort from Angelo Mathews in the T20 world cup 2009 against West Indies had the umpires and commentators fighting with rule books.

There were no problems with the rules this time around but this was even better against Australia in the 2^nd T20 in 2011

Dilshan rues Duckworth-Lewis denouement

Irony can be cruel and it played one of its most callous cards when Sri Lanka's bid to stay alive in the series was killed off by wet weather. After the favours rained on them in that famous relegation game in the 2003 World Cup - when South Africa's mathematical deficiency meant the showers fell in Sri Lanka's favour - the wheel was bound to turn at some stage.

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Must-win match for Sri Lanka

Bloemfontein is the venue where Sri Lanka’s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003 started and captain Sanath Jayasuriya set the tone for the tournament with a swashbuckling hundred. The Sri Lankans will be hoping for a similar performance by their current captain Tillakaratne Dilshan or one of the senior players, as they take on South Africa in the third ODI of the five match series here at Springbok Stadium today.

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Sri Lanka looking to touch 250

Sri Lanka have one important target in their minds ahead of what could be a series-decider in Bloemfontein: to put at least 250 runs on the board. After being shot out for 43 in the first ODI, they recovered admirably to post 236 in the second, but still fell short and face defeat in the five-match series sooner than they would have expected.

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Kallis, Amla absence gives Sri Lanka an opening

It is tough to find positives when you are 0-2 down in a five-match series, but Sri Lanka have cause for relief following their show in the second ODI. They stretched South Africa for a fleeting passage of play in the last game, suggesting they had woken up from the 43 all out nightmare. It was a game the visitors conceded with eight balls to spare, leaving in its wake a series of ifs and buts. If Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal had produced 15 more runs in the end overs, if Tillakaratne Dilshan had shown more perceptiveness with his bowling changes, if Lasith Malinga had somehow clung on to a tough return catch off the first ball that Albie Morkel faced, the result could have been different. But South Africa outlasted the best Sri Lanka had to offer, and are a game away from taking the series.

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Sri Lanka selectors must resign: Ranatunga

Former Sri Lankan cricket captain-turned-politician Arjuna Ranatunga says the current national cricket selection panel should be sacked following the team's poor performance in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Ranatunga also accused the government of interfering with Sri Lankan cricket, resulting in some senior players also making political comments instead of just focussing on the game.

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A HERO in the making

If the start to a youngster’s international career can define the player that he will be, T.M Dilshan’s prediction of 10,000 runs from Dinesh Chandimal is hardly an overstatement.  According to many, this dynamic right hander, with a sound technique, good defense, all the shots and an attacking mind is a perfect example of Sri Lankan branded Cricketer

          As a 22 year old, he has already proved he has what it takes to blossom at the international stage. With two ODI centuries and a thoroughly impressive performance on his Test debut there is definitely a great future ahead of him. And regarded by many as one of the brightest young talents of the country, he has a responsibility to fulfill those expectations.

 Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal started his cricketing life from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. Later he moved to Ananda College, Colombo where he scored more than 1000 runs in two consecutive seasons. Shortly afterwards he joined NCC, invited by Kumar Sangakkara. His First-class record speaks for himself. Over 4000 runs at an average just under 57 with nine centuries and sixteen half centuries. He scored his maiden first-class century in 2009 against New Zealand where he faced the likes of Chris Martin, Darryl Tuffey, Ian O’Brien, Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori while he was just 19 years old. He is also a wicket keeper and as showed on his Test debut, he is more than handy in that department too.

On these evidences he has all the making of becoming a future great, and it’s up to him to transform the start in to greater things. With the help form everyone, more and more opportunities and experience, we all hope that he will achieve those heights.    

    

NDM

'Thought my career had ended' - Samaraweera

For Thilan Samaraweera, it has been a topsy-turvy few months. He averaged 50 in Sri Lanka's away Test series against England last summer, only to have his form fall away badly in the home Tests against Australia in September, when he scored 86 in four innings. He was dropped for the Tests against Pakistan in the UAE that followed and, after being initially ignored, added to the Test squad that toured South Africa as cover for Mahela Jayawardene, who had picked up a knee injury prior to the series.

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Sri Lanka vs England only test at the Oval 1998

The historic test match between Sri Lanka vs England where the young Muttiah Muralitharan destroyed England with 16 wickets for the match. With a great double century from Sanath Jayasuriya and a marvelous century from Aravinda De Silva, Sri Lanka won for the first time in England by 10 wickets

Injured Fernando returns to Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilhara Fernando has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour of South Africa following a recurrence of his knee injury.
The speedster has long been plagued by the injury which flared up during the record 258-run defeat in the first ODI in Paarl on Wednesday.


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Senanayake replaces injured Mendis

Offspinner Sachithra Senanayake will replace the injured Ajantha Mendis in Sri Lanka's squad for the remainder of the ODI series in South Africa. Mendis had a recurrence of his back problem ahead of the second match in East London.

"Ajantha Mendis will return to Sri Lanka from South Africa due to injury and will not be available for the remainder of the series. Sachitra Senanayaka will leave for South Africa immediately," Sri Lanka Cricket said.

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Dilshan wows to fight back after worst ever defeat

T. M. Dilshan wows to fight back after Sri Lanka's worst ever ODI defeat at the hands of South Africa at Paarl on Wednesday. South Africa trashed Sri Lanka by 258 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
"We didn't start well in the Test series but we came back strongly in the second. We didn't start well in the One-Day series and we have to come back strongly in a few days time in the second one-day," said Dilshan.

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Samaraweera proves an overseas point

When Sri Lanka's squad for the Test series in South Africa was initially announced, Thilan Samaraweera wasn't a part of it. His selection was an afterthought, as cover for Mahela Jaywardene, who had injured his knee. At the end of the series, Sri Lankan fans would have been glad their selectors had an afterthought, for without Samaraweera's dogged displays, Sri Lanka's series would have looked much sorrier than it eventually did. His scores in the series read thus: 36, 32 (Centurion), 102, 43 (Durban) and 11, 115 not out (Cape Town). In each of those three Tests he scored more than any of his team-mates, and finished the series with 339 runs, 159 more than the next-highest (Kumar Sangakkara's 180). In all he scored almost a quarter of the total runs scored off the bat by Sri Lanka (339 out of 1441, 23.52%), and more runs than Sangakkara and Jayawardene managed together in their 12 innings. (To put that in perspective, Rahul Dravid scored 24.19% of India's bat runs on their tour to England last year.)

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Worst game of my career - Dilshan

Fact: Sri Lanka's 258-run loss to South Africa is the worst defeat in the country's ODI history. In numbers terms it is Sri Lanka's heftiest defeat and the lowest ODI total they have ever recorded. There is no escaping that and Tillakaratne Dilshan did not try to.

He confirmed the team were scraping the bottom of the barrel and had harsh words for their ineptitude with the bat. "It was definitely the worst game of my career," said Dilshan, his strongest statement on the South African visit. "The batting unit, again, put in a bad performance. We didn't even come close."

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A six-for, and a Shoaib impersonator

Lasith Malinga5 for 28 v Australia
third ODI, Hambantota
Sri Lanka were 0-2 down in the series, but a better batting performance in the third game gave Malinga something to defend. He began the demolition by drawing an edge from Shane Watson to slip, before denying Michael Clarke his third half-century in a row, getting him to chip to mid-on. His third victim was Michael Hussey, who square-drove to point on 63. Once Malinga's fast, accurate yorkers rattled the stumps of Xavier Doherty and Doug Bollinger, there was no doubt about the outcome.

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Three from one game

Mahela Jayawardene103 not out v India

World Cup final, Mumbai
No century in a World cup final had been scored in a losing cause until Mahela Jayawardene's lyrical unbeaten 103. His masterclass was proof that finesse has as much of a place at this level as brutality, but it was not enough to deny India their destiny. Four years previously, at Sabina Park, Jayawardene had produced a supreme century against New Zealand to carry his side to their second World Cup final, but this was an innings of even more exquisite application. He came to the crease with his side under the cosh at 60 for 2 in the 17th over. But he responded with a tempo that scarcely wavered from a run a ball, until, with Nuwan Kulasekara for company, he opened his shoulders to power through to his hundred.

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Albie: Beware carefree Lanka

Despite minimal training opportunity, South Africa need to get out of the blocks quickly in the five-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka, says recalled all-rounder Albie Morkel.

The Proteas lock horns with the tourists in the first ODI at Paarl on Wednesday, with Morkel a late inclusion in the 14-strong squad after intended debutant Dean Elgar withdrew through injury.
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Sri Lanka look up to Malinga for inspiration in South Africa ODI series

AB de Villiers takes on a new challenge when he captains South Africa in the first One-Day International against Sri Lanka at Boland Park on Wednesday.

De Villiers was appointed captain of South Africa's one-day and Twenty20 teams when Gary Kirsten was named coach last June, but a hand injury kept him out of matches against Australia.

Hashim Amla took over as captain in a drawn Twenty20 series and a one-day series which Australia won 2-1.

It will be a tough baptism for De Villiers, one of South Africa's key batsmen, because he has also been selected to keep wicket.

Sri Lanka, coming off a 2-1 Test series defeat, will seek to recapture the form that took them to the World Cup final last year.

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More Malinga mayhem?

Lasith Malinga knows what it is like to have batsmen thrashing about for pads in the South African dressingroom.
It may be almost five years ago, but the 28-year-old Sri Lanka paceman will remember that day at the Providence stadium in Guyana like it was yesterday.

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Jayawardene, spinners shine in warm-up win

Sri Lanka's top order made the most of their practice game against Emerging Cape Cobras, before their spinners got a good work-out to seal a 78-run win at Brackenfell Sports Field.

The fixture was not on the original tour itinerary, but was added on a request made by the Sri Lankan team management. Batting first, Sri Lanka lost their captain Tillakaratne Dilshan cheaply, but were stabilised by a 123-run second wicket stand between Mahela Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga. Jayawardene had endured a barren Test series, and his poor run seemed set to continue when he offered opening bowler Brendan Young a return catch, but it was put down.

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The greatest day of Sri Lankan Cricket

Sri Lanka revolutionised the one-day format with their manic hitting in the first 15 overs, even while chasing, and were deserved winners. Aravinda de Silva produced a stunning all-round performance in the final to overcome Australia. This is where it all started

Sri Lankan first-class season from January 20

The Sri Lankan first-class season will begin on January 20, a Sri Lanka Cricket official has said. The first-class Premier Tier A and B league matches had been postponed indefinitely last month, in part because of a lack of funds to run the tournament. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) then had to wait until a new committee was in place, following the elections on January 3, to resolve the situation.

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Former Sri Lanka cricket captain asks ICC to inquire into SLC election

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne has complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the election for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) office bearers held on January 3rd was conducted in violation of the institution's constitution. Tillakaratne has called on the ICC to conduct an inquiry into the SLC elections that was held in violation of its constitution.

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Sri Lanka aims to recover in South Africa

The Sri Lanka cricket team under the leadership of T.M. Dilshan left for South Africa on Monday (5) to play three Tests and Five One-Day Internationals (ODI).
Skipper Dilshan was optimistic that his side, more a youthful team, would be able to end the bad patch that has been experienced by the Sri Lankan side with the assistance of the seniors, including himself.
“What we understood from our previous tours, especially against Pakistan was that as seniors we weren’t able to get the best out of the youngsters who are highly talented. The tour of South Africa will be an ideal platform to put an end to all our woes on the field and regain usual form as a formidable cricket team,” said Dilshan.

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Samaraweera proves his point

The shining light of Sri Lanka's tour, Samaraweera became only the third batsman from the sub-continent to score two centuries in a series in South Africa, after Azhar Mahmood and Sachin Tendulkar. He batted with composure, forcing the South Africans to bowl a straighter line to him and milked the spinner, Imran Tahir. His hundred in Durban was match-winning and if he had had an able partner at the other end of his Newlands century for longer, he might have saved the match for Sri Lanka. After being dropped from the side for last year's series against Pakistan, Samaraweera proved his point in a big way.

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Murali... still the MASTER

Graeme Swann and Muttiah Muralitharan go head-to-head in the Rubicon 50p Challenge. See what happend

Barren, then Durban

A busy year for Sri Lanka ended with consecutive series defeats, devastating resignations, a drug ban, and financial ruin for the governing body of cricket. However, a historic Test victory in South Africa - their first win in 16 Test matches - brought an indelible end to a topsy-turvy 2011.

The complaint in 2010 was that the FTP did not allocate enough Test matches to the side, but in 2011, Sri Lanka were blessed with 11 - they won one and lost four. By the end of the year, Tillakaratne Dilshan's men had lost three consecutive Test series.

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Sri Lanka need mental strength - Duleep Mendis

Duleep Mendis, the chairman of selectors for Sri Lanka, has said the team is going through a period of transition and needs to be given time to start performing consistently. Sri Lanka's victory over South Africa in Durban in December 2011 was their first in Tests for 18 months, and the team had faced plenty of criticism during their barren run. However, Mendis said it was only a matter of time before the team came together.

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Dharmadasa elected unopposed as SLC president

Sri Lanka's national cricket board was elected uncontested on Tuesday amid allegations that political pressure had forced favourites to withdraw from the first election in seven years.

The election was called by the government to ensure the island was in line with an International Cricket Council (ICC) directive requiring all national boards to be independently voted in by June 2012.

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Sri Lanka name the ODI Squad for South Africa Series

Opening batsman Upul Tharanga and three pace bowlers Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Kosala Kulasekara will join the Sri Lanka squad in South Africa for the five-match One Day International series starting on January 11 in Boland Park, Paarl, sources told “Daily Mirror”.
Six members of the 17man Test squad will return home at the end of the third Test which starts tomorrow in Newlands, Cape Town they added.
Tilan Samarawera, Tharanga Paranavithana, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Chanaka Welagedara and Kanishka Elvitigala will return back to Sri Lanka before the ODI series.
There are no major surprises in the ODI team as the National selectors have kept their faith in all rounder Kosala Kulasekara who did not do much to justify his place in the te
am for the recent series against Pakistan in UAE.

Sri Lanka take another shot at history

South Africa haven't won their previous four home Test series, but a failure to close out this one will cause the most criticism. While the other contests were against teams near the top of the rankings, this one is against a side that was struggling to find its feet in Test cricket after the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan. A series that was expected to be all one-way traffic is now level at one-all, with Sri Lanka having already achieved their pre-tour ambition of winning a Test in South Africa.

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Final moments of a great victory

This is the final few minute of come from behind victory by Sri Lanka in Australia on 3rd november 2010. Sri Lanka were 107 for 8 chasing 240 and this is how it ended

Lasith Malinga hat-trick vs Australia

Lasith Malinga completes another hat-trick, this time against Australia on 22nd August 2011. This is his 3rd international hat-trick and is the only bowler in the history of the game with 3 international hat-tricks

Australia and Sri Lanka's wins show Test game in good spirits

After Australia’s riveting win over India at the MCG, and Sri Lanka’s surprise victory over South Africa at Durban, Test cricket finds itself in remarkably rude health at the end of 2011. That is considering the International Cricket Council is still struggling to support and schedule the five-day game satisfactorily in the face of the still relentless rise of the 20-over game. For now, however, the doom-mongers are being silenced by a series of undeniably compelling Test matches this autumn. If only the crowds would follow …

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Chandimal was the inspiration says Arnold

Former Sri Lanka cricketer turned cricket commentator Russel Arnold said that debutant Dinesh Chandimal was the inspiration that lifted the Sri Lankan team to beat South Africa in the second Test played at Durban.
“Chandimal what I know of him is he goes after the bowling, he did so but he was also ready to bat for the other batsmen the senior man and build partnerships. To me he is the man-of-the-match. He is the inspiration that rubbed off on the rest and the confidence lifted itself up,” said Arnold.

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Sri Lanka seal historic win

Sri Lanka sealed a historic first test win in South Africa as they cruised to a 208-run victory over the Proteas on the fourth day of the second Sunfoil test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath picked up 5-79, and match figures of 9-159, as the tourists bowled the hosts out for 241, with nine balls left in the day, to claim their first win in nine tests in South Africa.

The victory was Sri Lanka’s first in 16 tests stretching back to the middle of last year while the visitors levelled the three-test series 1-1 with the deciding match scheduled to start in Cape Town on January 3.

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Kumar Sangakkara's Cowdrey Lecture

Kumar Sangakkara delivering the historic 2011 MCC Colin Cowdrey Spirit of Cricket Lecture at Lords. The speech received standing ovation and also described as "the most important speech in cricket history" by Peter Roebuck