KitSports » mahela Jayawardana

SLC creates pathway for younger generation

kit-sports editor — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 09:58:45 +0000

Sri Lanka Cricket has drawn up a carefully thought out international cricket calendar for our cricketers in the post Mahela-Sanga era so that by 2017 the national team with the exposure they will get should have reached maturity.

“We have drawn up the matches in such a manner that the national team gets every opportunity to mature into a strong unit by 2017. A lot of thought process was gone through keeping in mind that the team was going through a period of transition,”said Sri Lanka Cricket’s Head of Cricket Operations Carlton Bernadus.

“The pathway for the younger generation of youth has been set on course consideration the retirements of senior cricketers envisaged,” he said.

“With a view in mind of the T20 World Cup in India, the Sri Lanka Cricket management has provided the opportunity by arranging T20 against Pakistan and West Indies and moving forward New Zealand, India and Asia Cup as a prelude to the World T20 in India.”

“In addition it has provided Test and ODI opportunities thus covering all three formats. This could be a springboard for the younger generation of cricketers stepping into the shoes of senior cadres keeping in mind the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019 both in England,” Bernadus said.

The preparation for the ICC Champions trophy in England in 2017 also has a carefully thought out schedule.

Sri Lanka will play a series of five ODIs in New Zealand which will followed by a further five ODIs in England, five at home against Australia, a tri-series in India and then 3 ODIs in Zimbabwe and 5 ODIs in South Africa.

The Test schedule where Sri Lanka will be really tested will see the national side playing a total of 13 Tests within a period of 12 months ” 2 v New Zealand, 3 v England, 3 v Australia, 2 v Zimbabwe and 3 v South Africa.

Following Sri Lanka’s tour to New Zealand that will take place from December 3 to January 10, Sri Lanka Cricket has drawn up an intense program for the national, ‘A’team, Development Squad and the Under 19 cricketers for the calendar year 2016.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka under 19 cricketers will play a one-day triangular with England and India next month in preparation for the ICC under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh in January. The tournament will be held from December 3-22 and all matches will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium with live TV coverage.

INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR FOR 2016

NATIONAL TEAM

Feb 10-21:Tour to India (3 T20Is)

Feb 24-Mar 6:Asia Cup in Bangladesh

Mar 11-Apr 3:ICC World T20 in India

May 4-July 6:Tour to England (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

July-Aug:Tour by Australia (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

Sep:Tri series in India (Sri Lanka , India, New Zealand)

Oct-Nov:Tour to Zimbabwe (2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

Dec-Feb:Tour to South Africa (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

‘A’ TEAM

June:Tour by Zimbabwe

Dec:Tour by West Indies

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

June: Tour to South Africa

Sep:Moin-Ud-Dowla Gold Cup in India

Oct-Nov: Tour to Bangladesh

UNDER 19

May-June: Tour by South Africa

Oct-Nov: Tour to Bangladesh

Mahela and Sanga trail blazers…again!

kit-sports editor — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 01:22:42 +0000

Mahela and Sanga trail blazers…again! The two god given cricketers to the nation MAHELA JAYAWARDENE and KUMAR SANGAKKARA are without doubt trail blazers. They were like conjoined twins, each complementing the other on or off the field and setting new highs. Jayawardene and Sangakkara performed magnificently in their chosen fields and their mind boggling deeds, Jayawardene with bat, Captain and fielder, especially at slip and Sangakkara as batsman, gloveman and Captain are all writ in the books and will not be equaled or surpassed that easily. Both led the country to World Cup finals. In addition Jayawardene led the country to the Twenty20 finals too. But that they could not achieve the ultimate was not the cricketing god’s wish. Both are out of the game Both are now out of the game for the country. The writer makes bold to say that they did not over-stay their visas in the game, which is insensible thinking in certain quarters which want to avenge, alleging that the twosome scuttled the hurriedly arranged tour of England that crash landed. Both went out of the game when everyone was asking ‘WHY’ and ‘WHY NOT’. England it is said gave the game of cricket to the world. They bossed over it and dominated it for long. But with other countries taking to the game in earnest, England’s fortunes tumbled and they were struggling to keep their greatness in the game alive. Now with their fortunes dwindling, comes the news that England have signed on Jayawardene as their Batting Consultant. Now all Sri Lanka must be proud of Jayawardene’s achievement. Jayawardene was a rare straight playing batsman that the Sri Lankan game has produced. Whoever thought that England would need a Sri Lankan to show them how to bat correctly. But that is how the game goes –and that shows the renown with which Jayawardene is held. He will surely show them how to play straight to achieve success. Jayawardene technically sound Jayawardena was one of the technically sound batsmen in world cricket. Batsmen who wield a straight bat don’t come dime a dozen. In the past Sri Lanka had many technically sound batsmen who were treats to watch and rare examples. To name a few there was Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon, Roy Dias, Sidath Wettimuny, and Marvan Atapattu. But sadly now with the ‘hit out, or get out’ game of limited over cricket given precedence over the established game – Test cricket – technically correct batsmen don’t come that easy like beautiful damsels. England seem to be raving over the signing of Jayawardene as Batting Consultant. The man who seems over the moon for this bit of good thinking by England is Ian Bell. Bell it must be stated was England’s most technically correct batsman playing a straight bat. But of late his batting has been flawed and has been in a run drought. First fling with England Jayawardena’s first fling with the England team will be in the United Arab Emirates where England is slated to play Pakistan in a Test series. Here’s how Bell described the signing of Jayawardene- ‘Brilliant’ and I would badger the newly retired batsman for advice. ‘The one thing we need to do is get better on the subcontinent, and he’s one of the best ever. To have his input leading into the series and all the preparations, is going to be huge for us. I am really looking forward to that. ‘He was certainly hard to get out in those conditions, so I’ll be picking his brain all the way through if I can, probably badgering him a bit too much, but trying to get everything I can out of him to make my game better’. Great pride and honour for Sri Lanka, England’s signing of Jayawardena as Batting Consultant. SANGA propping up Surrey While England are raving over the signing of Jayawardene, Sangakkara went great guns with English County Surrey, scoring tons of runs and taking the club’s cricket to a new high. With his retirement from the hard grind of Test cricket for the country, which is mental torment and physically taxing, the leftie seemed to be much relaxed as his approach to batting was showing and runs and centuries for Surrey came naturally. He justified the confidence Surrey placed in signing him on and after a long time Surrey entered a 50-over final riding on the back of magnificently carved out 160 in the semi-final against Nottingamshire which attack included Stuart Broad who tormented Australia during the Ashes series. He made 60 in the final against Warwickshire and that they could not win the final, losing by a few runs was a travesty of justice. Jayawardene and Sangakkara who are supremely fit cricketers have shown that they could have played and served the country for at least another couple of years if they wished. But being the caring players they went out early. Jayawardene and Sangakkara are still continuing with Jayawardene playing in Windies bash and now being signed on by Central Districts to play in Kiwiland. Mandela – Gandhi Test series ‘Two proud nations’, ‘Two super powers’. That is how ‘STAR SPORTS’ is forcefully advertising the South Africa Test series against India on TV due to begin shortly in India. But what is heartening, welcome and an example is that the series has been labeled the Nelson Mandela – Mathama Gandhi series, with the Cricket Boards of both proud nations breaking away from the stereo type of playing Test series in honour or memory of past cricketing greats. Australia and India play for the ‘Border-Gavaskar Trophy’. Sri Lanka and Australia play for the ‘Warne-Muralitharan Trophy’. Australia and West Indies play for the ‘Benaud- Worrell Trophy’. England and Australia play for ‘The ASHES URN’. And now West Indies and Sri Lanka will play for the Sobers-Tissera Trophy. Heroes of democracy Great that the heroes of democracy are being remembered. Gandhi helped India gain Independence from colonial rule without shedding a drop of blood. He is the father of India with Ahimsa as his hallmark. Gandhi is best remembered for his ideals of truth and non-violence and his philosophy of Satyagraha Mandela (AKA) ‘Black Pimpernel’, suffered long in a jail for fighting to deliver his black people from the cruel, inhuman and dreaded Apartheid. That he finally succeeded in bringing the whites on their knees was great triumph and an example to the world. I can only guess that both these world leaders had sports in their DNA for all that they did was underpinned by the ideals of sportsmanship Congratulations then to the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the South African Cricket Board for remembering these two freedom fighters and great statesman who were examples to world leaders. The world of today needs more Gandhis and Mandelas. India and South Africa are fielding two of the most formidable teams in world cricket and as such an electrifying series is on the cards for cricket fans. That spectators will flock all venues to watch these champions at play there will be no doubt. We hope there will be no bottle throwing incidents. By the way enjoy life now. It has an expiry date on

Reality check in post Sanga-Mahela era – Comment

kit-sports editor — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 02:30:22 +0000

Though there is no imminent danger of Sri Lanka missing out on the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, the national team’s below-par displays in the ongoing five-match series against Pakistan does not paint a rosy picture for the game here.

Sri Lanka who are ranked fifth in the ICC ODI table trail Pakistan 3-1 with the final game to be played on Sunday (26 July) at Hambantota only being of academic interest to the home side, with the visitors seeking another facile win to wrap up the series 4-1.
While some of the past greats of Pakistan such as Javed Miandad and Inzamam- ul-Haq have urged the hitherto unpredictable tourists to chase consistency, it will be a case of returning to the drawing board for Angelo Mathews’ men.
What is alarming from a Sri Lankan perspective is that barring one or two players at the most – whether they are seniors or juniors – they have failed to deliver as a team in all three disciplines, and consequently Azhar Ali’s team have stolen a march over them in their own patch.
The current series has also further underscored the grim reality facing the national side in the foreseeable future, as they enter uncharted territory since the retirement of the legendary duo Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.
From those who have been tried in their places, there has not been anyone worthy of mention so far.
From those established, Lahiru Thirimanne has managed to end a prolonged run drought with the bat alongside the likes of T.M. Dilshan, Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal to name a few, from among those who have excelled sporadically.
But, the team’s biggest nightmare has been the twin disciplines of bowling and fielding.
Both areas came apart at the seams in the ODI series and needs brushing up big time before they could even think of matching sides such as Australia, England and New Zealand on current form.
How Sri Lanka is going to fix their bowling and fielding is interesting to be seen, with the former featuring bowlers who are unfit and breaking down more often than not, while the latter continues to nosedive even after the team was provided with a week’s training drills by no less a person than Jonty Rhodes just before the tour by Pakistan.
Sri Lanka need not look beyond their rivals to figure out as to the manner in which they have been outclassed, particularly in the bowling stakes.

The home side has been able to pick up only 19 wickets in comparison to Pakistan who have claimed 35 scalps in the completed four ODIs so far, which further underlines the enormity of the challenge faced by Mathews in the coming months.
The batting too has been dominated by Pakistan with their top four firing on a consistent basis, and as a result of it, with their skipper too being out of form, Sri Lanka continues to stumble from one game after another.
Unless and until Sri Lanka is able to address these issues, not to mention the sub-standard fielding (a discipline which Pakistan have improved dramatically from what they were in the past), they will continue to slip back in ODI cricket, whether be it at home or overseas.