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Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya will play no further part in the World Cup after a Brett Lee thunderbolt fractured his left thumb.

Jayasuriya was struck by a short delivery in Lee’s first over of the innings and forced to retire hurt as Sri Lanka chased a mammoth 320 runs for victory.

The left-hander - Sri Lanka’s highest run score in the tournament with 269 runs in the first six games - was rushed to hospital where X-rays confirmed that he had fractured his thumb.

“His forearm is okay but his thumb is fractured and that means he is out of the World Cup,” confirmed team manager Ajit Jayasekera.

A charismatic figure with the bat, as well as an important part of the bowling attack with his slow left-arm spin, his injury is a major blow for Sri Lanka.

BCCI request for change of venue declined

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Organising Committee declined a request from the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, to change the second semi final in Durban on March 20 from a Day/Night match to a Day game.

Announcing the decision, Executive Director of CWC 2003, Dr Ali Bacher, said: “I spoke to Mr Dalmiya by telephone from Cape Town this afternoon to inform him of the decision reached by myself and colleagues from the Organising Committee.

“Having explained the thinking and reasons behind our decision, Mr Dalmiya repeated the assurance given to me yesterday that he and the BCCI will accept this in good faith. On that basis I can reconfirm that the semi final at Kingsmead, Durban, will proceed as scheduled, as a Day/Night match,” said Dr Bacher.

“I wish to thank Mr Dalmiya and the BCCI for their understanding and co-operation in this matter.”

The major considerations put forward by CWC 2003 to the BCCI for declining its request are as follows:

The fixture list for all ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 matches was released to competing teams in October 2001. No team has at any point prior to receipt of the BCCI’s letter asked for any fixture to be changed from a Day/Night to a Day game

Day/Night matches are the most popular and spectacular from a spectator and viewer point of view. They allow thousands of committed cricket fans to attend games after work or school, that they might otherwise be unable to during the working week

Thousands of fans have arranged travel and accommodation plans for a Day/Night game, which would be impossible to change at this very late stage. CWC 2003 believe that it would be unfair and inappropriate to deny those people the match that has been promised to them for 17 months

There is no justification from a results point of view for changing the nature of the fixture.

Despite a certain amount of media reporting to the contrary, there is parity in terms of results between sides batting first and those batting second.

As a matter of record, there have been 16 Day/Night ODIs played at Durban since South Africa’s readmission to world cricket in 1991-1992. Of these, 7 have been won by the side batting first and 7 won by the team batting second. There has been one wash out and the tied match between South Africa and Sri Lanka earlier this week. CWC 2003 believe that this could not represent a fairer equation in terms of results

It would be almost impossible to change the match at this late stage from a broadcaster’s perspective. Satellite time has been booked to take the game to 180 countries around the world. Rights holders in those countries will have completed their broadcast schedules months ago and many millions of dollars of advertising will have been booked specifically against those Day/Night timings.

Courtesy Cricinfo

A sighting of the cup

By T M K Samat

JAYASURIYA’S men must surely have let out a huge sigh of relief as they came out of the labyrinth of the first round _ with some distinction, eventually. To finish at the top of the Group that had South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies is no mean achievement. A month ago, perhaps, only a mixture of excessive beer and mad patriotism could’ve dreamed of this eventuality. And pre-tournament forecasts that South Africa and the West Indies would keep company with Bangladesh at the basement of Group B and minions Kenya, be lording at two would have... well, be brushed aside as mutterings of the insane.

Virtual fiction have become tangible facts with such frequency that we are now likely to believe that cows fly over the moon and Eskimos glide in their kayaks on Galle Road. But for Sri Lanka the journey through the qualifying round has been no flight or glide. It was more a footslog through the jungle of uncertainty, partly their own seeking and partly the apparent change of signposts by ICC, which, of course, it denies.

The needless defeat at the hands of minnows Kenya was always going to make Sri Lanka’s chances of Super Six qualification tenuous. But having won over the West Indies, Jayasuriya’s men believed they had arrived on safe grounds, even if their final qualifying round match was conceded to South Africa _ a result that would have left four teams with 16 points each.  The widely held belief, in the event teams are tied on match points, was that past results will determine who qualifies. Should there be parity here too, the team with a superior nett run-rate would advance.

Rules utterly hazy

Not so, said the ICC. And pointed out that the past result applies only to determine the first two Group placements, and should things still be undecided, then the nett run rate reckons. As for the third place, if here too two teams have identical match points, past results don’t count _the nett run rate is the sole decider. The ICC insists these conditions were always in the rulebook and that Sri Lanka had misread them. Be that as it may, this much is certain: the rules are utterly hazy and open to different renderings.  The ICC might have done better than merely say it is in the rulebook and Sri Lanka’s understanding of them is biased. Rather, the ICC might have explained why it applies two sets of rules to determine three qualifiers from a field of only seven teams _ one to determine nos.1 and 2 and another, for no.3. It all sounds so illogical.  

The ICC, to be charitable, perhaps never envisioned a scenario where four teams would end up with identical match points. Hence all the ambiguity and confusion when that prospect seemed likely: Kenya, Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand ending up with 16 points each. That the ICC were compelled to explain its own qualifying rules is as good as admission that there’s a lack of clarity in its laws, which, by design and intent, are crafted to prevent confusion. It hasn’t in this case.

Stirring of political pot

The controversy promised a stirring of the political pot within the ICC, which, though no longer the white man’s club it once was, others, especially the Asian countries, yet views it with suspicion. Against that background, the ICC’s interpretation of its qualifying clauses, on the eve of Sri Lanka’s penultimate match, gave the impression that an attempt was being made to keep out Sri Lanka. The move was based on the assumption that South Africa would win over Sri Lanka, as they had done nine times out of 11 in the veldt over the past 18 months or thereabouts. But happily for Sri Lanka, and mercifully for the ICC, the rain gods stepped in to abort that attempt at a single run before its materialization.

After threatening to walk out on the crucial South African match, Jayasuriya’s men did play anyway, though under protest. Had the result been different, it is unlikely the ICC would’ve heard the last of the issue _ and not just from Sri Lanka. It is no secret that Indian Board president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, would never pass up a chance to pick cudgels with the ICC _ in the ‘’cause” of greater Asian say in the affairs of the ICC.  His favorite word is ‘’discrimination”. The Pakistan Board’s views are no different. Any Asian stirrings were fortunately stifled by the tied result and South Africa’s elimination. But I digress.

On reflection though, Sri Lanka’s triumph over all the doubt and trauma surely must have made Jayasuriya’s men stronger of character. Known for capitulating under pressure, they showed the hitherto undetected resolve in them to surmount hurdles, which they were prone to stumble on before. The start of the campaign was great. But any inspiration obtained from the win over New Zealand in the opening match was crushed by the virile challenge of the Kenyans and our ineptitude on the day. That left Jayasuriya’s men the task of defeating either the West Indies or South Africa to qualify. Or so it was thought.  The Windies were conquered, but there was no open sesame. Jayasuriya’s men were then told to go beat the South Africans to remain in the competition.  What transpired will surely be remembered as one of Sri Lanka cricket’s greater moments, worthy of folklore. Of more immediate importance was that, through this passage of fire Jayasuriya’s men showed toughness we thought they didn’t have _ the perceived lack of which, others mistook for naivety.

Self-belief at peak

This new found strength would no doubt be reflected in the Super Six round. Whether that would be enough to prevail over the powerful Australians is not known at the time of this writing. But the mood with which Jayasuriya’s men approached this game could not have been better. Self-belief was at a peak. It’s reassuring that, should the world champions defeat us it won’t mean packing up and heading back home. Comforting too is the thought that the prospect of coping with India tomorrow would be less difficult and Zimbabwe, on March 15, even less so. 

Who the eventual semifinalists will be makes for exciting prospecting; a win earns 4 points here. Australia, carrying 12 points from their Group matches, is virtually assured of a berth even if they lose all three Super Six matches, an outlandish prospect. Kenya has the next best collection of 10 points, but realistically they aren’t likely to add anything to their tally from the Super Six _ though with some help from the rain they could.  India has 8 points, Sri Lanka 7.5, New Zealand 4 and Zimbabwe 3.5. The smart money has to be on the elimination of Kenya and Zimbabwe from the semifinal lineup.

There are many variables to Sri Lanka’s semifinal chances, but the one closest to being practical is winning at least one game. Though defeating India isn’t beyond us, the chances against Zimbabwe have to be considered as being better. The signs overall are good. Aravinda de Silva’s desire to succeed is at the level of his 1996 commitment; Marvan Atapattu’s touch of ruthlessness to his inborn elegance; Jayasuriya’s greater consistency; Vaas’ expanding intelligence and Muralideran is yet Muralideran.

The World Cup has been sighted _ and the collective mood is not to let it get out of sight.

A script fit for a James Bond movie

The progress of Sri Lanka to the Super Six stage of the 2003 World Cup had all the trappings and the drama of a good old James Bond movie. The role of secret agent 007, just as it was played on the silver screen by different icons such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore and now Pierce Brosnan, Sri Lanka’s leading stars on the World Cup field have been Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu.

Supporting roles too were played by others such as de Silva and Muralitharan. The script for an Ian Fleming production was there. The clinical downing of New Zealand, the annihilation of Bangladesh and Canada, the blunder at Nairobi of sending Kenya in first and paying the price, the thriller at Cape Town of beating the once-mighty, twice crowned World Cup champions, West Indies, by the margin of a six-hit. Finally, while the goal-posts were moved by the ICC amidst protests by Sri Lanka, the pulsating, denouement at Durban where the lack of a simple single meant curtains for the unfortunate South Africans. Yes, it all happened.

Now Sri Lanka is in deep waters. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, except of course in 1996, Sri Lanka has reached the second round. No more can success be achieved by the solo efforts of a Bond. Earlier the formula was: Jayasuriya-fires-Sri Lanka-wins-Jayasuriya-fails-Sri Lanka-fails. From now on it has to be a team effort. A champion side comprises a unit, not loners, because in general, loners are losers. In 1996, if the openers, Jayasuriya or Kaluwitharana failed, there was Gurusinha or the reliable Aravinda de Silva, Mahanama or Tillekeratne, and skipper Ranatunga. The batting was there, right down the line. The bowling may not have been all that hot but the fielding was sizzling. So that helped plug the hole

Now paceman Vaas and spin-king Muralitharan do pose problems to the best, but they, especially the former, do not have much support. In addition there are quite a few holes in the batting and the fielding departments. Jayawardena has had a horror-run, just as Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq did. Jayawardena is too good a player to keep failing and maybe a little talking-to would help. Sri Lanka tour party now has a mentor and the Chairman of Selectors on board.

This is not the time to experiment with new faces although there is deadwood in the side. Perhaps the reason for the failure of the middle-order batting can be attributed to the desperate policy of recycling than rebuilding the team, but this is now water under the bridge. Lessons can be learnt, when politicians and politics can be kept out - after the dust settles.

By the time you read this, Sri Lanka’s match against arch-rivals and Cup favourites, Australia would be over. Hazarding the outcome of this game would be tricky as testing second-hand parachutes bought at a bazaar in Zanzibar!

Whilst remembering Vaas let us not forget former paceman Ashantha de Mel. In 1983, De Mel is credited, in the Wisden Almanack, with 18 World Cup wickets. These were wickets captured against England, Pakistan and New Zealand including two successive 5-wicket hauls against the latter two countries. However, due to an error by the scorer, the World Cup records show one wicket less. Sri Lankan manager, the late Mr.T.Murugaser, did write to the authorities spotlighting the error but to no avail.

Finally, will Muralitharan often a one-man demolition squad, weave his evil spell against his tormentors from Australia? If he does, he can stand tall and in the Bond-tradition, declare: “The name is Muralitharan. Muttiah Muralitharan.”

Painful openers await Sri Lanka in HK Sevens

By T M K Samat

THE qualifying round of the HongKong International Rugby Sevens is never a pleasing prospect for Sri Lanka or any other Asian minnow. It pits the world’s powerhouses against the feeble ones as the popular world series tournament sets about sorting the men from the boys. Carnage upon carnage follows as the awesome likes of the All Blacks, Australia, Fiji, England and South Africa clobber poor Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

This time round, Sri Lanka has been lumped with South Africa, Argentina and Korea for the March 28-31 event. ‘’It’s going to be tough,” was how coach, Asanga Seneviratne, reacted to the news of the draw. It might sound a huge understatement, but the line up of previous opponents, relatively, hasn’t been as petrifying as this. While South Africa has always remained a serious contender for the world title, Argentina and Korea are the top rugby nations of the Americas and Asian continents respectively. The South American country, in fact, defeated the All Blacks in the World Series’ Wellington Sevens last year and was a finalist in the 2001 Buenos Aires Sevens, also a part of the World Series circuit.   The Koreans were cup semifinalists in the 2001 Hong Kong Sevens, losing to the All Blacks, and are current Asian champions, both in fifteens and sevens.

Coach Seneviratne, however, takes a philosophical view. Says he: ”Our aim in the first round has always been not about winning, but restricting the margins. Last year we held the All Blacks down to 50-odd points, which was a huge improvement on the 70s and 80s conceded previously. This time too we’ll be trying to do the same, though the task will be three times harder.” Last year Sri Lanka’s two other qualifying round opponents were Scotland and Portugal, less difficult propositions than the champions of the Americas and Asia.

The job of holding back three superior opponents will be physically demanding and fraught with injury-risks that could weaken the team for the Bowl event, which, of course, is Sri Lanka’s main priority. ‘’I think the best way we can deny tries in the first round is by scoring some ourselves. So the emphasis will be on running and, if we can help it, minimize on the tackling,” said Seneviratne.

Sri Lanka did reasonably well at last year’s event. They led Scotland till all but the last whistle; positioned deep in their opponent’s 22, one Sri Lankan outside, in possession, slipped, resulting in Scotland’s winning try in the final seconds. But Sri Lanka bowed out to eventual winners Morocco in their first Bowl encounter, just as they had done since 2001. Their last win in the HongKong Sevens was in 2000 when they defeated Arabian Gulf.

This year, however, they have lost two key players, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and Leonard de Zilwa, to injuries. ‘’Both are useful runners, especially Sanjeewa, and their absence is a disadvantage. But the others in the squad (of 20) have shown tremendous commitment and are determined to establish their places in the national team. They aren’t looking at HongKong as a shopping holiday, which was the case with many past representatives,” said Seneviratne.

Darsha & Rohan in 400m

9 March, Birmingham. The stage is set for the ninth World Indoor Championship in athletics which is scheduled to get underway from 14 March in Birmingham. Damayanthi Darsha and Rohan Pradeep Kumara are expected to represent Sri Lanka and they will compete in the women’s and men’s 400 events respectively. Sri Lanka’s sprint queen and Olympic bronze medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe was also among the Sri Lankan contingent but will miss the chance to compete in the event due to an injury. This will be a major blow for the Lanka’s medal success at the World Indoor Championships this year.

But Asian champion Darsha will certainly run her best to bring Sri Lanka glory and Rohan Pradeep Kumara also carries an ambition to create an impact when he is out on the track Both of them will be seen in action on the very first day (14 March) of the championship. Damayanthi darsha will run in the first round heats of the women’s 400m event around 13.10 GMT 7p.m local time) and Rohan Pradeep will run in 400m first round heats around 16.35 GMT (10.35 p.m local time). The semi finals and finals of both the events are scheduled to be held on 15 and 16 March respectively.

The 9th Would Indoor Athletic Championships, which takes place at the National Indoor Arena from the 14 -16 March, is the most prestigious athletics event to take place in UK since the 1948 Olympic Games.

The latest athlete to throw his hat into the ring is American sprinter Maurice Greene in 1999. Greene won the 60m  world title and is still the 60m would record holder with a time of 6.39 seconds. One athlete who will be hoping to steal the gold medal from his grasp will be local favourite Mark Lewis-Francis who was born just a couple of miles from the NIA and will be hoping to impress his home crowd.

Olympic 5000 meter silver medallist, Sonia O’Sullivan has already been pre-selected by Ireland to compete in the championship’s over 3000 meter event and will be part of a strong lrish contingent. At the World Indoor Championships, in Japan in 1997, O’Sullivan was narrowly beaten into second place by her arch rival, Gabriela Szabo. This rivalry will be renewed as the Romanian is also likely to compete in Birmingham and is a favourite with the crowd after she broke the 3000 meter world record at the NIA in 2001.

Another record breaker set to return to Birmingham is Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie who has broken two world records at the NIA, the 2000 metres in 1998 and the 5000 metres the following year.

Several British athletes will also have high hopes of medal success at the Championships

There are now only a few tickets left for the 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships an Ath etics on Friday March 14 while tickets for Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 have been completely sold out. (HW)

Elephant Polo winners from Colombo

The third Ceylon Elephant Polo Association (CEPA) Championships took place at Weligama, on the beach opposite the idyllic Taprobane Island — the isle of dreams, between 20 and 22 February. Teams and  players came from Nepal, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Scotland, Australia, Scandinavia, America as well as from Sri Lanka. This prestigious international event was attended by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his wife, several other members of parliament and many overseas dignitaries including the Duke and Duchess of Argyll from Scotland.

The three days of exciting play produced a surprising clean sweep for the local teams. The Taprobane Tuskers, former world champions, won the main competition. However, it was the most recently formed team from Colombo, the ELEPHINOS (pronounced ‘ellif-I-know’) who, against all the odds as well as their own expectations, beat the Loxondontal Stools from Hong Kong 4-1 in the final of the inaugural Chivas Regal Championship. The trophies were presented by the Prime Minister and the Duchess of Argyll.

• 124th Battle of the Blues

Keen tussle for supremacy expected

By Sunil Thenabadu

The Royal-Thomian cricket match, the greatest schools’ sporting event in tradition has an uninterrupted record of 123 years. It is the longest annual encounter in the world whose sequence even survived the two world wars. Hence the ‘Battle of the Blues is sacred to all of us. Therefore, it is natural that this event evokes much interest not only among old boys and present boys but also the sporting public at large. The match over 123 years has been played, complying with the best traditions of the game with intense rivalry. This years 124th encounter which will be no exception, is to be played on March 13, 14 and 15  at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place.

Thomians lead the victories tally with 33 to Royals’ 32 while 58 encounters have ended in no decision. The first encounter was played as far back as 1880. As in recent years many encounters fizzled out in no decision and the authorities of both schools from the centenary year 1979 decided unanimously that the annual fixture be played over three days. In the centenary match just before tea the Thomians were struggling to avoid an innings defeat. But a valiant unfinished ninth wicket stand of 91 between Mahinda Halangoda and C.P. Richards who batted defiantly until close of play made this encounter a drawn game as well. In this particular year it is worth recalling that Royal’s captain was former Sri Lanka Test skipper and the present ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle while the Thomians were led by Johann Peiris.

During the series spanning 123 long years there have been a number of noteworthy performances. The highest individual score of 197 was made by Royal’s Sumithra Warnakulasuriya in 1980 occupying the crease for 8 hours 20 minutes which is also the longest innings recorded in the history of these encounters. The fastest century was notched by Royalist Neil Joseph who made a sparkling innings of 113 in 1925, the innings taking only 65 minutes. The following year too he made a scintillating century, making 133 runs. Former Sri Lankan skipper Duleep Mendis and his nephew Manoj Mendis have scored delightful successive centuries for S. Thomas’ in 1971, 1972 and 1992 and 1993 respectively. In 1992 Manoj Mendis scored 124 runs, a debut century eclipsing the record debut century score of 100 m n.o. scored by David Ponniah in 1967 who is in fact the present warden of S. Thomas’ College.

The highest partnership for any wicket is held by Royal’s Anushka Polonowita (164) and Y. Dharmarathne (124) who added 254 runs for the 3rd wicket in 1996. Thomian F. Thomas who captured 8 wicket for just 3 runs in 1884 holds the record for the best bowling feat while M.O. Gooneratne also a Thomian has the best all round performance in the encounter in 1935 where he scored 103 runs and captured 7 wickets for 34 runs. The highest individual aggregate is held by Thomian Upeka Fernando who scored 392 runs during 1995-1998.

During the entire series since 1880 only three “hat-tricks” have been recorded. In 1901 G.P. Keuneman performed the “hat-trick” for Royal. In 1945 Thomian S. Elapata performed the “hat-trick” capturing 6 for 34 runs. In 1997 R. Mapatuna’s “hat-trick” for the Thomians was more significant and historic as this encounter was won by the Thomians. His bowling figures including the hat trick were 6 wickets for 34 runs.

Both teams, Royal and S. Thomas’ appear to be evenly balanced. There is no doubt that a keen tussle to gain supremacy is expected.

Royal this year is captained by Rochana Wijeratne who’s father Sunil Wijeratne played for S. Thomas’ in 1969 as a left arm opening medium pacer, while S. Thomas’ is led by Arjuna Rajawasam, the two teams are coached by Roger Wijesuriya and Ranil Abeynaike both of whom represented Sri Lanka as left arm leg spinners in international matches.

It is the fervant hope that both teams play positive cricket to give the spectators a demonstration of school cricket at its best.

Who’s who of Royal

Rochana Wijeratne (Capt.) 2nd year coloursman. Right hand dependable top order batsman. Had scored over 750 runs this season with six fifties and one century. Highest score 107 vs Trinity, good fielder.

Velu Arunprakash (V. Capt.) 2nd year coloursman. Stumper of the side. Has accounted for more than 45 dismissals behind the wicket. Has scored over 400 runs with two fifties Highest score 84 vs Nalanda.

Ganganath Ratnayake — 4th year coloursman. Captain of last year, Good all rounder and team man. Scored over 500 runs this season with two fifties and one century. Highest score 126 vs Dharmaraja. Off spinner who has captured over 45 wickets.

Tharaka Kottehewa — 2nd year coloursman. Right arm medium pace opening bowler. Has captured over 45 wickets. Best bowling of 7/38 vs Wesley. Scored over 300 runs with two fifties. Highest score 97  vs Dharmaraja. Selected to represent Sri Lanka under 19 against ECB Academy XI.

Naveen Dias — 2nd year coloursman. Right hand middle order batsman. Has scored over 300 runs this season. Good fielder.

Heshan Morawaka — Fresher. Left arm leg spinner. Has captured over 40 wickets this season. Safe fielder.

Danushka Edissuriya — Fresher, Bowls right arm off spin. Has captured over 40 wickets this season. Best bowling 5 for 26 vs St. Anthony’s.

Dimitri Siriwardena — Fresher, Right hand opening batsman. Has been consistent with over 500 runs, one fifty and a century. Highest score 155 vs Richmond.

Janith Jayawardena — Fresher. Right hand middle order batsman. Has scored over 500 runs with one fifty and a century. Highest score 113 vs Isipathana

Pradeep Jeyprakash — Fresher. Right arm medium pace bowler. Has captured over 20 wickets and scored over 400 runs. Best bowling 4 for 22 vs st. Anthonys. Highest score 84 vs Nalanda.

Tharanga Edirimuni — Fresher. Right hand middle order batsman. Has scored over 250 runs this season. Highest score 64 vs Trinity.

Who’s who of S. Thomas

Arjuna Rajawasam — (Capt.) 4th year coloursman. Right hand opening batsman. Has scored over 550 runs this season. Two fifties and a century. Highest score 110 vs Nalanda. Good fielder.

Tharindu Fernando — (V. Capt.) 3rd year coloursman left arm fast medium bowler. Has captured over 40 wickets with best bowling of 6/47 vs Dharmapala. Left hand middle order batsman. Excellent fielder.

Kaushal Silva — 2nd year coloursman. Right hand top order batsman who has scored over 650 runs this season. Stumper of the side. Scored five fifties and a century. Highest score 160 vs Kingswood. Notched a century for Sri Lanka under 19 against ECB Academy XI.

Videsh Balasubramaniam — 2nd year coloursman. All rounder. Right hand lower order batsman and a useful right arm leg spinner. Best bowling 5/32 vs Thurstan.

Pramuditha Rodrigo — 2nd year coloursman. All rounder, right hand lower order batsman and right arm medium pace opening bowler, best bowling 4/32 vs Richmond. Excellent fielder.

Damith Warusawithana — Fresher. Right hand top order batsman. Has scored over 500 runs this season with three fifties. Highest score 73 vs Thurstan. Good fielder.

Shehan Shanthikumar — Fresher. Right arm fast medium bowler and right hand lower order batsman. Good fielder. Best bowling 4 for 46 vs Trinity.

Sanjeev Mendis — Fresher. Good all rounder. Right arm medium pace bowler and right hand middle order batsman. Has scored nearly 400 runs and captured 20 wickets this season. Highest score 80 vs Richmond.

Isuru Warnakulasuriya — Fresher. Right hand opening batsman. Has scored over 550 runs this season with three fifties. Highest score 77 vs St. Sebastians. Good fielder.

Dhanushka Colombage — Fresher. All rounder. Right hand middle order batsman and right arm off spin bowler. Excellent fielder.

Shane Godwin — Fresher, right hand lower order batsman and right arm leg spin bowler. Good fielder.

Navin Perera — Fresher. Left hand opening batsman. Has scored over 400 runs this season with a highest score of 83 vs Nalanda. Good fielder.