After paceman Dale Steyn had destroyed Australia’s batting ,Graeme Smith and HashimAmla ensured the Proteas consolidated and then took firm control of the third and deciding Test against Australia in Perth.

Smith (84) and Amla (99 not out) put on 178 for the second wicket as the tourists plundered 206 runs in the final session and at stumps on the second day they had reached  230 for two, an overall lead of 292.

Their riotous session overshadowed the grand farewell of Australian batsman Ricky Ponting, although the retiring Tasmanian will probably be glad of that.

He contributed just four to a first-innings total of 163 all out which left South Africa in credit before they even started their second innings.

It was their rousing bowling performance that gave them the platform, on a morning when fans had flocked to the WACA in anticipation of one last masterclass from the departing Ponting, but instead it was the Proteas attack who grabbed the limelight as they took eight wickets for 130.

The Chief destroyer was Steyn who broke the back of the Australian batting with a fine exhibition of fast bowling at its hostile best to return figures of four for 40.

Australia, who need to win to return to top spot in the ICC rankings, would have been in more trouble had wicketkeeper Matthew Wade not made a fluent 68.

The hosts resumed on 33 for two in the morning session but David Warner fell to the first ball of the second over, aiming a swipe at Dale Steyn’sloosener to feed AB de Villiers a catch.

That brought Ponting to the crease to a rousing ovation and the clapping had scarcely abated when he scooped his first ball just short of mid-wicket.

A nervy single got him going but nightwatchman Lyon was gone inside the same over, Steyn and Faf Du Plessis combining for the wicket.

Vernon Philander then played the role of party pooper, Ponting tucking bat behind pad before being struck on the knee-roll after some late inswing.

AsadRauf raised the finger and Ponting’s unsuccessful use of DRS screamed of hope rather than judgement.

Australia were desperate to take the sting out of the situation but instead things went from bad to worse as in-form skipper Michael Clarke (five) was undone by another brute of a ball from Steyn.

That left Clarke’s side reeling at 45 for six and Wade decided to launch the counter-attack.

He hooked Philander for six and then nicked him through an empty third slip for four and from there was looking to score from most balls.

A second six followed off Robin Peterson and he found the boundary again with a couple of cross-bat shots.

Michael Hussey made 12 in 40 balls before edging MorneMorkel to Graeme Smith at slip, but Wade continued unabashed, bringing up his half-century with a third maximum off Peterson.

Wade went into his shell somewhat after lunch and was eventually bowled by the left-arm spin of Peterson for 68.

That exposed the tail but John Hastings struck three fours in a row off Peterson to offer hope.

Peterson had more luck against Mitchell Johnson, who he bowled for seven, and Hastings was last out for 32 when Alviro Petersen took a smart catch in two movements at long-off.

West Indies fast bowler Tino Best snared a career-best five for 24 as Bangladesh fell 78 runs short of a historic victory on the final day of the opening Test in Mirpur.
Chasing 245 for a first ever Test win over an established nation, Bangladesh were skittled out for 167 with Best completing his first Test five-wicket haul, when he bowled Mahmadullah midway through the evening session.
It was a disappointing end to a day that had begun so promisingly for Bangladesh after their bowlers had seemingly paved the way for a memorable win.
After grabbing five late wickets last night the Tigers needed just an hour this morning to take the final four and bowl out the tourists for 273.
That left Bangladesh chasing 245 for a historic victory.
Despite the early loss of TamimIqbal for just five, Bangladesh looked like making a go of it as JunaidSiddique and ShahriarNafees built the foundations of a decent partnership.
Bangladesh went into lunch at 45 for two and Best then took centre stage after the interval.
Nafeesfell to an ill-judged pull shot that he could only balloon back before Shakib Al-Hasan was caught on the crease as he edged behind to leave his side 55 for four.
Best then claimed the key wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim with a ball from wide on the crease that trapped the skipper in front.
Bangladesh’s task was made emphatically harder when first-innings centurion Naeem Islam departed with the score on 106. VeerasammyPermaul was the wicket-taker, in his first over, after Islam played down the wrong line of a ball that straightened into his pads.
Permaul was upstaging his higher-profile spinner Sunil Narine, who went wicketless in 18 overs after being thrown the new ball, and the debutant grabbed a fifth wicket of the afternoon session when he spun one into NasirHossain’s stumps.
That left Bangladesh with 116 runs to get but just three wickets in hand with a session to play.
SohagGazi and Mahmadullah returned to the crease after tea with the intent to suggest they had not given up hope, with both clearing the ropes within five overs after the final break.
But Permaul (three for 32) had Gozi caught in the deep when he went for one shot too many.ShahadatHossain then fended Ravi Rampaul to short leg before Best wrapped up the win.
The second and final Test begins in Khulna on Wednesday.

Trinity College put up a fine all round performance to take major honours in their rain hit inter school under 19 cricket tournament match against St. Peter’s College which ended in a draw at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy on Saturday.

The Trinitians after piling up a good first innings total of 239 runs produced an inspired performance on the field to skittle the Peterites for a paltry 120 all out and had the satisfaction of enforcing the follow on.

The main destroyer was Charith Sudharaka  with figures of three wicket  for 10 runs whilst Wickremanayake followed up his first innings half century with an excellent return of two wickets for 9 to leave the Peterites innings in total disarray

The Peterites batting a second time were in deep trouble when they lost half of their side for just 25 runs and were staring at certain defeat when the rain intervened and brought a premature end to the game.

Lakshan Jayasinghe was the star bowler for the hosts grabbing claiming three wickets for one just run to rattle the Peterites.

Scores:                                                                                                                                                                            Trinity: 239 in 55.3 overs (Dinuk Wickramanayake 55, Ron Chandraguptha 48, Rajitha Jayathunge 44, Lakshan Jayasinghe 24. Julain De Zylva 5/69, Ranitha Liyanarachchi 2/35)                                                       St. Peter’s: 120 in 46.4 overs (Dushan Hemantha 33, Chemila Obesekara 22, Charith Sudharaka 3/10, Dinuk Wickramanayake 2/9)  and 25/5 in 28.2 overs (Shasheen Fernando 12, Lakshan Jayasinghe 3/1)

Holy Cross strike back to gain narrow first innings win over Anthonians

Rain also intervened in the only other game in Kandy as St. Anthony’s College and Holy Cross College Kalutara figured in a low scoring draw in their inter school under 19 cricket tournament fixture which concluded at Katugastota yesterday.

Holy Cross College who were dismissed for 111 runs in their first innings hit back strongly and bowled out their opponents for just 108 runs with Sachith Fernando (4/35) causing the damage.

Scores:

Holy Cross: 111 in 56.3 overs (Chathun Kamesh 31, Tiran Asanga 26 n.o.  Nimesh Gunasinghe 3/22, Sachin Bulathsinghala 3/25, Charles Praveen 3/33) and 70/4 (Layan Mendis 56 n.o. Nimesh Gunasinghe 2/1, Madhuranga Udapola 2/15)

St. Anthony’s: 108 in 29 overs (Sachin Bulathsinghala 27, Sachith Fernando 4/35, Shanaka Cooray 2/8, Nisal Chandiak 2/12, Chathun Kamesh 2/29)

By Dion Michael

A huge moment: jubilant Lankans celebrate the cheap dismissal of Gayle

An all-round display by hosts Sri Lanka saw them crush West Indies by nine wickets with 28 balls to spare in their key clash in the ICC World T20 Super Eights at the Pallekele Stadium on Saturday.

The win propelled the Lankans to the top of Group B with a maximum of four points from two games after having beaten New Zealand on Thursday. The other teams in the group West Indies and England have two points each from two games whilst New Zealand who lost both their games have no points.

After dismissing West Indies for a below par 129, Sri Lanka’s most experienced campaigners skipper MahelaJayawardena (65 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (39 not out) figured in a scintillating unbroken second wicket stand of 108 to ease their side to an emphatic victory.

The win has all but ensured the hosts of a semi-final berth as their margin of victory has improved their net run rate too should they slip up in their final game against England on Monday.

Statistics indicated that 80% of the teams batting first at the Pallekele Stadium had gone on to win the game and so when West Indies won the crucial toss it appeared that the Lankans were in for a tough game.

However as England proved earlier in the day, statistics are just that and nothing can replace form and commitment – two attributes that the Lankans displayed in abundance on Saturday.

The tone for the game was set in the very first ball of the match. In a departure from the usual form Angelo Mathews was entrusted with the first over and his first delivery was cracked to thecover region by Johnson Charles and all eyes immediately went to the cover boundary only to slowly return to the spread-eagled figure of TillekeratneDilshan at cover point who pulled off an amazing stop to prevent a certain boundary.

There was an extra spring in the step of all the fielders from thereon and they saved a good 20-30 runs in the field continually exerting pressure on the batsmen with their speed and agility.

West Indies were shackled from the start of their innings as skipper Jayawardena used four different bowlers in the first five overs of the innings. It was AjanthaMendis – the fourth bowler who claimed the first wicket in his very first over when he beat Charles (12) in three consecutive deliveries before having him stumped by Sangakkara.

Two balls later came the biggest moment in the game. Kulasekera returning for a second spell claimed the hugely prized wicket of Chris Gayle – the most feared batsmen in T20s. The master batsman was deceived by the change of pace of a wide delivery and could only edge it to wicketkeeper Sangakara.

The game was as good as over from that point although Marlon Samuels (50) and Dwayne Bravo (40)

fought valiantly to bring some respectability to their total.

Dilshan got Sri Lanka’s run chase to a quick start with consecutive fours off the first two balls he faced but on 13 he edged Ravi Rampaul to Ramdin behind the stumps to leave Sri Lanka on 22 for 1 in 2.5 overs.

If the West Indies had any hopes of an upset victory they were soon snuffed out by Jayawardena and Sangakkara who quickly settled into their usual groove and they began to entertain the packed house with some great batting. As the hosts neared their victory target the duo increased the tempo to ensure they had a good net run rate too.

The game had a special significance for two Sri Lankans who achieved personal milestones. AjanthaMendis recorded his 100th wicket in T20s and Kumar Sangakkara reached 1000 runs in T20s during his innings of 39 not out.

By Dion Michael

Hafeez and Azhar added a record 256 for the second wicket

Sri Lankans have an almost legendary reputation for their hospitality but Mahela Jayawardena took that to a new high on Saturday with his gesture to invite the visitors to bat first on a beautiful batting track at the SSC grounds on the opening day of their second test match.

The visiting Pakistanis probably thought that Ramazan had come a little early this time and they celebrated in style reveling in their new found fortune and providing a run feast for the starving fans.

At the end of the dayPakistanhad reached an imposing 334 for 1 with Mohamed Hafeez unbeaten on 172 – a personal best – and Azhar Ali on 92 not out.Sri Lankaleads the three match series 1-0 after registering a comfortable 209 run win in the first test.

Hafeez who batted throughout the day had struck 18 fours and one six whilst Azhar the more circumspect, had just 6 fours in his knock and the pair had added a monumental 256 runs for the second wicket.

When thePakistaninnings began Hafeez seemed to be preoccupied with other things and he let his opening partner Taufeeq Umar take control – maybe after being in charge of the team in the first test he was making a deliberate attempt at stepping back a bit.

Whatever the reason was the tactic certainly worked as Taufeeq breezed along with his own innings and allowed Hafeez to intentionally build his own innings away from the limelight.

Such was his dominance of the session that when Taufeeq was dismissed – caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off Angelo Mathews – he had scored 65 of the opening stand of 78.

Pakistanreached lunch at a steady 94 for 1 but in the two sessions after lunch the second wicket pair who had begun cautiously started to gain in confidence and then turned in a delightful display of batting as they slowly ground their opponents into the SSC turf.

The SSC track is always a batsman’s delight – especially on the first three days – and so winning the toss is almost half the battle won; yet Jayawardena in his own wisdom decided otherwise and instead invited the Pakistanis to bat first.

What on earth was Jayawardena thinking? He knows the SSC wicket like the back of his hand – after all it is his ‘home’ ground. Was he perhaps trying to bridge the seemingly huge divide between the two teams and make the contest a bit more even?

There will be many who see a positive side to Jayawardena’s gesture – they will think he wanted to exploit the little bit of juice that is evident during the first hour at the SSC track. Maybe someone should have whispered to him that he did not have the bowlers who could take advantage of that and indeed that did not seem to be the plan because in another perplexing act the fastest bowler in the side Nuwan Pradeep was not given the new ball.

There will be others who believe that this was the opportunity to put the ‘suspect’ Pakistani batting under pressure – perhaps they need to be reminded that the first test was more about suspect umpiring thanPakistan’s batting. In any case there is no better way of putting pressure on another side than the tried and tested ‘runs on the board’ approach.

Sri Lankawill do well to remember that – thanks to their decision to bowl first – they will have to bat last in the game and they are up against Saeed Ajmal – arguably the best spinner in the game today.

Sri Lankaneeds quick wickets in the morning session today and must hope that there will be a repeat of the familiar Pakistani batting collapse in order to get back into the game.

By Dion Michael

Sangakkara - stranded on 199

A sublime innings from Kumar Sangakkara and a flurry of Pakistani wickets leftSri Lankafirmly in the driving seat at the end of an absorbing second day in the first test inGalle.

Sangakkara was left stranded on 199 – one run short of his 9th double century – after guidingSri Lankato a formidable 472. That total grew more daunting as a flurry of late wickets left Pakistan on a shaky 48 for 5 at the close on Saturday – 224 runs adrift of avoiding the follow on.

Sangakkara struck 18 fours and two sixes and batted nearly nine and a half hours to anchor his side’s innings.

WhenPakistanbatted, Nuwan Kulasekera trapped opener Taufeeq Umar lbw for 9 and then had Azher Ali caught behind by Jayawardene for a golden duck to leave then on a shaky 17 for 2.

Pakistangrafted their way to 43 beforeSri Lanka’s spinners grabbed three quick wickets in the space of 10 balls. Skipper Mohamed Hafeez was lbw to Suraj Randiv for 20, nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal fell first ball edging Randiv to Tharanga Paranavitharana and left arm spinner Rangana Herath then had Asad Shafiq (0) edging to keeper Jayawardena.

Yet the hosts did not have things all their way during the day as ace spinner Saeed Ajmal led a spirited fightback fromPakistanwho bounced back in the morning session after a dismal performance on the opening day.

Sri Lanka began the day from their overnight 300 for 2 with their most experienced pair Sangakkara (111) and skipper Mahela Jayawardena (55) set to resume a third wicket partnership which had already yielded 113 runs.

However, the pair found run making difficult against some disciplinedPakistanbowling and only 11 runs came off the first seven overs for the day. Jayawardena broke the shackles with a reverse sweep for four but he perished just two balls later attempting a more ungainly slog sweep and being bowled by Ajmal.

Jayawardena (62) had added only seven to his overnight score and his stand with Sangakkara had added 128 for the third wicket.

The next man in was Thilan Samaraweera who has been a thorn in the Pakistan side with his obdurate batting however he did not last long this time. After making just six he was deceived by a flighted delivery from Ajmal and was stumped by wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal.

Lanka’s vice captain Angelo Mathews strode out to loud cheers from the home crowd after his one-day heroics against the same side last week. The man who had played a mature match winning innings in that game was out for a golden duck to perhaps the worst ball bowled by Ajmal all day. Mathews got a wide delivery which he chose to hit straight back to the bowler who took the catch gleefully.

The wicket meant that Ajmal had grabbed all five wickets to fall and from 300 for 2,Sri Lankahad slid to 335 for 5 andPakistanwere now just one wicket away from the tail and a chance of dismissing the hosts relatively cheaply.

At the other end, Sangakkara continued on his way grafting his runs and occasionally increasing the momentum with some exquisite strokeplay.

He found a good ally in wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene who once again underlined his all round value to the side with a typically obdurate innings and helped Sangakkara add 80 runs for the sixth wicket which took the hosts passed the 400 run mark.

The stand was ended when Jayawardene was caught by wicketkepper Akmal off Mohamed Hafeez for 48.

Suraj Randiv (8) and Nuwan Kulasekara (0) both fell cheaply – although the latter was unlucky to be adjudged caught off his pad – and Sangakkara began playing with a little more urgency and seemed determined to ensureSri Lankahad a good total to avoid having to bat again in the game.

Rangana Herath hung around for 12 balls without scoring but helped add 16 runs for the ninth wicket before he was run out responding to an almost suicidal call from Sangakkara.

Meanwhile Sangakkara was approaching his double century and had reached 199 after adding another 17 runs with last man Nuwan Pradeep who was then bowled by Hafeez for a duck to leave the star batsman stranded on 199.

Sangakkara had the consolation though that he was not the first batsman to record the feat as Andy Flower the former Zimbawe player – and presentEnglandcoach – suffered the same fate againstSouth Africain 2001.

Angelo Mathews has been criticised for bowling at the IPL.

Angelo Mathews, who has been unable to bowl for Sri Lanka of late due to a calf injury, was cleared to bowl at the Indian Premier League (IPL) by physio Steve Mount and the team management ahead of the tournament.

Mathews has faced criticism in the local media over his decision to bowl at the IPL despite being unable to bowl for Sri Lanka in recent matches. The injury he sustained in Australia last month forced Mathews to miss the finals of the Commonwealth Bank tri-series, the Asia Cup and the first Test against England. He returned to the side for the second Test against England but did not bowl.

Mathews’s agent Charlie Austin said the all-rounder had fully recovered from his injury and was cleared to bowl at the IPL.

“[Mathews] recovered fully from the calf injury sustained in the CB Series and he was given the green-light to resume bowling in T20 matches before he left for India,” Austin told Island Cricket.

“As he recently confirmed to the media, he wants to try to continue bowling as he would much prefer to be an all-rounder and not just a specialist batsman.”

However, just prior to his return to the side for the second Test against England, chief selector Ashantha de Mel told ESPNCricinfo that he did not think Sri Lanka could “use Mathews as an all-rounder in the future” and the selectors would “have to look at him purely as a batsman.”

After casting doubt over Mathews’s future as an all-rounder, de Mel was critical of the 24-year-old’s decision to bowl at the IPL.

“I have personally told him that if he bowls his career will be shortened,” de Mel told The Island newspaper in Sri Lanka.

“If he doesn’t want to listen to us, then I don’t know what more can be done. People have to realise what is more important to them. Playing [in] the IPL or playing for the country.”

The chairman of selectors maintains that bowling will cause a “strain on his body” and appeared to be unaware that Mathews had been given the all-clear to bowl at the IPL by the physio and team management.

Meanwhile, president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Upali Dharmadasa had no objections to Mathews choosing to bowl at the IPL.

“As far as I am concerned, when the necessary authorities have cleared him why should [SLC] stop him,” asked Dharmadasa.

Physio Steve Mount was unable to speak to Island Cricket until an approval from SLC was obtained. At the time of publishing, Mount was yet to respond.

This article is courtesy of Island Cricket

England batsman Alastair Cook is disappointed that England's tour to Sri Lanka was just two Test matches.

England batsman Alastair Cook wants cricket authorities to protect Test cricket after it was revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had chosen not to play a three-Test series against England in order to allow their players to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The lucrative IPL tournament, which is India’s domestic T20 tournament, was to blame for the cancellation of a Test tour to England in 2009. Both Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, utilising the Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association (SLCA), protested SLC’s decision to schedule a last-minute Test series outside of the future tour’s programme and were instrumental in the cancellation of that tour.

The then chairman of the cricket board Arjuna Ranatunga, who gave Test cricket prominence over T20s, was removed by the sports minister to appease both the Sri Lankan players who had protested his decision to slot a Test series during the IPL season and the all-powerful Indian cricket board (BCCI).

“You ask most players what is the highlight of their career, it will always be something to do with Test cricket,” England opening batsman Cook said.

“Everyone at the end of the Sri Lanka series, especially the people watching, would have loved a decider.

“Twenty20 has been great for the game and has brought spectators through the gate but you have to protect Tests and the cricket authorities will always have to try to do that. If there are at least three matches in a series, it will give both teams better chances to win that series.

“We are lucky in England, where the first three or four days of a Test are nearly always sold out and we get great support on tour.”

A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed to a Sri Lankan newspaper that the recently concluded two-Test series between England and Sri Lanka had not been three Tests because the ECB “did not receive a request from SLC to play three Test matches.”

As the host board, the spokesman said, SLC needed to “draw up the initial schedule for agreement by both countries.”

With Indian tours to the island generating unparalleled revenue amounting to millions of dollars for the cash-strapped SLC through television rights, as well as SLC earning 10-percent of their players’ IPL earnings, the Sri Lankan board is in no position to upset the BCCI.

Last year, the Times of India reported that when SLC requested it’s players to return from the IPL early to prepare for their 2011 tour of England, the BCCI had threatened to “ask the IPL franchisees to block the salaries of the Lankan cricketers and even refuse to pay the Lankan board its share of 10% of the players’ earnings.”

“SLC’s priorities today are not the interests of Sri Lankan cricket but to remain in the good books of the BCCI,” Sri Lanka’s world cup winning captain Ranatunga told The Island newspaper in Sri Lanka recently.

“Look at those individuals at the [SLCA] who worked to scrap a tour of England three years ago and permitted the players to go for the IPL; two of them were appointed as members of the interim committee, while another is a match referee at the IPL.”

Ranatunga was referring to his younger brother Nishantha Ranatunga, Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Graeme Labrooy.

Reports suggest the ECB will reciprocate by scheduling a similiar short two-Test series when Sri Lanka tours England next, which is a blow to the island nation who up until 2002 were only allocated one Test per tour by the England board.

This article is courtesy of Island Cricket

Jayawardena and Strauss sharing the trophy

The only thing missing from an absorbing Test series between Sri Lanka and England is a deciding third Test. It is nothing short of a travesty that after nine days of Test cricket at its rawest, the teams and huge following of travelling fans are left with unfinished business. The series was set up perfectly, England coming back, but Sri Lanka far from being down and out – it would have been anyone’s game. The players are now already dotted around the world, India, England and South Africa, even the Maldives where Tim Bresnan was going to get married straight after the series finished. Such is the modern way and already with a topsy turvy Test in Barbados and the drama of the IPL kicking in, this sticky series already seems part of history.
Sri Lanka will be the more disappointed of the two teams. After the superb win of Galle and winning the toss in Colombo, they were set to do it from the Lankan textbook: big runs in the first innings, then oodles of pressure from the spinners with men crammed round the bat.
Instead Jimmy Anderson produced something special to have the Lankans three down and from there they were always chasing the match. Anderson was superb throughout the series. His stamina and skill shone and are a benchmark for the struggling Sri Lankan seam attack.
Anderson now has complete control of his craft from his seemingly ungaily head down action. His spell on the fourth evening after an exhausting day in the field was worthy of any comparison. Naturally to the left-handers, Anderson would hoop the ball in. So good is he now that his stock ball is the away swinger to the left hander. He has gone away and though about it and decided he would rather get the slips than the pads involved for dismissals.
Anderson also has the perfect physique for a modern quick, slim, lithe and flexible with no excess weight. He is rarely injured and never seems to tire. Compare this to the muscle bound Australian hulks such as Harris and Watson, who are always one dive or leap away from another injury. As is often the case less is sometimes more.
This mini series came no closer to ending the Lankans seam bowling worries. The lack of penetration remains the Achilles heel of Sri Lankan cricket. Things looked relatively rosy for the future during the burning embers of Murali’s international career, with Mendis to provide the mystery, Mathews the hard yards and Malinga the penetration. None of this has happened and Mahela the most inventive and courageous of captains is left with very little other than Herath’s stoic command of line and length- worthy but not consistently match winning.
The other quandary for the Sri Lankans is how to get Mathews as a batsmen and Chandimal in the same side. Both have to be for Sri Lanka in what is still a relatively barren time, need their best eleven players on the oval. The obvious vacancy is for one of them to open. Chandimal has more top order experience, but his technique still has flashes of the flash and these are best ironed out down the order.
At the moment Chandimal is a reactive player rather than a game setter and six is the perfect place for him to learn his craft.
Mathews has more experience in international cricket and at the moment the tighter technique. It looks like Mathews another conventionally ‘well built’ player, will have to let his bowling go, his body is just not made for it.
When batting in Test cricket Mathews is at his best when he has a set scenario to play to: batting with the tail and quick runs seem to cause him few problems, he seems to get a bit muddled though when waters are relatively calm. He has showed he has the mental toughness to go up the order and he has a simple technique based on hitting straight. Give him the brief of batting naturally at the top of the order and something very special may emerge. It’s worth a go surely after the endless openers who have tried and failed to partner Dilshan in the last few years.
Mahela’s captaincy was superb throughout as was his batting. Sri Lanka cricket faces no bigger challenge at the moment than persuading Mahela to stick around as skipper for as long as possible. Sri Lanka already looks a changed team from the disheartened bunch who trekked around a wintery England last year.
The P.Sara Oval did itself proud celebrating thirty years of Sri Lankan cicket. The new press box is top notch and seasoned journalists were purring about the quality of the lunches. The hospitality boxes are also kitted out very well, offering excellent views both inside, with AC, TV’s and a fridge full of pop and outside on the atmospheric balconies. The Barmy Army after bemoaning ticket prices of Rs 5K, far too much, had a great time, even on Poya Day when they were deprived off their life blood, beer. They were generous in their appreciation of Sri Lanka, sang their songs with gusto and created a real party spirit. Hats off to them.

Sangakarra recognised for his outstanding year

Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become the first man to be named simultaneously as Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world and one of its five cricketers of the year.

The elegant left-hander compiled 2,267 international runs in the three formats last year – no other player broke 2,000 – with five centuries and 13 fifties, and uniquely reached four figures in both Tests and one-day internationals for the third time.
A century in probably his last Test on English soil at Hampshire helped ensure he was named as one of the cricketers of the year, the award conferred by the publication’s editor – a mantle taken on this year by Lawrence Booth – on the individuals who have most shaped the English cricketing summer, and which a player can win only once.
“I had always wanted a Test hundred at Lord’s but, if that was not to be, then anywhere in England,” Sangakkara tells David Hopps in the Almanack, published on Thursday.
“The Rose Bowl felt as if it might be my last opportunity.”
Sangakkara also won praise for his delivery of the MCC’s Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, reproduced in part in Wisden, in which he confronted the level of government interference in his country’s cricket.
“Writing that speech became a deeply personal experience,” he adds.
“I knew there were ways it could be misinterpreted, but it was a story I felt I needed to tell.”
Joining the 34-year-old as cricketers of the year are fellow veterans Glen Chapple, Lancashire’s title-winning captain and talisman, and Worcestershire seamer Alan Richardson, the leading wicket-taker in Division One of last season’s LV= County Championship with 73.
England pair Alastair Cook, with 927 Test runs at an average of 84 in addition to his return to the one-day international side as captain, and Tim Bresnan – who took 21 Test wickets at 19, scored 189 runs at 63 and finished the summer with a 100% winning record from 10 Tests – complete the quintet.
Richardson said: “To be recognised along world-class cricketers such as Alastair Cook, Tim Bresnan, Glen Chapple and Kumar Sangakkara is a real honour.”
Elsewhere in the Almanack, Booth uses his first editor’s notes to address a wide spread of topics, most notably the global shifting of focus towards Twenty20 cricket and the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in the governance of the world game.
Describing T20 as “a Pandora’s Box masquerading as a panacea”, Booth adds: “Outside England, the Test match increasingly resembles the quiet zone of world cricket’s gravy train: respected in theory, ignored in practice.
“The real damage is being done by the prevalence of the two-match series. For any series not involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, three Tests must be the minimum.”
On the BCCI’s power, Booth – the youngest Wisden editor in 72 years – writes: “India have ended up with a special gift: the clout to shape an entire sport. But too often their game appears driven by the self-interest of the few.
“Other countries run the game along self-serving lines too … but none wields the BCCI’s power, nor shares their responsibility.”