CANBERRA, Wednesday : Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has been under fire for his lacklustre form during the home summer but team mate Nathan Lyon dismissed the criticism on Wednesday.

Left-arm fast bowler Starc has been wayward of late and picked up 15 wickets in five tests during the four-match series against India and the opening game against Sri Lanka last week.

The 29-year-old went wicketless in the second innings against Sri Lanka in Brisbane with Pat Cummins leading the hosts to a victory by an innings and 40 runs and a 1-0 lead in the two test series with 10 wickets.

Jhye Richardson, who came in for the injured Josh Hazlewood, shared the new ball with Starc in Brisbane and picked up five wickets on debut.

Former national selector Mark Waugh has been among critics who have pondered taking the new ball off Starc and giving it to Cummins.

“I don’t understand all the criticism to be honest.

Mitch is one of my best mates and I will back him to the hell and back,” off-spinner Lyon told reporters ahead of the second test starting at the Manuka Oval on Friday.

“He’s bowling fast, he’s moving it, he had the ball reversing in the nets. He’s an X-factor. He’s got 200 test wickets.

“If anyone gets 200 test wickets, you must know what you are doing, you must be confident. I will back Mitchell to come out and play a massive role for us in every game he comes out to play for Australia.”

Cummins has also publicly backed Starc and said he was happy to be Australia’s first change bowler.

While Manuka Oval, which is making its debut as a test venue, is not expected to offer as much help for the fast bowlers as the Gabba, Lyon has backed Starc to find form.

“I am looking forward to watching him this week and hopefully bowl really well with him in partnership,” Lyon said.

“That’s the biggest key, if we can bowl well in partnerships, doesn’t matter who it is, hopefully we will take 20 wickets.

“The best thing about this bowling attack is that we know our roles in the side so I think it is really important that we keep playing our roles and sticking to that.

“Mitch has got all my support, and that whole change room’s support.”

– Agencies

“Everyone is talking about corruption and pointing fingers at us and if anyone from us including me are found guilty after the forensic audit report called for by the Sports Minister we are ready to step down from contesting the forthcoming SLC election,” said presidential candidate Mohan de Silva at a media conference held at the CCC pavilion yesterday.

Speaking further De Silva said, “We are thankful to the Minister of Sport for calling for a forensic audit report from 2016 to 2018. Only a few individuals are making false corruption and match fixing allegations against us. Even State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake went to the FCID about corruption but nothing happened. These individuals are blaming us for their personel benefit that’s why the majority of affiliated clubs are not with them. Most of the clubs are with us and we believe in democracy and we will be elected democratically.”

“During our period in office the Sri Lanka team had some downfalls and we have taken the blame for it but don’t forget that we beat Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies. All are responsible for the downfall of the Sri Lanka team including the players. We need to build up the team both mentally and physically but in the last five month nothing has happened,” pointed out De Silva. “After we are elected we hope to build up the team and put it on the right track as we had done from 2016 to 2018.”

Associated with De Silva were Gymkhana Club (CCC) president Shammi Silva and ex SLC official Bandula Dissanayake.

A 35-member Sri Lankan squad of athletes left yesterday for the 39th Indian Veteran’s Athletic Championship which will be held at Nazik City in Maharashtra State.

The meet will commence on February 1 and will continue till February 3. More than 2000 athletes from Indian States are expected to take part.

The Lankan squad was selected from the recently concluded 37th Mercantile Athletic Championship where the top three winners of each event were eligible to take part at the Indian meet.

Basil Silva is the team manager with Dhanushka Jayawardena as his assistant. The Lankan veterans team is captained by Waruna Udawatta.

Lakshitha Rasanjana skipper of Nalanda College scored his fifth century of the season in the Singer Trophy Under 19 inter-schools cricket tournament yesterday.

Avishka Perera scored 169 off 149 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes and Rasanjana 111 off 104 balls with 16 fours and 2 sixes. Rasanjana and Perera shared a 201 runs partnership for the third wicket against Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda.

Tissa Central College Kalutara beat Royal College Panadura by an innings and 151 runs, Vidyaloka College Galle beat Welapura MV Kalutara by an innings and 83 runs, Henegama Central College beat Galahitiyawa Central College by 6 runs and St. Joseph’s College Negombo beat Defence Services School Colombo by 124 runs. All the other matches were drawn.

RESULTS:

*At Ananda Mawatha: Match drawn.

Ananda: 254 and 107/5 decl. in 19 overs (Kanishka Ranthilakage 48, Kamesh Nirmal 25. Pasindu Thennakoon 3/47)

St. Anne’s Kurunegala: 165 (70/4 o/n) in 62 overs (Lasith Warnakulasooriya 31, Muiz Raseel 29, Preshan Piythilake 24, Janindu Jayawardane 5/32, Saviru Bandara 2/26, Dasun Tharuka 2/48) and 76/3 in 38 overs (Rishika Perera 51 n.o., Saviru Bandara 2/17)

*At Pallekele: Match drawn.

Kingswood: 235;

Isipathana: 262 in 90.2 overs (Leshan Amarasinghe 72, Ashen Gunawardane 66, Yasiru Kathiriachchi 41, Mandeepa Gunasekara 22, Devinda Dissanayake 4/35, Harshana Wickramasinghe 3/40, Deegayu Bandara 2/51)

*At Kalutara: Tissa Central Kalutara won by inns & 151 runs.

Royal Panadura: 110 and 46 in 17.2 overs (Kosala Ravindu 5/12, Rohan Sanjaya 4/18)

Tissa Central Kalutara: 307/6 decl. (268/4 o/n) in 77.4 overs (Ramesh Madusanka 129, Kosala Ravindu 87, Janith Lakruwan 36, Michel Shashmika 22, Krishantha Madushanka 3/46, Lakindu Chanchala 2/78)

*At Kalutara: Vidyaloka Galle won by inns & 83 runs.

Vidyaloka: 234;

Welapura MV Kalutara: 56 and 95 (11/2 o/n) in 40.4 overs (Vimukthi Madushanka 59 n.o., Maleesha Sahan 25, Nadeera Ishan 6/43, Seneth Praveen 3/10)

*At Wennappuwa: St. Joseph’s Negombo won by 124 runs.

St. Joseph’s: 166 and 216 (15/0 o/n) in 58.5 overs (Kavindu Demtiha 75, Aloka Lakshan 43, Martin Fonseka 28, Hasitha Nawanjana 6/64, Vinod Geethanjana 2/12, Uvindu Anjana 2/80)

Defence Services School Colombo: 148 and 110 in 26.4 overs (Aryan Achintha 25, Uvindu Anjana 22, Sithum Induwara 20, Aloka Lakshan 6/42, Bryan Fonseka 2/03, Malith Kavinda 2/36)

*At Henegama: Henegama Central won by 6 runs.

Henegama Central: 94 and 174 (103/5 o/n) in 53 overs (Samith Wijenayake 54, Janith Maduwantha 28, Yasith Rashmika 3/20, Sandaruwan Chinthaka 3/64, Buddika Kamesh 2/32)

Galahitiyawa Central: 146 and 116 in 26.3 overs (Isuru Tharaka 37, Pramith Darshana 3/29, Shehan Lakshan 2/6, Janith Madhuwantha 2/34, Samith Wijenayake 2/38)

DAY ONE SCORES

* At Campbell Place: Nalanda: 329/8 decl. in 56.4 overs (Avishka Perera 169, Lakshitha Rasanjana 111, Kavindu Nadeeshan 4/113, Aroshana de Zoysa 2/67)

Dharmasoka Ambalangoda: 92 in 21.5 overs (Aroshana de Zoysa 54, Hasitha Imanthka 25, Lakshitha Rasanjana 5/18, Chamindu Wijesinghe 4/34) and 59/3 at close in 11 overs (Minuka Dilshan 27 n.o., Chamidu Wijesinghe 2/17)

* At Bandarawela: S.Thomas’ Bandarawela: 224 in 75.4 overs (Thevin Amarasinghe 68, Mohomed Milshad 31, Shanith Geeth 29, Dinuka Palanchigedara 25, Pramuda Sachintha 4/43 Lakshan Shalinda 3/61)

Bandarawela Central: 120/4 at close in 36 overs (Ruchira Wijesundara 37 n.o., Janisha Hansaka 31, Shalith Basnayake 2/20) - (YK)

Royal College Colombo entered to the final of the ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 13 division 1 inter schools cricket tournament yesterday.

Royal won on points against St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya in the semi final played at Ananda Shashthrala ground.

St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya won the toss and elected to bat. Peterites scored 191 runs for 9 wickets in 81.5 overs. Chamindu Perera scored 34 runs. Vishen Helambage (32), Salith Gallage (31) and Lashmika Perera (27) helped to build their innings. Ovina Ambanpola took 4 wickets for 39 runs and Nethwin Dharmarathne took 3 wickets for 47 runs.

Royal Colombo scored 95 runs for 3 wickets in 21 overs at close. Kevan Panapitiya scored unbeaten 40 runs and Sehath Perera scored 21 runs.

Royal earned 3.07 points and St. Peter’s earned 3.01 points in the match.

Chief scores:

St. Peter’s Bambalapitiya: 191/9 decl. in 81.5 overs (Chamindu Perera 34, Vishen Helambage 32, Salith Gallage 31, Lashmika Perera 27, Ovina Ambanpola 4/39, Nethwin Dharmarathne 3/47)

Royal Colombo: 95/3 in 21 overs (Kevan Panapitiya 40 n.o., Sehath Perera 21).

-YK

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed ‘A’ team coach Avishka Gunawardene as the batting coach of the Sri Lanka team for the second Test against Australia starting at Canberra on Friday.

Jon Lewis the batting coach is on leave attending to a family matter.

Gunawardene was due to fly to Australia last night to join the team and will remain with the side until the conclusion of the second Test.

The wife of detained Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi has issued a plea for world leaders to pressure the Thai government for his release.

Al-Araibi, 25-year-old, holds refugee status in Australia but is being held in a Bangkok prison on an Interpol warrant put out by Bahrain.

Bahrain has said the conviction was fair and that extradition proceedings are now "in process".

But the footballer's wife told the BBC extradition would place him in danger.

"I'm calling on every country to help Hakeem because I know if he gets taken back he will be tortured, and he will be killed," she said.

The Australia-based 24-year-old, who has asked not to be named, said she had written a personal plea to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

"His future lies in your hands. Please help my husband come home," she says in the letter to Mr Prayuth, which her lawyer said was handed to the government on Wednesday.

The Australian government, Fifa and the International Olympic Committee are among those who have lobbied Thailand to release Al-Araibi.

Al-Araibi fled to Australia in 2014 and was granted political asylum there in 2017. He now plays for club Pascoe Vale in Melbourne.

In 2014, he was sentenced in absentia in Bahrain to 10 years in prison for vandalising a police station.

The Annual Inter-House Sports meet of Wadduwa Balika Vidyalaya, Kalutara, was held on January 30 with the participation of Kalutara Zonal Education Director Mrs. O. MV Priyani Mudalige, Panadura Divisional Director of Education M. N. H. T. P. De Silva, Kalutara Asst. Director of Education (Sports) Mrs. Dimuthu Lokuge and Panadura Senior ISA (Sports) Kanthasiri Meegamuwage and the school principal Mrs. S. D. P. J. Abeysena at the Wadduwa Public playground.

The overall sports championship was won by Manel House with 247 points and the Runner-up cup was won by Nelum House with 217 points. The third place was won by Olu House with 152 points. Four best Athletes were honoured and felicitated by the chief guest Mrs. Priyani Mudalige and the Panadura Divisional Director of Education Thilak de Silva at the Awards Ceremony.

Nithini Haseni (U. 12) and Chatupama Nethmi Oshadi (U. 14), of Nelum House, and Kushni Olivia, Gimhani (U. 16) and L. Hasini Kaushalya (U. 18) of Manel House were honoured and won cups as the most outstanding athletes of the year 2019.

A hurricane 144 runs by Praveen Sandamal and a fine match bag of 10 for 63 (5/15 and 5/48) by Sasith Manupriya helped St. John’s College Panadura to beat Asoka Vidyalaya Colombo by innings and 31 runs in their inter school first eleven cricket match worked off at Panadura.

Praveen had sixteen fours to the ropes and ten over and occupied the crease for 138 minutes and faced 91 balls.

Batting first visitors were all out for a paltry 85 runs and in reply homesters scored 307 runs with Thamindu Niwarthana scoring 56 runs and in their second essay Asoka Vidyalaya were all out for 191 runs.

Asoka Vidyalaya – 85 in 29 overs – (Panchala Sandeepana 28, Sasith Manupriya 5/15, Praveen Sandamal 2/14, Thamindu Niwarthana 2/19 and 191 – Tilshan Kavindu 35, Sanush Madeesah 30, Sanchala Sandeepana 26, Sasith Manupriya 5/48, Thamindu Viwarthana 2/51.

St. Johns College – 307 in 53.1 overs – (Praveen Sandamal 144, Thamindu Niwarthana 56, Dilshan Prasanna 31, Abishek Sanju 22, n/o, Anula Pasandul 6/53, Tilshan Kavindu 3/6).

G Pasan Ranuka Roshith Perera, a student of GCE Advanced Level Technology Class at Wadduwa Central College, Kalutara is an outstanding Karateka who has excelled in Karate tournament.

Pasan, recently took part in the All Ceylon Inter-School Under 20 (men’s) Karate Tournament held at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo and won the third place in ‘Kata’ event winning a Bronze Medal.

Pasan, who started learning Karate under the guidance of L P Edirisinghe the Sri Lanka Representative of Japan-Sri Lanka Karate Association and the Kalutara District Karate Trainer coach and Chief Instructor and the Visiting Lecturer of Karate at Pasdunrata College of Teacher-Training, Kalutara was able to win a medal at the very first Karate District Tournament held at Kalutara.

He participated in Kalutara District Inter-School Tournament held at the Auditorium of Pasdunrata Teacher-Training school and won the first place in ‘Kata’ event (under 19 men’s in 2018. Pasan won a Gold Medal at the Western Province Inter-School Under 20 (men’s) ‘Kata’ event, held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.

Pasan Ranuka at the moment is undergoing special training in Wado-Ryu Self-Defence Martial Arts (Karate) under the instructions and guidance of Master Trainer/Coach and Kalutara District Karate Chief Instructor L P Edirisinghe.

“I’m really happy and satisfied with my pupil’s (Pasan Ranuka’s) special performance displayed in Karate, at the Sri Lanka Karate Tournament where he won a Bronze Medal and Wadduwa Central College’s Karate History was re-written in gold, by my student,” says L P Edirisinghe.

A brilliant 114 runs by captain of Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Lanka Under 19 player Nishan Madushka guided his school to beat St. Mary’s College Kegalle by and innings and two runs in their match worked off at Kegalle.

Nishan hit sixteen fours and one six and occupied the crease for 140 minutes and faced 126 balls. Also he was associated in a valuable partnership for the second wicket with Chanuka Pushpakumara who contributed 18 runs.

So far Nishan has collected 981 runs in the on going cricket season with five centuries and three fifties. He has three more matches to score the magical 1000 runs.

Batting first Vidyalians scored 226 runs and in reply Kegalle Marians were all out for 101 runs and following on they were shot out for 114 runs with Gajitha Kotuwegoda scoring 52 runs and Chamalka Pushpakumara claimed 4 for 8 runs.

Moratu Vidyalaya – 226 in 51 overs – (Nishan Madushka 114, Hashen Adithya 22, Ishan Weerasuriya 3/65, Akalanka Pethiyagoda 2/22. Maleesha Serasinghe 2/36).

St. Mary’s Kegalle – 110 in 52.4 overs – (Dishan Karunarathne 31, Nadith Misendra 3/28 and 114 – Gajitha Kotuwegoda 52, Dineth Weerasuriya 26, Chamalka Pushpakumara 4/8).

Minister of Sports HARIN FERNANDO a former Josephian and CR and FC ruggerite is bestowed with a sense of vision. And that vision is the mission to improve sports all round and most importantly to fumigate and rid sports that is allegedly corruption tainted.

FERNANDO’S two missions have been well received by all sportsmen, women and sports people in the country. Regardless of one’s biases he should be assured of all cooperation in his endeavor to rid sports of all that is not sport.

While he wants all quarters to work like a well oiled machine and support the noble cause of Sports, he acted swiftly by appointing an illustrious and highly competent 14 team of National Sports Council that will serve a two year period -2019/2020.

The minister, when handing over the letters of appointment, extolled on the members that their main task will be to advice the minister on administrative matters and also matters connected to the developing of sports in the country, adding: ‘all you members are qualified in your respective fields and can serve the sports to reach greater heights in the future’.

In days gone by Sports Councils were appointed with fanfare and thereafter treated as a rubber stamp or a vehicle of convenience. It behooves the Minister to harness the talents of these illustrious council members to advice him without fear, call a spade a spade and bring about reform.

In turn, the Minister himself should feel confident and comfortable to take the advice. After all being a capable ruggerite, he should be able to take and give a tackle and do what is best for the team.

The members are of impeccable backgrounds. They will earn encomiums from all those who have improvement of sports in their agendas if the Council acts with a sense of purpose and not get trapped in bureaucracy and local politics. Honesty of purpose is paramount. And that purpose is the resurgence of the best in Sports for the County.

The team is led by former Maliyadeva, Kurunegala sportsman Army Commander Daya Ratnayake who like good wine needs no bush. When in the Army, Ratnayake did an exemplary and commendable job and was above all a shining example of what a serviceman must be.

Ratnayake was a top rugger player in the Army and won colours. He deservedly was an unanimous choice to head the National Chairmanship in the Sri Lanka Athletics Federation in 2012. He was also a member of the Sri Lanka Rugby Union.

I had the opportunity to serve with Ratnayake when Saman Amarasinghe, Director of Sports appointed a committee to pick the highly successful ‘National Sports Stars of the Year’ contest which culminated with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe being the chief and Guest of Honour and can vouch for Ratnayake’s honesty and integrity and his vast knowledge of all sport. But the beacon in the pack is a former illustrious Mount Lavinia Thomian Professor Arjuna de Silva, MBBS,MD, SC, -(Oxon), FRCP (LOND), FCCP, Deputy President of the Anti Doping Authority who needs no introduction to the local and international sporting fraternity.

De Silva a sportsman at STCML was captain of Thomian rowing team and sported the country’s colours in this sport in 1983 and 1984. His medical qualifications and the positions he holds are too numerous to mention.

The other members of this council are – Director General of Sports Dhammika Muthugala,, Director General of Sports Science Sajith Jayalal, former Director Ministry of Education ( sports), Manjula Kariyawasam, Member of the National Para Games Association Lt.Col.D.T.L.S Karawitage,

Others are: Member of the Police Department former Director of National Intelligence Mohamed Hafiz Marso, former Test cricketer Sidath Wettimuny, former President SLRFU Asanga Seneviratne, Legal Expert Attorney at Law Panduka Keerthinanda, Veteran Journalist Asoka Gunatilake, star ruggerite Priyantha Ekanayake, veteran athlete and Project Officer Education Ministry Sriyani Kulawansa and Secretary of National Sports Council Shalika Kariyawasam.

JOSEPHIANS schools soccer kings

The cradle of football in the country which has always been the feeder to the national football grid – the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association came alive in successfully conducting the All Island under-18 Division 1 tournament for the Renowned President’s trophy at the Sugathadasa Stadium, recently.

St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road arguably produced the country’s best footballer ever Peter Ranasinghe, and richly carried away the Trophy beating Royal 2-1 in the evenly contested final.

Earlier they won the Papare All IsIand under-20 title while their juniors won the under 14 title to rightly earn the tag of schools football kings.

Schools football has always been the womb from which footballers were born and developed and grew to be respected country and international personalities. It warmed the cockles to see schools football coming alive again.

The final between SJC and Royal has been done and dusted and how the run of play ended needs no reiteration. After the game ended 1-all, with Shenal Sandesh spot on with a penalty, Mohammed Ameen equalized for Royal when the first session ended. Didn’t the Joes jubilate when Kavindya Rupasinghe hit the net with a header Christiano Ronaldo style signaling the winner for the Darley Road School.

According to football circles SJC has a well organized Football Academy under the efficient guidance of Rector Trevis Gabriel and a Soccer Advisory Committee comprising and steered by Emmanuel Balendra which includes several past captains in Yogendra Cruze, Peter Asiriwatham, Jerome Ambrose, Srithiran Peeris, Mohamed Fazal and Angelo Aloysius.

It is fitting to compliment Crispin and Robert Peiris founders of the famous Renown Sports Club who have always been in the scrum of Sri Lanka football attracting the promising young players from the Kotahena and Kochchikade area and making them football stars. Incidentally their father the late Vincent was a top class wrestler, who the writer had the opportunity of meeting and discussing wrestling in the company of the Guardian Angel of Armstrong Wrestling Club’s Anthony Gorgonis in the 1980s.

Wrestling was once a popular sport with a boy from the area, Alexander Fernando representing the country at the Olympic Games. Then there were the Rodrigo and Perumal brothers who kept wrestling alive and kicking in the country.

Then there was the late Old Benedictine Edward Jayewardene a school soccer Captain, School coach and Renown’s first coach who was a terrific mentor and created the path for Renown to even win the plum in the country’s football – the FA Cup-. Renown then had an efficient Secretary in Rex Fernando.

erodrigopulle@gmail.com

Pit Sri Lanka team against ‘A’ side before the World Cup says Senanayake

Charith Senanayake, the former Sri Lanka cricketer and manager of the national and ‘A’ teams has suggested that a one-day series be played between the Sri Lanka side and the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team prior to the World Cup in May.

“I suggested this series on Facebook and there was a lot of positive response to it and everyone supported it,” said Senanayake.

“I said that because at the moment I realize that some of the national players are not pulling their weight and some of them are not fit enough to be there. If we are sending a team to the World Cup we have to send a team for the right reasons. That’s why I suggest to play a series against the ‘A’ team and see how the seniors fair because over a period of time the ‘A’ team has done consistently well,” he said.

“I have managed the ‘A’ team to West Indies and to Bangladesh. We’ve got the talent and the players but they are not being given the opportunity. If you play a series of matches you can realize what is the best combination you can find and who are the guys physically and mentally fit to be in the World Cup team. The matches should be played in Dambulla or Pallekele and on good batting tracks. Give everybody an equal chance and then select the squad for the World Cup,” Senanayake said. – ST

Sri Lanka ‘A’ team coach Avishka Gunawardene was of the view that opening bat Avishka Fernando and all-rounder Kamindu Mendis both aged 20 are ready to take the next step into the senior side and should be considered serious contenders to be included in Sri Lanka’s 15 for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England starting in the final week of May.

Gunawardene however cautioned against picking them for Sri Lanka’s next series against South Africa, which will be the forerunner to the World Cup.

“Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis all these guys are ready to play, but I am not sure that the South African tour is the one that they should be exposed to start with,” said Gunawardene at the end of a successful unofficial ODI series against Ireland ‘A’ which Sri Lanka ‘A’ won 5-0.

“Even the senior Pakistani batsmen struggled against South Africa on those tracks and against their attack. I am not sure whether we should start these guys’ careers from South Africa. My thinking is if you want to take 2-3 youngsters take them straight to the World Cup.

“They are rookies. The world hasn’t seen Avishka, Kamindu or Asitha Fernando so they don’t know what they are capable of. You can give the opposition a surprise package by taking them along to the World Cup,” he said.

“Two years ago they brought Avishka into the senior side and played him against Mitchell Starc when he was just 19. That put his career back by a year and a half. Finally about 6-7 months ago we spoke to the selectors and said that he was good and that he has been in the system and now he is out. We decided to put him back into the system because we knew he was good enough. Now he is back on track again,” Gunawardene said.

Fernando was the star batsman in Sri Lanka ‘A’s clean sweep of the Ireland ‘A’ ODI series rattling off three centuries in the five unofficial ODIs and two fifties so that in the five innings he played he passed the fifty-run mark in all of them.

Middle-order batsman Mendis struck two fifties and finished the series with 137 runs and eight wickets with spin which he bowls with both arms.

Gunawardene attributed Sri Lanka ‘A’s outstanding success against the Irish in the unofficial ODI series to the good pitches that were prepared for all five matches which resulted in Sri Lanka ‘A’ running up totals in excess of 300 plus on each of the four occasions they batted first.

“Throughout the series we played on good tracks that was the big difference. Generally you get tracks in Sri Lanka that starts to crumble or to slow down. We basically played almost all the tracks with more than 5-6 millimetres of grass. That led to batsmen putting up big totals and in the last ODI we scored over 400 and they also scored 300. In another game we got 360 and they got 300, and in another game they got 270 and we got those runs in 35 overs. The scores were high and the batsmen were scoring runs because the tracks were good,” said Gunawardene.

“We had grass and the ball was coming onto the bat. You need to develop batsmen playing on good tracks. Not only for ODIs even for the longer version because with the Lankan weather you prepare a decent track it will give something for the spinners when it comes to the third and fourth day anyway. It should not be a turner from day one. The first day the fast bowlers have a chance so it’s fifty-fifty and batsmen will enjoy batting on the first two to three days.

“If you take the recent English tour the only ODI game we won was at the R Premadasa Stadium on a good track where we made 350 runs. Depending on the opposition and the conditions we need to prepare tracks but more or less I would say where batsmen can make runs. If you take our ODI side the entire last year we didn’t score a single hundred, even on matches played at home. The wickets we played on in the Test matches even the batsmen couldn’t score runs.

“As ‘A’ team coach I have always said we want to play on good tracks because these are the cricketers who are going to play in the next level. If you take international cricket today most of the ODI games are fairly high scoring ones which means the tracks are good and flat. Our bowlers also need to learn how to bowl on flat tracks. Your skill will develop when you play on tracks like that. The bowlers will have to learn something if they are going to play at the next level,” he said.

Speaking of the opposition Gunawardene said, “People might think Ireland ‘A’ was a weak team because we beat them easily but I don’t think they were a bad side they had at least 5-6 of their national players in their squad. But our batting was far ahead. From the moment we saved that second unofficial test from a losing position after following-on Ireland ‘A’ never recovered their confidence and their body language changed. They thought after scoring 500plus they were in a winning position. After the series I had a chat with all the coaches and Fordie (Graham Ford the Ireland coach) I told them the mistake they made of asking us to follow-on instead of batting again and setting us with a target. They said that it was a team decision they took to give us the follow-on. Now they will learn.”

CANBERRA thursday: Sri Lanka were working to shrug off a series of injuries and off-field dramas, captain Dinesh Chandimal said Thursday, as they look to avoid a series defeat against Australia.

The visitors have endured a turbulent tour so far, losing the first Test at Brisbane by an innings and 40 runs inside three days.

They now must play the second and last Test in Canberra from Friday without pace duo Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera, who have both returned home with injuries.

With fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and all-rounder Angelo Mathews ruled out before the series started, they face a struggle on a Manuka Oval pitch regarded as one of the best batting decks in the country. Replacements for Kumara and Chameera have arrived in the form of left-armer Vishwa Fernando and uncapped bowling allrounder Chamika Karunaratne.

“We have to play positive and we need four bowlers to win a game,” Chandimal told reporters, while holding off naming his team until the toss on Friday.

“We have to take more responsibility as a team. We have to score 300 runs batting first if we were to win a Test match.

“This Test match I hope all the players will focus on what is required.” Keeping the focus on the match may not be easy, given the off-field disruptions.

Apart from an ongoing corruption investigation into Sri Lankan cricket by the International Cricket Council, coach Chandika Hathurasingha was stripped of his team selection duties after Brisbane.

Batting coach Jon Lewis, meanwhile, has taken leave for “a family matter” and there has reportedly been a distracting social media spat between the wife of one-day skipper Lasith Malinga and star all-rounder Thiasara Perera.

Sri Lanka's form has also been poor. They came to Australia having lost their recent series against New Zealand 3-0.

Chandimal said it was important to put all the noise aside.

“It's always tough for us as players with so many things happening, but whatever happens off the field we need to keep aside and control what we can control,” he said. AFP

CANBERRA Thursday: Australia opted Thursday to stick with a winning combination for the second Test against Sri Lanka, meaning all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young batting prospect Will Pucovski miss out on making their debut.

The home team routed the Sri Lankans by an innings and 40 runs under lights in the first Test at Brisbane and skipper Tim Paine said there would be no changes.

That includes keeping the under-performing Mitchell Starc as a new-ball bowler.

“We're unchanged which is nice,” Paine said ahead of the first-ever Test in Canberra, starting Friday at picturesque Manuka Oval on a track regarded as one of the best batting wickets in the country.

“Coming off a good win we are happy with our combination.” Limited-overs specialist Stoinis was added to the squad after Brisbane as a potential fifth bowling option, but Paine said Marnus Labuschagne, who has been in good touch with the bat and can bowl leg-breaks, was preferred. “This pitch is probably slightly different, we just think that we'll be able to get more overs out of Marnus on a pitch like this,” he said.

The Canberra Test is Australia's last before the Ashes tour to England in six months' time and there are still pieces to the puzzle for selectors to solve.

Pace spearhead Starc needs to find form again after a lean summer with his Test spot -- once set in stone -- now widely seen as under threat. Despite his struggles, Paine backed him to deliver and said he would open the bowling as usual. “We've used Starcy for a long time with the new ball,” Paine said.

“We think he is still our best new-ball bowler when he gets it right so we'll always give him the first few.

“Hopefully he can swing a few and if he does he's more than likely to get an early breakthrough. But what we have done is bring Pat (Cummins) on a lot earlier than we have in the past.”

Josh Hazlewood remains injured and will not play in Canberra, with Jhye Richardson handed another opportunity after performing admirably in the first Test. Selectors also showed faith with the batting line-up, meaning Pucovski, one of the brightest talents in the country, misses out again as he did in Brisbane.

Australia's batsmen have struggled over the summer, including a series defeat to India, with none managing to score a century. AFP

The official warm-up fixtures to be played in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales was announced yesterday.

All ten competing nations will play two official warm-up fixtures ahead of the tournament, which will take place at four venues across England and Wales. Ticketing and broadcast information will be released in April.

The fixtures will be held over five days between 24-28 May, and will be hosted at four of the official CWC19 Tournament Venues; the Bristol County Ground, Cardiff Wales Stadium, Hampshire Bowl and The Oval. There are a number of high-profile clashes, including England v Australia, Pakistan v Afghanistan and Bangladesh v India.

As per previous ICC tournaments, warm-up fixtures will be 50 over per side, but will not carry official ODI status, as teams can field all members of their 15-man squad during the match.

Gurgaon, Thursday: The head of cricket's world body Thursday said the sport's "spirit" is under threat after recent scandals -- ranging from racist comments to corruption -- that have tarnished its reputation.

International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson, speaking just days after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was banned for four games, insisted that tough action will be taken over misconduct and match-fixing.

Sarfraz was banned Sunday for making a racial slur against a South African player in Durban and has since returned home from the tour.

The sport is also still reeling from the controversy that embroiled Australian players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they were caught tampering the ball during a Test against South Africa and banned.

"Regarding player conduct, in recent times we have had some incidents around the world and we have taken necessary steps to ensure that everybody understands the spirit of cricket," Richardson told reporters in Gurgaon.

"The spirit of cricket is something unique to the game and something that we need to protect," he added.

Sri Lanka is at the centre of a major corruption investigation and Richardson reiterated ICC efforts to disrupt crime gangs believed to be behind match-fixing attempts.

The ICC has urged Sri Lankan players and coaches to give evidence on corruption before an amnesty expires this month.

Sri Lankan cricket has been at the centre of allegations including attempted match fixing ahead of a Test against England last year.

"In recent years we have taken a much more pro-active approach to trying to disrupt these unscrupulous individuals that wander around the earth trying to fix cricket," said Richardson.

"The players have been very good at reporting any approach they get.

"Now you read more about anti-corruption in the media but that's not because it's getting worse but it's because we are trying do much more to disrupt these criminal elements," he added.

The former South African player is to stand down as ICC boss after this year's World Cup when Manu Sawhney of India is to take over.

Richardson said the increased use of technology in the sport and efforts to boost the standing of Test cricket with a world championship had been his focus.

"Finally we convinced members that having a Test league is required. Probably that stands out as one of the things that I will proud of." AFP

Promising young opener Avishka Fernando hit a career best 223 for Colts CC on the opening day of their SLC Major League Tier ‘A’ Inter-Club cricket match against Tamil Union at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Fernando struck 30 fours and six sixes in compiling a superb 223 off 212 balls to help Colts to a first innings total of 414-2 by the close.

Angelo Perera (NCC), Sangeeth Cooray (Colts), Himasha Liyanage (Army CC) and Dilshan de Zoysa (Army CC) also made hundreds while CCC bowler Lahiru Madushanka captured six wickets for 51 against Chilaw Marians.

Matches will be continued today on day two.

DAY ONE SCORES:

l At P. Sara Oval: NCC: 376/8 at close in 90 overs (Angelo Perera 152 n.o., Pethum Nissanka 95, Lasith Embuldeniya 26, Mahela Udawatte 23, Hasitha Boyagoda 20, Dhammika Prasad 3/70, Akash Senaratne 2/78) vs SSC

l At Colts: Chilaw Marians CC: 186 in 48.2 overs (Oshada Fernando 52, Risith Upamal 36, Irosh Fernando 26, Lahiru Madushanka 6/51, Malinda Pushpakumara 3/84)

CCC: 123/6 at close in 33 overs (Minod Bhanuka 40, Ashan Priyanjan 22, Sagar Paresh 3/21)

l At SSC: Colts CC: 414/2 at close in 90 overs (Avishka Fernando 223, Sangeeth Cooray 142, Hashan Dumindu 46 n.o.) v Tamil Union

l At Katunayake: Army CC: 318/7 at close in 89.2 overs (Himasha Liyanage 116, Dilshan de Soysa 101, Sanjika Ridma 50 n.o., Chamikara Edirisinghe 3/81) vs Saracens SC - YK

Sri Lanka youth cap Chamindu Wijesinghe took a match bag of 12 wickets including eight wickets in the second innings to help Nalanda College to an innings and 110 runs win over Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda in their Singer Trophy Under 19 inter-schools cricket match played at Campbell Place yesterday.

Wijesinghe bowling right-arm fast took 8 wickets for 37 runs to follow his first innings four wickets for match figures of 12 for 71.

Kalindu Maduranga of Nalanda Boys was also among the wickets taking eight for 30 against Bandaranayake Central Veyangoda on the first day.

RESULTS:

 At Campbell Place: Nalanda won by inns & 110 runs.

Nalanda: 329/8 decl.

Dharmasoka Ambalangoda: 92 and 127 (59/3 o/n) in 28.3 overs (Dinuka Dilshan 44, Aroshan De Zoysa 32, Chamindu Wijesinghe 8/37, Kaveesh Madurapperuma 2/18)

 At Bandarawela: Match drawn.

S.Thomas’ Bandarawela: 224 and 214/1 decl. in 38 overs (Thevin Amarasinghe 112, Dinuka Palanchigedara 64 n.o., Mafas Naushad 23)

Bandarawela Central: 300/8 decl. (120/4 o/n) in 80.4 overs (Ruchira Wijesundara 121, Lakshan Salinda 52 n.o., Pamudu Sachintha 39, Janisha Hansaka 31, Mafas Naushad 3/62, Savith Basnayake 2/20) and 73/3 in 9 overs (Pasindu Shamil 48)

DAY ONE SCORES

At Kurunegala: Maliyadeva: 99 in 37.3 overs (Nimesh Chathuranga 27, Praveen Nimesh 6/41, Likshan Sasanga 2/18)

Gurukula Kelaniya: 159/7 at close in 55 overs (Praveen Nimesh 33, Kemira Nayanatharu 33, Kaveen Bandara 2/38)

At Katuneriya: De Mazenod: 83 in 31 overs (Ravishka Wijesiri 5/43, Sithum Dissanayake 3/15)

Lumbini: 156/9 at close in 59 overs (Prabath Sirinda 40 n.o., Pasindu Anagipura 32, Mark Mathayas 3/22, Saliya Jude 2/30, Romal Fernando 2/33)

 At Galle: Maris Stella Negombo: 136 in 49.2 overs (Ravindu Fernando 48, Navod Paranavithana 3/25, Vinura Dulsara 2/13, Pasan Pethangoda 2/15)

Mahinda: 218/8 at close in 44 overs (Navod Paranavithana 54, Nipun Malinga 50, Hansika Welihinda 28, Kaveesha Malliyawadu 24 n.o., Dhanuja Induwara 23, Shenash Fernando 3/25)

 At Meegoda: Siri Piyaratana MV, Padukka: 133 in 33.2 overs (Githmin Kolambage 26, Madushan Peiris 22, Sandun Sathsara 2/14, Malshan Goonathilake 2/16, Sasanka Lakshan 2/22, Danindu Hirumal 2/27) and 33/2 at close in 18 overs

Piliyandala Central Piliyandala: 143 in 32.4 overs (Ruchira Adikari 58, Heshan Madusanka 22, Yasiru Dineth 5/44, Madushan Peiris 3/29, Omesh Udara 3/34)

At Dehiwala: S. de S. Jayasinghe Central: 212 in 59.2 overs (Dilshan Dias 62, M. Akmar 32, Shashan Santhush 20, Janula Vidusara 4/68, Rahul Rashmika 3/32)

Asoka Colombo: 97/5 at close in 37 overs (Hirun Matheesha 29, Sanush Madeesha 20 n.o.)

 At Bentota: Gamini NS Bentota: 200 in 45.5 overs (Akash Nanayakkara 63, Chamila Kithmal 40, Amantha Santhush 38, Uwosh Dinujaya 33 n.o., Induwara Wijethilake 6/96, Maneesha Kalhara 3/27) and 18/4 at close in 12.3 overs (Pasindu Kannangara 2/5)

Sandalanka Central: 91 in 31.2 overs (Chamod Senarathne 47, Maneesha Kalhara 24, Amantha Santhush 4/12, Chamila Kithmal 3/25)

 At Dikwella: St. Joseph’s Bandarawela: 205 in 38.2 overs (Leshan Diluksha 65, Ruchira Dilshan 51, Malitha Madeewa 41, L. Dissanayake 5/74, Prabath Siriwardhane 3/17) and 93/5 at close in 23 overs (Avishka Rangana 22, Ruchira Dilshan 20, Prabath Siriwardhane 3/37)

Vijitha Central Dickwella: 122 in 28.4 overs (Prabath Siriwardane 45, R. Wikramasinghe 33, Leshan Diluksha 4/51, Pasan Hirudika 3/14, Ruchira Dilshan 2/3)

 At Veyangoda: Bandaranayake Central Veyangoda: 117 in 55 overs (Movindu Lomitha 48, Kavishka Madumal 37, Kalindu Maduranga 8/30, Nadun Kalhara 2/17)

Nalanda Boys Minuwangoda: 122/7 at close in 35 overs (Mahindu Malith 28 n.o., Chanuka Sameera 25 n.o., Kavishka Madumal 4/38, Arana Dabare 2/27)

 At Katugastota: Madeena Central Madawala Bazar: 112 in 38.4 overs (Mohommed Ajmal 34, Akash Gardiyawasam 7/22, Dilshan Arambegedara 3/31)

Sri Rahula Katugastota: 217/8 at close in 60 overs (Dilshan Arambegedara 86 n.o., Lahiru Wijerathne 41, Kushan Senarath 23, Mohamed Yasir 2/18, Mohommed Sahal 2/20)

 At Jaffna: Hindu Jaffna: 162 in 32.3 overs (A. Thanuksan 36, N. Iyangaran 31, S. Mahendran 25, A. Warun 22, K. Dhanujan 3/28, S. Mathishan 2/31, . Vishnu 2/40) and 20/2 at close in 7 overs (S. Mathishan 2/9)

Union Tellippalai: 106 in 53.3 overs (N. Kobiran 5/14)

- YK

Joe Burns scored Australia's first hundred at home this summer in a session Sri Lanka failed to pick a wicket. The hosts laid into Sri Lanka with a massive unbeaten 192-run stand between Burns and Travis Head for the fourth wicket. A total of 117 runs were scored in the second session on Day 1 as Australia went into the break at 220/3.

Sri Lanka had started the session well actually. They were fuller than the morning session and forced more defensive shots and leaves from the Australian batsmen than in the latter half of the first session. But all of it soon gave way to what we have seen from Sri Lanka before. Vishwa Fernando conceded three boundaries in the third over he bowled after lunch, and that triggered Australia into a quick-scoring partnership during which the batsmen comfortably scored at over four runs per over. With no reverse swing on offer and the rampant inexperience in the bowling line-up, Sri Lanka have found life difficult.

Burns was fluent for the most parts of his innings except when he was in the nineties. Good calling from Head helped Burns take a few quick singles to reach to that awaited hundred to make Manuka Oval's Test debut all the more special.

Head got to his half-century, his fifth in Test cricket, before he was dropped by Dilruwan Perera at gully on 87 towards the end of the session. Sri Lanka's pro tem bowling leader, Kasun Rajitha, as a result, remains without a wicket in the match.

(Cricbuzz)