The 52nd rugby encounter between Vidyartha College and Ananda College for the William Gopallawa Shield, may kick off when things come to normal, according most of the Old boys of Vidyartha College who are keen to get the rugby going.

These two schools first met in 1962 in rugby and the shield was presented by William Gopallawa in 1967. Out of the 51 games played so far Vidyartha College has won 28 games, Ananda College 21 and 2 drawn. Earlier it was a two leg game but today it is played as a one leg encounter. If the game comes through a rousing contest is on the cards as both teams are blessed with some classy players.

Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to suspend Shehan Madushanka from all forms of cricket, with immediate effect states a media release from SLC.

The decision was taken after the player was arrested by the Police and later sent on remand custody for alleged possession of illegal drugs.

The decision to suspend will remain intact until a full inquiry is conducted by SLC into the matter.

KINGSTON: Gearing up for a proposed tour of England in July, some members of the West Indies Test team, led by skipper Jason Holder, have returned to training in small groups following a coronavirus-forced hiatus.

Away from nets for a long period due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the players including Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Shane Dowrich, Shamarh Brooks and Raymon Reifer trained at the Kensington Oval behind closed doors on Monday.

“The initiative to get back to training has been given local Government approval, with strict protocols of social distancing, observing the guidelines as set out by the authorities and CWI’s Medical Advisory Committee and was conducted behind closed doors,” the country’s cricket board said in a press release. The players trained under the watchful eyes of West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick, as well as other coaches from the Barbados Cricket Association.

“It’s great news that the players are now able to begin their cricket training, having been restricted to fitness and conditioning work at home for the past few weeks, as we begin to prepare for defending the Wisden Trophy,” said Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies. CWI is holding regular discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding the tour comprising three Tests and remains “increasingly confident” about it going ahead as planned. – PTI

BERLIN, Tuesday - Joshua Kimmich described his winning goal as "brutally important" after Bayern Munich took a huge step towards an eighth straight Bundesliga title on Tuesday with a 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund to leave them seven points clear at the top with just six games left.

Kimmich's brilliant effort came just before half-time behind closed doors at Signal Iduna Park as hosts Dortmund missed the chance to turn up the heat on the Bavarians without the backing of their huge support.

"It was brutally important: I looked around to see if everyone understood how important it was," Kimmich said of his deft chip.

Kimmich's captain Manuel Neuer echoed the defensive midfielder's thoughts.

"That was a very important sign," said Neuer.

Bayern won 4-0 when the teams met in Munich in November and they kept up their excellent recent record in the 'Klassiker', even if this was a much tighter contest.

"Now only Bayern can decide what happens," said frustrated Dortmund captain Mats Hummels.

"Sometimes, games are decided by brilliant moments and that was the case today."

Dortmund's star teenage striker, Erling Braut Haaland, who had scored ten goals in as many league games, failed to make an impact against Bayern's watertight defence before going off injured in the second half.

Jerome Boateng and David Alaba gave him no room, while Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in midfield made sure passes intended for him rarely met their mark. The Norway forward limped off with 20 minutes left after a heavy tackle from Boateng.

The result means that 11 of the 19 games played since the Bundesliga returned behind closed doors following the coronavirus shutdown have been won by the away team.

Things might have been different, with Haaland coming close inside the first minute with an audacious attempt through the legs of Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer which was cleared off the line by Boateng.

At the other end, Lukasz Piszczek cleared a Serge Gnabry shot inches from the line, while moments later Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki denied Kingsley Coman.

Bayern were in control, and Kimmich grabbed what proved to be the winner two minutes before half-time when he spotted Buerki off his line and chipped in from 20 yards.

It was the Germany international's third league goal from outside the box this season.

In an attempt to turn the game around, Dortmund coach Lucien Favre brought on midfield enforcer Emre Can at the start of the second half and added the pace of Jadon Sancho on the wing.

The home side had a shout for a penalty just before the hour mark when a Haaland shot was deflected wide by the arm of Boateng, but nothing was given.

Shortly after, Haaland limped off to be replaced by 17-year-old Giovanni Reyna.

In the dying stages, Favre brought on 2014 World Cup winner Mario Goetze, who is out of contract next month and set to leave, in the vain hope of grabbing an equaliser.

With time running out, Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski hit the post.

The league's top scorer then had a strong appeal for a late penalty waved away after a push in the area by Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji.

But the roars of celebration at the end came from the Bayern bench and echoed around the near-empty stadium. – AFP

Fourteen-year-old Mahasen Bandara Samarakoon, a Grade 10 student of Dharmaraja College, Kandy is a talented soccer player who has won the Best Player’s Trophy on two occasions in 2019. He also became the Best player at the Under 16 Soccer Tournament organized by the SISU Soccer Club.

He scored 11 goals in the tournament organized by the Nawalanka Sports Club using both his feet effectively and being able to play in any position.

Mahasen’s soccer coaches are W.A.Priyantha and E.Wijewardena, both from the Municipal Playgrounds Department, Kandy.

Mahasen is a bright student who is always among the first 10 in his class and his favourite subject is Science.

He wants to continue playing soccer while doing his studies and his ambition is to represent the National soccer team. His favourite International soccer player is Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Mahasen is the only son of former National soccer player, the late Piyatissa Samarakoon.

The Sri Sumangala College cricket team and the two coaches posed for a photograph after Tharana de Silva (fifth from right back row) made his double century (252) against Revatha College, Balapitiya. The Sumangalian skipper Anuka Jayasinghe is standing seventh from right. (Picture by Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Special Correspondent)

Vice-captain, fourth year coloursman and all rounder who bats right hand and bowls right arm leg spin M. K. Tharana de Silva of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura was the highest scorer during the 2019-20 Inter School Under 19 division two cricket season with a grand knock of 252 against Revatha College, Balapitiya. His 168-ball innings included 28 hits to the ropes and 11 over it.

Playing in thirteen matches Tharana scored 778 runs and held 22 catches which paved for the Sumangalians finishing the season with an unbeaten record of 9 wins outright and 3 on first innings under the leadership of Anuka Jayasinghe.

However in the Under 19 division two tournament quarterfinals they lost to Holy Cross College.

Tharana commenced his cricket career from Under 13 and he captained the under 13, 15 and 17 teams. As an under 15 player he played for the first eleven cricket team and in the Big Match in 2016 followed by 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. He played in the Prima Cup for Kalutara District in the Under 15 District team and they clinched the trophy. He was a member of the first eleven team when Sumangalians emerged as the Best Emerging Western Province Cricket Team.

He also carried away the Best Batsman’s Award in 2019 at the Big Match and in the Limited Overs Match and in 2020 he won the Best Bowler’s Prize too.

He toured Japan for a cricket tournament with the Nugegoda Sports and Welfare Club.

How Tharana fared during the 2019/20 season:

vs. Tholangamuwa Vidyalaya 14, vs. St. Mary’s College 64, vs. Siri Piyarathana 57, vs. Royal Panadura 55, vs. Rewatha, Balapitiya 252, vs. Piliyandala Central 28, vs. Lyceum, Wattala 41, vs. Holy Cross 8, vs. Bandaranayake, Gampaha 2, vs. Kalutara Vidyalaya 0, vs. Dharmaloka, Kelaniya 100, vs. Rahula, Matara 18, vs. Holy Cross (Pre- Quarters) 0, vs. Moratu Vidyalaya 63, vs. Holy Cross (One-Day) 16, vs. Moratu Vidyalaya (One-Day) 18.

LONDON, Wednesday - Jim Thorpe, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and formidable American football and baseball player, was one of the greatest U.S. athletes of all time but the public often failed to recognise him as one of their own during his lifetime.

Thorpe was born on May 28, 1888 (though some reports have him born on May 22 while others put the year as 1887) on Sac and Fox Nation land in Oklahoma to parents who were each half American Indian and half Caucasian.

American Indians were not considered U.S. citizens when Thorpe, already a two-time All-American running back under coach Pop Warner at Carlisle, won the right to compete on the U.S. Team at the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

At the Games he took gold in the pentathlon and then in the final event of the Games, the decathlon, set an Olympic record, leading King Gustav V of Sweden to call him “the greatest athlete in the world”.

Yet when Thorpe returned to the United States he was barred from some hotels and restaurants, especially in the South, while travelling with his teams because of his race.

“He dealt with adversity his whole life,” Justin Lenhart, museum curator for the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, told Reuters.

“Thorpe’s legacy is perseverance. He wasn’t a perfect man ... but he also accomplished a lot under some really tough circumstances.”

Despite the obstacles he faced in everyday life, Thorpe dazzled on whatever field he played.

In 1913, Thorpe signed with baseball’s New York Giants and would go on to play six MLB seasons, posting a career .252 batting average.

But his bigger impact came playing his favourite sport, American football.

He joined the Canton Bulldogs in 1915 and led them to three championships and was named an NFL All-Pro in 1923. He was later inducted into the Hall of Fame for both collegiate and professional football.

After his playing career, Thorpe struggled to find work during the Great Depression and ended up going to Hollywood, where he played bit parts in Westerns.

In Hollywood he fought for equal pay for American Indians in the entertainment industry and later helped those demanding a fair share of revenues derived from oil and gas production on their tribal lands.

Thorpe was later portrayed by Burt Lancaster in the 1951 film: Jim Thorpe – All-American.

Later in life Thorpe struggled financially and with alcoholism. He died in California in 1953 at age 65 of heart failure, leaving behind his third wife, Patricia.

He fathered eight children.

– Agencies

Former Nalanda College and Police sportsman Sanjeewa Dharmaratne has come in as the Senior DIG in charge of the Central Province. He takes over from Senior DIG Roshan Fernando who has been transferred to headquarters to assist the Inspector General of Police to combat Covid-19 and also to follow-up on measures taken.

Dharmaratne is a keen follower of sports. He did well in sports at Nalanda College. He played cricket for Colombo University and also in the inter-Police cricket tournament.

Kandy Police has a proud history in sports. Kandy has contributed a lot to Police sports over the years, and a large number of Kandy policemen have donned the blue jersey. Kandy Police has the proud record of having produced some of the topmost sportsmen and women in the field of Football, Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Table Tennis, Athletics, Swimming, Iron Sport, Cue Sport, Basketball, Netball and to a lesser known extent Lawn Tennis, which are the major sports. In addition, Chess too has caught up in recent times.

Police has given a big hand for sports in Kandy. In the early days most of the inter school cricket matches and big matches, were played at the Police grounds, and they also gave a big hand for schools football, hockey, athletics and volleyball.

PRAGUE, Tuesday - Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said Tuesday she had been "pretty gutted" by news that her favourite tournament was cancelled over the coronavirus pandemic.

"Of all tournaments that have been cancelled, the news about Wimbledon was the most upsetting for me," the 30-year-old, who won the grass-court major in 2011 and 2014, told AFP.

"I'm not saying I cried when I heard it, but I was pretty gutted on that day. I guess the reason is clear," added the current world number 12.

Kvitova is playing at an all-Czech tournament in Prague, where eight men and eight women are competing behind closed doors and under stringent measures to prevent the virus from spreading.

Hygiene is key at the event where no one will hand the towel to the players who must also wear face masks at press conferences. The ball boys and ball girls are wearing gloves, though the players share a set of balls.

Instead of shaking hands at the end of each game, they do a "racquet bump" to avoid infection.

Organisers cancelled the Grand Slam scheduled for early July on April 1, for the first time since World War II. – AFP

WELLINGTON, Wednesday - New Zealand Cricket will cut up to 15% of staff and look to save NZ$6 million (3.03 million pounds) in operating costs as part of proposals to cope with “challenging” conditions brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, Chief Executive David White has said.

White told New Zealand media he had informed NZC’s 80 staff on Wednesday about the planned cuts, which would allow the board to maintain funding levels at provincial and district levels, and avoid shrinking the domestic schedule. “We have our priorities for the year which we’re not compromising and we’re investing in those,” he told Stuff Media.

“The cuts are coming from NZC, NZ$6 million, of which NZ$1.5 million is staff.”

Players and staff for the national men’s Black Caps and women’s White Ferns teams would not be affected by the cost-cutting measures. Players’ annual retainers would remain as forecast for the coming season, White said.

New Zealand authorities have begun easing social restrictions in recent weeks with COVID-19 cases slowing to a trickle, and sports have been given the green light to restart domestic competitions.

But NZC anticipates a “significant reduction” in revenue in the current financial year, with travel curbs and border controls throwing the international schedule into doubt.

“What we are experiencing is what I imagine most businesses in New Zealand are experiencing at the moment,” White said.

“It’s a really challenging situation and we’ve just got to work through it the best we can to ensure NZ Cricket remains strong and viable, and all our members do as well.”

NZC’s proposed cuts come in the wake of several rounds of job losses in Australian cricket in recent weeks.

Queensland’s state association said on Monday it had cut nearly 30% of its workforce following announcements of staff cuts in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

– Agencies

On papers, the ICC vs BCCI tax battle seems to have taken a murky turn after the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) refused to hand the Indian board an extension in finding a tax solution.

The ICC has in fact threatened that they can take away the 2021 T20 World Cup if the board fails to provide the exemption. But BCCI officials believe that prudent ICC Directors will not take any step that hurts the game.

Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that the Indian board has full faith in the directors of the international body and believe that they will not commit harakiri by taking the global event away from India.

“It is not the ICC, but some vested interests that come up with this story from time to time. Most of the ICC Directors are prudent and pragmatic and they would not permit these vested interests to lead the ICC down the path of harakiri. If they take this step, I assure you that the BCCI would still be laughing when the pieces fall, but the ICC would be worse for the wear,” the official said.

“It is time for the ICC to move away from people who merely bring disputes with BCCI to the table and nothing else in terms of contribution. Anyone propped by such people will also be unacceptable.”

Earlier, a BCCI official in the know of developments said that it is sad that at a time when the world is fighting the coronavirus pandemic, such emails have come in and there is an attempt to put the Indian board under pressure.

“I fail to understand how this is happening at this time when everyone is coming to grips with the pandemic. This is a complete and total failure of the ICC leadership and is a clear indication that change is imminent,” the official said.

The BCCI was needed to throw light on the tax exemption issue 18 months before the 2021 T20 World Cup which meant the deadline was April. But the world has been under lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak and the Indian board has asked for an extension till June 30 or one month post lockdown opening.

Another official said the whole turn of events was surprising to say the least, especially how the ICC said that the IBC refused to agree to an extension.

“Interestingly, their lawyer Jonathan Hall has written that the IBC has rejected BCCI’s request. Now the question is how did this happen without the actual board seeing it and voting for/against it?” he enquired.

In fact, after the ICC CEC meeting in April, one of the executives had spoken about the clarity shown by BCCI secretary Jay Shah and how world cricket needs the Indian board to join hands with the England and Wales Cricket Board and help the member boards out of the economic mess due to the suspension of all cricketing activities because of the coronavirus pandemic. – IANS

All-round sportsman and former Senior Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Percy EP Fernando passed away yesterday at the age of 88 after a long battle with a urine infection.

An old boy of St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya and Zahira College, Maradana he excelled in various sports such as boxing, athletics, tennis and cricket. Percy represented Prisons Department in sports and was the flyweight boxing champion who went onto win a bronze medal at the South East Asia Boxing Championships in Burma in 1957. Later as a boxing coach he had the distinction of producing several national champions.

He also represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Veterans Athletic Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1990 and in Singapore in 1992.

Percy joined the Department of Prisons as a jailor class II in 1957 and obtained rapid promotion to the rank of jailor class I and Chief Jailor. He rose to the rank of Senior Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and was one time Acting Commissioner of Prisons.

His exemplary record in the prison service and involvement in sports, social service activities and holding high positions was an example to everyone.

He was All-island JP, president of the Rotary Club of Kandy 1978-79, Gampaha District Scout Commissioner from 1981-86, and was awarded the ‘Thanks Badge’ for his support for scouting in Sri Lanka by former President R Premadasa.

Cremation will take place at Borella cemetery at 3 pm today.

To celebrate Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene's 43rd birthday (May 27), the ICC shortlisted eight of his best Test innings and asked fans to vote for their favourite.

Jayawardene is the owner of many Sri Lankan batting records. In an international career spanning 149 Tests over 17 years, he accrued 11,814 runs with 34 centuries, figures surpassed only by Kumar Sangakkara among Sri Lankans. Jayawardene holds the record for the highest score by a Sri Lankan – his majestic 374 in 2006.

Of his many great innings, the ICC picked out eight truly special ones. One of those innings will be crowned the best based on fans' votes.

123 v South Africa, Colombo (PSS), 2006:

This knock is right up there with some of the finest fourth-innings efforts in the history of Test cricket. On a wearing Colombo surface, Jayawardene showed his mastery against the spinning ball in compiling an essay of 123 runs. He was dismissed, the seventh wicket to fall, with 11 runs still left to get for Sri Lanka to pull off the 352-run chase against an attack featuring Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje. Sri Lanka got home with just a wicket to spare.

"By far this was one of the best Test matches I have been involved in. I've lost a few hairs on my head and a couple of nails."

180 v England, Galle, 2012:

Sri Lanka's top order looked a touch out of sorts in the first Test of the 2012 series. James Anderson was getting a bit of movement in the air and Sri Lanka had been reduced to 15/3. But Jayawardene looked imperious from the word go. He batted with hallmark fluency despite his partners falling in regular succession at the other end, and finished with a fine 180 in Sri Lanka's total of 318. That knock proved to be the difference between victory and defeat as Sri Lanka went on to win by 75 runs.

Even Anderson, who finished with a five-for that innings, couldn't contain his awe. "It's one of the better Test innings I've seen, considering no one else got much above 20," he said after the game. "He had the knack of knowing when to go for a big shot and when to grind it out a bit."

374 v South Africa, Colombo, 2006:

This was the innings in which Jayawardene rewrote the record books both individually and as part of a partnership with Kumar Sangakkara. Jayawardene's mammoth effort featured 43 strokes to the boundary and one over it, and the innings is the fourth-highest knock of all time. Together with Sangakkara, he forged a 624-run partnership, which is the highest in the history of first-class cricket. Sri Lanka finished with an imposing 756/5 declared and went on to win by an innings and 153 runs.

167 v New Zealand, Galle, 1998:

Of the 30 wickets that fell in the match, the best score after Jayawardene's was a modest 53 from Nathan Astle and no other batsman crossed fifty. On an evidently tricky surface, a 21-year-old Jayawardene demonstrated his innate brilliance against spin bowling to bat Sri Lanka to an innings victory.

119 v England, Lord's, 2006:

Jayawardene led from the front in Sri Lanka's stellar fightback to escape with a draw after having been made to follow on. He scored a gritty 61 in Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 192 and followed that up with a remarkable 119 in the second innings. His effort – his second ton at Lord's in as many matches – was key in denying England victory.

167 v South Africa, Galle, 2000:

This was an especially fluent innings from the right-hander. He struck 22 fours and two sixes in his 288-ball stay and powered the hosts to an imposing 522. That innings helped set up an innings victory.

237 v South Africa, Galle, 2004:

Another Jayawardene classic against South Africa, a side against whom he averaged a whopping 57.48, courtesy of six tons from just 17 innings against them. Here, on a good batting surface, Jayawardene milked runs and scored almost half the runs in Sri Lanka's total of 486.

275 v India, Ahmedabad, 2009:

After India stacked up 426 on a featherbed, Sri Lanka needed a strong response. Jayawardene delivered more than just that. He composed a steady innings of 275 to help Sri Lanka declare at 760/7, enabling his side to dream of a maiden victory on Indian soil. India were able to bat out the draw quite comfortably, but that doesn't diminish Jayawardene's fine effort. - ICC

SYDNEY, Wednesday - The Indian Premier League could fill the void left by the Twenty20 World Cup if it is delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, Aussie cricketer Pat Cummins said Wednesday.

Due to begin in Australia in October, the T20 competition’s start is looking increasingly unlikely amid virus-related travel restrictions.

"If that opens up a window I think the IPL would be a great fit," Cummins told media in Sydney.

He remained optimistic that the World Cup and Australian tour of England would go ahead, but if those were cancelled at least a return of T20 could be a boost to the game.

"You have millions and millions of people watching that tournament around the world... potentially even more after a long break off cricket," he said.

"There's a lot of reasons why I would want it to go ahead but the main one is it's a great tournament."

The coronavirus forced the money-spinning IPL to postpone its March 29 start date and organisers were already reportedly eyeing a return around October.

Cummins said he was eager to return to play after nearly a ten-week break from the sport. "I’m just about ready to get back into it and ready for that next tour," he said.

A decision on whether to postpone the World Cup could come from Thursday's ICC board meeting over concerns of flying 16 teams into Australia during the crisis. – AFP

The ICC Board met on Wednesday to discuss the process for electing the next Chair of the ICC.

No final decision was taken regarding the election process and the subject will be discussed further at the next ICC Board meeting on Thursday.

The existing Chair confirmed he was not seeking any extension to his term but would support the Board to ensure a smooth transition.

Additionally, reports of a postponement of the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 are inaccurate and planning for the event continues whilst a number of contingency plans are being explored in light of the rapidly changing public health situation caused by the COVID 19 virus.

LAUSANNE, Wednesday - Olympic chief Thomas Bach on Wednesday held a series of talks with International Olympic Committee members on the potential consequences of the coronavirus pandemic that has seen the Tokyo Games pushed back a year to 2021, sources said.

Bach was to address the 100 IOC members in three different sessions decided by language and local time zone.

"The IOC held today a series of internal consultations with IOC members to hear from them in preparation of the IOC Session which will be prepared by the IOC executive board in its meeting on June 10, 2020," said an IOC statement later Wednesday. Bach's aim was to canvas the members for their view on "how to handle the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic", a source told AFP.

The IOC president wants to hear "thoughts, ideas and experiences of all members across the globe", it added.

While Bach addressed all Olympic actors on March 24 when announcing the postponement of the Tokyo Games, it is the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak that he has specifically consulted IOC members.

Bach was backed up by Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi, IOC sports director Kit McConnell, IOC director general Christophe De Kepper and chief operating officer Lana Haddad.

The IOC's medical and scientific director, Richard Budgett, also took to the floor to discuss "the issue of a vaccine", according to a second source.

Bach warned last week 2021 was the "last option" for holding the delayed Tokyo Games, stressing postponement cannot go on forever.

He said he backed Japan's stance that the Games will have to be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn't under control by next year.

The German wouldn't say, however, whether a vaccine was a prerequisite for going ahead with the Olympics, but was lukewarm on the idea of holding them without fans.

In March, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were postponed to July 23, 2021 over the coronavirus, which has killed hundreds of thousands around the world and halted international sport and travel. It was the first peacetime postponement of the Olympics.

The IOC has already set aside $800 million to help organisers and sports federations meet the extra costs of a postponed Olympics.

According to the latest budget, the Games were due to cost $12.6 billion, shared between the organising committee, the government of Japan and Tokyo city. – AFP

Ralph and Lesley Sharratt of Oxford, England are resident in Sri Lanka since 2012 being members of the Kandy Sports Club as well as the Kandy Club. Both of them are attached to the Kandy Cricket & Athletic Academy with Ralph as a

Patron while Lesley is a committee member.

A girls cricket tournament was conducted a few months ago at the Auppola Playgrounds, Kandy organized by the Kandy Cricket & Athletic Club co-sponsored by the Sharretts.

Ralph and Lesley have visited Sri Lanka 32 times and they have fallen in love with the country especially Kandy which they have visited several times.

Initially Lesley had come with a touring group to do diving at Maldives and from there visited Sri Lanka with this group and stayed at Habarana for some time. At the time she suffered from food poisoning and was in hospital for a few days and missed the tour. After returning to England she had come again to Sri Lanka after 6 months and toured the entire country and fallen in love with Kandy city. After her tour she had gone back to England and together with Ralph they raised money in UK to assist the people of the Beruwala area after the tsunami.

After coming to Sri Lanka they started helping the needy people and decided to reside in Kandy.

Ralph studied at Dowdales in Cumbria and then eventually at Brunell University and Warwick University.

He represented his school in Football, Cricket, Rugby, Athletics and Cross Country. He was a member of Westcombe Park RFC for 20 years and served in the committee as Press & Public Relations Officer, captained the Club’s ‘Gents XV” and played initially on the wing. Due to a serious injury he returned to play second row and he was a member of the Kent County FRU. He was the captain of the Credit Suisse cricket team and Philipps Auctioneers rugby team.

Leslie played hockey and swam at school. In later years she played golf. Leslie says that she always supported Wolverhampton Wanderers football team. This couple is keen to support the upliftment of sports in and around Kandy city.

Due to the efforts of Kandy District Cricket Association and Central Province Cricket Association secretary Janaka Pathirane and the CPCA president Sarath Ekanayake a donation of Rs. 1 million was presented to St. Sylvester’s College a few months back to put up a side turf wicket at their mini grounds at Asgiriya.

Work on the turf wicket will commence from tomorrow Saturday May 30.

It is incidentally the first ever turf wicket for the school and will be a boon to its cricketers. The presentation was accepted by the Old Boys Association.

Today every schoolboy cricketer loves the great game of cricket and understands the importance of good cricket pitches. This school which started cricket in late 1950’s, badly needed a turf wicket, as most of the school matches are played on this surface.

Despite having limited facilities St Sylvester’s has emerged as one of the top cricket playing schools in the central hills. Their playground can be used only for training sessions.

Earlier Police grounds were like their home venue and they played all their matches including the big match on this ground. But they hardly get an opportunity of practicing and warming up on a center wicket.

Despite all the handicap their performances have been quite good. This school was formed in 1940. In 1955 St. Sylvester's College made a modest beginning by introducing cricket to their sports cadre and their first game was against Vidyartha College who are today their traditional Big Match rivals.

Fourth year coloursman, left hand bat, left arm leg spinner and captain of Dharmasoka College first eleven cricket team R. Lohan Aroshan de Zoysa is second in the all rounder’s list in the recently concluded inter-schools cricket season with 88 wickets (best bowling of 8 for 41 against Prince of Wales’) at an average of 14.5 in 12 outings and 848 runs at an average of 60.1 with three centuries and five fifties. He is considered the Best All-rounder of the season.

Lohan’s best performance was against Moratu Vidyalaya with an unbeaten 150 and a match bag of 10 for 85 runs. He has claimed five ten wicket hauls with 14 for 68 against Prince of Wales’, 10 for 48 versus Maliyadeva, 10 for 60 against St. Anthony’s, Kandy, 10 for 85 versus Moratu Vidyalaya and 10 for 131 against D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya.

His coaches were Kasun Nandasiri, Asoka Kumara, Saman Lasintha, Viraj Chaminda, Isuru Anushka, Thilan Maduranga and presently Kamal Kariyawasam.

Lohan commenced playing for Sokians at the age of 7 years in the under 13 team and led the school in the final year in 2015. He was in the Sri Lanka under 13 cricket pool from 2012 to 2015, in the under 15 team from 2015 to 2017, played in the Prima Cup and toured Malaysia with the Sri Lanka Under 15 Schools team and as an under 15 player he played for the first eleven cricket team and for the District team. He played in three Big Matches and three Limited-over matches against arch rivals Devananda College.

In 2019 playing in the Super Tournament representing Kandy he took a hat-trick against Southern Province. Playing for the under 17 team in 9 matches he scored 625 with two centuries and three half centuries and scalped 42. Last year playing in 13 first eleven matches he scored 812 runs with a century and four half centuries and captured 51 wickets. He has been tipped as the Best Valuable Player and the Best All Rounder but due to the outbreak of corona virus two inter school matches, the Big Match and the Limited-Over game was postponed.

His Principal Hasitha Kesara Wettamuni, the Prefect of Games T. S. Gurusinghe and Master in Charge of Cricket Derwin Priyankara along with the members of the Past Cricketers Association have always been very supportive of his cricket. Undoubtedly Lohan can be considered the best all-rounder in school cricket.

SYDNEY, Thursday - Australia announced dates for India's lucrative Test cricket tour as the centrepiece of a busy home season on Thursday, but admitted that plans remained in flux because of the coronavirus.

Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said the picture was "evolving every day" as he unveiled men's fixtures against Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Afghanistan, as well as India.

Australia are also due to host the men's Twenty20 World Cup in October and November.

Australia's women, crowned T20 world champions in Melbourne in March -- as the pandemic closed in on world sport -- will host New Zealand and India.

"We know that circumstances or events beyond our control could mean that the final schedule potentially may look different to the one released today," Roberts said in a statement.

"But we'll be doing everything we can to get as much international cricket in as possible this summer."

The men's Tests against India are scheduled to start in Brisbane on December 3, followed by Adelaide from December 11, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and Sydney from January 3.

Australia this month dethroned India as the world's top-ranked Test team, setting up the series as a blockbuster.

Crucially, it would also generate hundreds of millions of dollars for a host organisation struggling during the coronavirus shutdown.

Revenue from the series is so important to Cricket Australia that it has proposed adding a fifth Test, which would mean ditching the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Perth from November 21. India have said they are prepared to undergo quarantine to make the series happen. Australia's borders are currently closed to non-residents as a measure against coronavirus.

"We are engaged in ongoing discussions with federal and state governments, our venues and the touring nations to continually understand and monitor the situation in front of us, which is evolving every day," Roberts said.

Final details of the men's three-match one-day international series with Zimbabwe, scheduled to start on August 9, will be confirmed at a later date, CA said.

Australia's men then welcome the West Indies for three T20s from October 4, before three T20s against India, followed by the Afghan Test and the India Test series.

****

FIXTURES:

MEN

Aug 9 - Australia v Zimbabwe 1st ODI at venue TBA

Aug 12 - Australia v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI at venue TBA

Aug 15 - Australia v Zimbabwe 3rd ODI in Townsville

WOMEN

Sept 27 - Australia v New Zealand 1st T20 in Sydney

Sept 29 - Australia v New Zealand 2nd T20 in Sydney

Oct 1 - Australia v New Zealand 3rd T20 in Sydney

Oct 5 - Australia v New Zealand 1st ODI in Townsville

Oct 7 - Australia v New Zealand 2nd ODI in Cairns

Oct 10 - Australia v New Zealand 3rd ODI in Gold Coast

MEN

Oct 4 - Australia v West Indies 1st T20 in Townsville

Oct 6 - Australia v West Indies 2nd T20 in Cairns

Oct 9 - Australia v West Indies 3rd T20 in Gold Coast

Oct 11 - Australia v India 1st T20 in Brisbane

Oct 14 - Australia v India 2nd T20 in Canberra

Oct 17 - Australia v India 3rd T20 in Adelaide

Nov 21-25 - Australia v Afghanistan, only Test in Perth

Dec 3-7 - Australia v India 1st Test in Brisbane

Dec 11-15 - Australia v India 2nd Test in Adelaide

Dec 26-30 - Australia v India 3rd Test in Melbourne

Jan 3-7 - Australia v India 4th Test in Sydney

WOMEN

Jan 22 - Australia v India 1st ODI in Canberra

Jan 25 - Australia v India 2nd ODI in Melbourne

Jan 28 - Australia v India 3rd ODI in Hobart

MEN

Jan 12 - Australia v India 1st ODI in Perth

Jan 15 - Australia v India 2nd ODI in Melbourne

Jan 17 - Australia v India 3rd ODI in Sydney

Jan 26 - Australia v New Zealand 1st ODI in Adelaide

Jan 29 - Australia v New Zealand 2nd ODI in Canberra

Jan 31 - Australia v New Zealand 3rd ODI in Hobart

Feb 2 - Australia v New Zealand only T20 in Sydney