SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS
Compiled – by Victor Melder
(JANUARY 2023)
Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Chris Clarke-Irons as the Lead Physiotherapist of the National Team, with effect from January 1, 2023. Chris is on a two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket and his first official tour with the Sri Lanka National Team will be the Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022–2023. Chris, who holds a BSc (Hons) Degree in Physiotherapy obtained from the University of East London and an MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy from Kings College, London, was the Head of Science and Medicine and also the Lead Physiotherapist of the Essex County Cricket Club, before joining Sri Lanka Cricket. He also held stints with the England Men’s Team during an ODI Tour of Australia and also functioned as the physiotherapist for the ECB’s Senior Men’s Pace Program. (Daily Mirror, 1.1.2023)
India beat the touring Sri Lankans by 2 runs to win the first T20 International played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Scores:
India – 162/5 in 20 Overs (Hooda 41no, Kishan 37, Patel 31no, Pandya 29, D. de Silva 1/6, w. de Silva 1/22, Karunaratne 1/22, Theekshana 129)
Sri Lanka – 160 in 20 Overs (Shanaka 45, Mendis 28, Karunaratne, 23, Mavi 4/22, Malik 2/27, Patel 2/41)
Player of the Match: Deepak Hooda (India)
T20 Debut: Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill (India)
The touring Sri Lankans beat India by 16 runs to win the second T20 International played at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.Scores:
Sri Lanka – 206/6 in 20 Overs (Shanaka 56no, Mendis 52, Asalanka 37, Nissanka 33, Malik 3/48, Patel 2/24, Chahal 1/30)
India – 190/8 in 20 Overs (Patel 65, Yadav 51, Mavi 26, Shanaka 2/4, Rajitha 2/22, Madushanka 2/45)
Player of the Match: Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka)
T20 Debut: Rahul Tripathi (India)
India beat the touring Sri Lankans by 91 runs to win the third and final T20 International played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. Scores:
India – 228/5 in 20 Overs (Yadav 112no, Gill 46, Tripathi 35, Madushanka 2/55, Rajitha 1/35. W. de Silva 1/36)
Sri Lanka – 137 in 16.4 Overs (Mendis 23, Shanaka 23, D. de Silva 22,Singh 3/20, Chahal 2/30, Pandya 2/30, Malik 2/31)
India won the 3-match series 2-1
Player of the Match: Suryakumar Yadav (India)
Player of the Series: Axar Patel (India)
The five member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena appointed to investigate allegations related to incidents involving the Sri Lanka cricket team that represented the country in the last T20 World Cup in Australia, and the alleged influence of the ‘Born Again’ sect on the Sri Lankan cricketers handed over their report to the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday. The committee’s report contains extensive information on several important issues including the influence of social media and the influence of religious sects and misappropriation of funds. It is said that the report also include testimonies from all relevant parties regarding the influence of the Born Again sect on Sri Lankan cricketers. In the recommendations it is learnt the committee has proposed necessary changes to overcome related anomalies. Minister Roshan Ranasinghe stated that the report prepared by the committee is a precedent not only for cricket but for the entire sport sector in the country. The Minister also said that based on this report, he hopes to take action to prevent similar situations in the future in Sri Lankan sports, and that he will work for the development of the entire sport and for the safety and welfare of those involved in sports. The Sports Minister has appointed this five member committee to investigate cricket related matters especially during the last T20 world cup in Australia. The Minister appointed this committee under powers vested in him from the Sports law. Former sports Ministry Secretary Kingsley Fernando, Retired DIG Sudath Nagahamulla, Retired Rear Admiral Ananda Pieris, former cricketer Nalin de Alwis and Lawyer Shalani Roshana Fernando are the other committee members who took part at this occasion.(Daily News, 11.1.2023)
India beat the touring Sri Lankans by 67 runs to win the first ODI played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. Scores:
India – 373/7 in 50 Overs (Kohli 113, Sharma 83, Gill 70, Rahul 39, Rajitha 3/88, Shanaka 1/22, D. de Silva 1/33)
Sri Lanka – 306/8 in 50 Overs (Shanaka 108, Nissanka 72, D. de Silva 47, Malik 3/57, Siraj 2/30, Pandya 1/33)
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India)
ODI Debut: Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka)
India beat the touring Sri Lankans by 4 wickets to win the second ODI played at Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata. Scores:
Sri Lanka – 215 in 39.4 Overs (N.Fernando 50, K.Mendis 34, Wellalage 32Siraj 3/30, Yadav 3/51, Malik 2/48, Patel 1/16)
India -219/6 in 43.2 Overs (Rahul 64no, Panya 36, Iyer 28, Karunaratne 2/51, Kumara 2/64, D.de Silva 1/9)
Player of the Match: Kuldeep Yadav (India)
ODI Debut: Numanidu Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Dunith Wellalage was named a concussion replacement for Jeffrey Vandersay, after Vandersay and Ashen Bandarathird had a collision on the field during the third ODI against India, in Thiruvananthapuram. The incident took place in the 43rd over when Virat Kohli pulled Chamika Karunaratne in front of square leg. Vandersay sprinted to his left from deep-backward square leg, and Bandara to his right from deep midwicket. Both fielders put in the slides but ended up colliding with each other. Bandara tried to stop the ball from reaching the boundary but as soon as he attempted to get up, he went down again, clutching his left knee. Vandersay too was lying on the ground. The Sri Lanka physio ran out to have a look at the two players; the Indian medical staff and the two umpires also gathered near the boundary line. Play was halted for a while, and eventually both players were stretchered off the field. Later, they were taken to the hospital for scans. Dhananjaya de Silva and Wellalage came on as substitutes, both taking a catch each in the innings. While Wellalage was named a concussion replacement for Vandersay at the innings break, Sri Lanka Cricket tweeted that a decision on whether Bandara would bat was yet to be made. The shot, meanwhile, took Kohli to 99, and on the next ball he brought up his 46th ODI hundred. He is now three short of Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 hundreds in the format. Kohli went on to score an unbeaten 166 off 110 balls, with India posting 390 for 5. India already have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. (Cricinfo)
India broke the record for largest victory (by runs) in ODIs as they defeated Sri Lanka by 317 runs in the third and final match of the series in Thiruvananthapuram. India broke New Zealand’s record (by 290 runs) to script history at the Greenfield Stadium. Opting to bat, India posted a mammoth score of 390/5 in fifty overs; the Sri Lanka run-chase ended in merely 22 overs, as the side could only reach 73. Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 166 off just 110 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and eight sixes. Indian opener Shubman Gill had also smashed a 116 off just 97 deliveries, as he forged a 131-run partnership with Kohli. (Daily Mirror, 16.1.2023)
India beat the touring Sri Lankans by 317 runs to win the third and final ODI played at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. India won the 3-match series 3-0. Scores:
India – 390/5 in 50 Overs (Kohli 166no, Gill 116, Sharma 42, Iyer 38, Rajitha 2/81, Kumara 2/87, Karunratne 1/58)
Sri Lanka – 73 in 22 Overs (N.Fernando 19, Rajitha 13no, Asalanka 11, Siraj 4/32, Yadav 2/16, Shami 2/20).
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India)
Player of the Series: Virat Kohli (India)
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selectors have decided to play 14 players including Kusal Janith Perera and Dushmantha Chameera as and when needed during the upcoming games against the England Lions Team, as part of their preparation for the Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand. The Sri Lanka team is scheduled to tour in New Zealand in March this year for 2 Test matches, 3 ODIs and 3 T20s. It was reported that some key Sri Lankan players who have recovered from injuries will be included in the New Zealand tour. Accordingly, Sri Lanka Cricket Selectors have decided to play Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dunith Wellalage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Nuwan Thushara, Kavishka Anjula, Avishka Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera and Kusal Janith Perera during as and when needed during the upcoming games against the England Lions Team as part of their preparation for the Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand. The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee selected the 22 players of Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad to play the 02 four-day games and the 03 one-day limited-over games against the England Lions Team (Daily Mirror, 25.1.2023)
