Trevine Rodrigo

India has the wood on Australia but South Africa looms as the biggest threat. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor) Photo Courtesy of ICC. © ICC 2023 (media contact; Trevine Rodrigo – ICC approved media partner India underlined their favourite tag with a clinical win over Australia proving that the recent series success has definitely given them the wood over another World Cup favourite.  The Aussies were all at sea against a varied and skilful Indian bowling attack that made heavy inroads after David Warner and Steven Smith earlier looked set to steer them to a winning total.  The exit of Warner and Smith signalled a steady stream of wickets as India’s pace spin combination disassembled the strong Australian batting to keep them down to less than 200 and apply enough pressure to ensure no fightback.  But the Aussies are known for their grit and determination when ...

Read More →

Sri Lanka get a mauling from South Africa but show a bit of pulse. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Photo Courtesy of ICC. © ICC 2023 (media contact; Trevine Rodrigo – ICC approved media partner) Sri Lanka’s bowlers took a battering from South Africa but fought back to save face despite a 102 -run rout in their opener of the Cricket World Cup in Delhi. Missing most of their front-line bowlers,  Sri Lanka’s stand in troops had no answer to a ruthless South African batting onslaught that broke several records including the fastest century in only 49 balls by Aiden Makram.  Three centuries, from Quinton De Kock, 100 off 84 balls, Rassie Van der Dussen 108 off 110 and Makram with further contributions from almost all the batters, made this a bizarre chapter in Sri Lanka Cricket. South Africa recovered from the early exit of skipper ...

Read More →

New Zealand stun England in World Cup opener with a sensational 9 wicket win – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) New Zealand made a sensational start to their World Cup campaign annihilating defending champions England by 9 wickets in a lopsided replay of the last World Cup final. Beaten in the last encounter by England, the Kiwis were merciless in their demolition of one of the current favourites, leaving the Englishmen spent and dismayed.  It topped off a great day for New Zealand sport as the All Blacks were rampant in the Rugby World Cup in France as well destroying Uruguay 73-0 to storm into the quarter finals. The win also underlines and throws out an ominous warning that the Kiwis are ready to take that extra step this time around.  England will be desperate for answers to their bowling dilemmas which apart from Sam Curran, made no ...

Read More →

Sri Lanka stutter in warm up games but may still provide some fireworks.  – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka made an inauspicious start to the World Cup losing both warm-up games to Bangladesh and Afghanistan and the writing on the wall about their chances of success seems dismal to say the least.  Just recently they overcame both these teams in the Asia Cup before making the final against India.  But the preparation since has see both Asian neighbours step up their campaigns while Sri Lanka’s course appears at this stage to be heading backwards.  Both losses were convincing, by seven wickets to Bangladesh and six wickets to Afghanistan,  and throws up concerns about the composition of the team that has failed to deliver with and without Skipper Dasun Shanaka who seems to be the focus of attention rather than the team’s overall performance.  Apart from ...

Read More →

Sri Lanka women claim Silver in Asian Games Cricket – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE – (eLanka Sports editor)   Chamari Athapaththu and Sri Lanka can take plenty of pride from a stirling effort at the Asian Games where the plucky Islanders nearly grabbed Gold falling short of knocking off fancied India. The Sri Lankans were gallant in defeat in the final after containing the strong Indian batting line-up to just 116 in a shock that stung one of the best teams in the world.  Chasing what seemed a gettable target, Sri Lanka found the going tough as the Indian bowlers struck back viciously to tie them down to 97 for 8 for a 19-run win. This performance underlines the rapid progress Sri Lanka has been in recent times and augurs well for the women’s game against the best in the world.  It also underlines the series victory over England ...

Read More →

No swansong for Matthews as Sri Lanka opt for youth at World Cup – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Sri Lanka Cricket have done away with emotional sentiment and ruled out a swansong for former Skipper Angelo Matthews and perhaps Dinesh Chandimal, opting for youth, at the upcoming World Cup in India.  It was rumoured earlier that Matthews was a consideration for his experience and 40 plus percent batting average. He doubles up as a handy all-rounder with the ball.  Matthews is expected to bring the curtain down on a memorable career which has given Sri Lanka’s fans and Cricket fans around the world many reasons to cheer when he was on top of his game.  Sri Lanka have also ruled out strike weapons Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva who have not shown improvement to their injuries.  It opens the door for youngsters Dinuth Wellelage and ...

Read More →

Sri Lanka selectors make calculated risk on an improving squad much in line for their unorthodox game plan – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (Elanka Sports Editor)   Sanity has finally prevailed as Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors boldly shunned and thumbed their noses at the call for Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s sacking and stuck with a recently proven outfit for the World Cup in India. Yes, ramifications could be diabolical if the plan backfires, but it does make sense to stick with an outfit that has jelled in a way. Fourteen wins from 16 games is no mean feat although expert commentators claim that most of those wins were against ‘minnows ‘. That term has little relevance and no place in cricketing parlance anymore. This World Cup will reveal that. Informed sources say that Shanaka was given the choice of resigning and accepted it. But in true Sri Lankan fashion, a ...

Read More →

India emerge as raging favourites for World Cup. But are they peaking too early? – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)   India and Australia have parallel thinking before a World Cup in that they utilise a similar strategy to work out potentially dangerous opponents by placing a series between them before the real event.  We have seen this time and time again. And this edition of the World Cup in India sees two definite contenders go head to head with this in mind before the World Cup proper.  The cat and mouse strategy is meant to fine tune the strengths and weaknesses between the squads with the ultimate aim to outhink their opponents in the decider if they meet. Both teams loom large to take out this edition. But write off Pakistan, England, New Zealand and South Africa at your peril.  India take momentum and home ground ...

Read More →

Sri Lanka selectors make calculated risk on an improving squad much in line for their unorthodox game plan – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (Elanka Sports Editor) Sanity has finally prevailed as Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors boldly shunned and thumbed their noses at the call for Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s sacking and stuck with a recently proven outfit for the World Cup in India. Yes,  ramifications could be diabolical if the plan backfires, but it does make sense to stick with an outfit that has jelled in a way.  Fourteen wins from 16 games is no mean feat although expert commentators claim that most of those wins were against ‘minnows ‘. That term has little relevance and no place in cricketing parlance anymore. This World Cup will reveal that.  Informed sources say that Shanaka was given the choice of resigning and accepted it. But in true Sri Lankan fashion, a flurry ...

Read More →

Sriraj and India scuttle hapless Sri Lanka to grab Asia Cup – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (Elanka Sports Editor) Sri Lanka went from heroes to zero in just over 15 overs as India gave them a thrashing in the Asia Cup final they can Never forget.  Just days after relegating world number one ranked Pakistan to the sidelines in a heart stopper, Sri Lanka just rolled over and let themselves be humiliated in front of a packed home crowd, and an entire population, losing without a whimper.  Excuses about winning the toss in overcast conditions and electing to bat does little to convince me that there is more to it than meets the eye. It would be vindicated if they were without a coaching staff who do not give advice on these matters before the toss. Yes, India were favourites to win it with a highly skilled and far ...

Read More →