INTERNATIONAL CRICKET VENUES IN SRILANKA – By Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam On Wednesday February 17 1982, when Bob Willis bowled to Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lanka became the eighth test playing country in cricket. That moment was none symbolic than the country arriving as a force in cricket. The honour of hosting that match fell on Colombo Oval, later renamed as P. Saravanamuttu stadium, the home ground of Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club. In seven months since ICC decision to grant test status to Srilanka in July 1981, preparations had been made for this match, and more than £100,000 had been spent on modernising that venue, to increase the capacity to more than 20,000. Subsequently tests and international games have been staged in other venues such as Sinhalese Sports Club, Asgiriya ground Kandy, Galle esplanade, Premadasa stadium, Colombo Cricket Club, Dambulla stadium, Pallekele stadium and Rajapakse stadium. ...
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Kangaroo Vs Lions ; 140-Yr Sticks & Stones Rivalry Reconciled with All-Yellow Bat & Ball Game – By KKS Perera Source:dailymirror.lk British rock band Coldplay’s “Yellow” released on 26 June -2000 reached number four on the UK Singles Chart: they sang…. “Look at the stars” Look how they shine for you And everything you do Yeah, they were all yellow Australian cricket authorities and players responded positively to a tour that was hanging in balance after political insecurity and the economic catastrophe that prevailed. Appreciating their gesture, spectators kept their ‘blues’ in wardrobes and sported yellow on Friday; a well deserved accolade for sporting Kangaroos, ending a record five-match series victory for the Lions. The most luminous colour of the spectrum, Yellow captures our attention of happiness, optimism, enlightenment and creativity. The ‘Tampa Bay Lightning’ is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida, banned fans entering in opposing teams’ ...
What’s Happening to Cricket?- By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando Everyone in Sri Lanka, from children to grown-ups, know about cricket. Though volleyball is known as Sri Lanka’s national game, cricket took its place due to its popularity. There was a time when even Kussi Ammas were engrossed in the game whenever cricket matches appeared on TV screens. When players such as Duleep Mendis, Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama, Bandula Warnapura, Sanath Jayasuriya, Brenden Kuruppu or Arjuna Ranatunge batted, crowds were enthusiastic. The game’s enthusiasm peaked when Arjuna Ranatunge won the world cup in 1996. Cricket is a pitch and tosses game, where one team wins today and the rivals win tomorrow. The rule book says that players must act on numerous regulations and disciplinary codes vested upon the umpires, captains, and the Governing bodies. The game needs to be played according to the game’s rules and within the spirit of ...
CRICKET HISTORY, SRI LANKA – Notes from a small island Nicholas Brookes on the matches that played a pivotal role in the development of cricket in Sri Lanka. A close up of a mans face Description automatically generated Source:Wisdenblog – © John Wisden & Co. – © John Wisden & Co. Until 1982 Sri Lanka were stranded on the fringes of international cricket: a small island, marooned. Life on the outside wasn’t easy, but Sri Lanka still had something to make most of the cricketing world envious. You might call it a geographical blessing. In the days before planes, the only way to get between England and Australia was by boat. It was an arduous journey that could take up to three months and required a stopover. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Ceylon (as it was called until 1972) emerged as the natural point ...
Finishers are the ones who have long careers – Wanindu Hasaranga Source: SportsHome If Wanindu Hasaranga kept his nerve in the frenzied finish, it’s becuase he’s been a similar situation before. If he batted cleverly with the tail, and measured the last Sri Lanka push to perfection, it’s because memories of triumphing in arguably tougher circumstances are fresh. Sri Lanka needed 28 off 27 balls, with only two wickets in hand, when Hasaranga had to really take control of the chase against West Indies. In the end, his 42 not out off 39 balls took Sri Lanka home with one wicket and five balls to spare. Just a month ago, however, Hasaranga had produced a similarly impressive knock, on the same ground, in the final of Sri Lanka’s club T20 competition. On that occasion, his 60 not out off 34 balls, had occasioned a last-ball victory for Colombo Cricket Club. It was that experience, ...
