The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named a 14-player men’s squad for the two-match Test Series on the Qantas Tour of New Zealand. Courtesy of Cricket Australia – Multicultural Media (eLanka) Australia: Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c) Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club) Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club) Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club) Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club) Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club) (vc) Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club) Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club) Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club) Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) Michael Neser (QLD/Gold Coast Cricket Club) Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul District Cricket Club) Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) (vc) Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club) NSP men’s Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “Michael Neser returns to the squad which is mostly unchanged from recent squads. “It’s great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the squad following his ever-consistent ...

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Preview: Australia, Sri Lanka join upbeat African challengers in Group C © ICC 2023 | Courtesy of ICC | Media Zone Access by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka) The first game in the group will take place between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on 22 January. All the games will be played in Kimberley. Here we take a look at the four teams, their make-up, and some of the future stars to look out for. Australia Australia are the second-most successful side in the U19 Men’s CWC after India. Their first success came in the inaugural edition of the tournament way back in 1988, when as hosts of the Youth World Cup, they beat Pakistan by five wickets.  Australia’s second triumph came in 2002  when Cameron White led them to a win in New Zealand. Their neighbouring country proved to be a happy hunting ground yet again in 2010 when Josh Hazlewood’s splendid 4/30 ...

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All Blacks and Springboks likely finalists but Pumas and England will be no pushovers. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor)   It was one of the best defensive exhibitions in Rugby as The All Blacks and Ireland engaged in a memorable quarter final that delivered what the best teams in the world can produce.  The heart stopping World Cup quarter final lived up to all expectations as two  of the world’s best, locked horns and gave Rugby fans what should have been a World Cup final.    In a game where no quarter was given and none got, rugby fans were treated to a unrelenting battle that went down to the wire before the never to be written off All Blacks held on in a nerve wracking encounter by four points knocking out the world ranked number one team.  Unlike in the past, where New Zealand always entered ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Lankan team driving force of Australian managed services provider USEZER as company marks 5 years USEZER Founder and Managing Director Nuwan Fernando Source : ft As Australian managed services provider USEZER marks five years of delivering excellence in managed services, the company recognises its core technology team based in Sri Lanka that has supported growth over the years and efficiently enables service delivery for clients based in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.  The Sri Lankan team plays a pivotal role in providing managed IT support, cyber security services, IT procurement, cloud services and other IT services to enterprise and SME clients across multiple industries.  USEZER is one of many tech companies that have turned to Sri Lankan talent to fuel international operations and growth as the country solidifies its position as a top choice for innovation and knowledge-driven solutions. The company’s journey began when Sri Lankan-born Nuwan Fernando founded ...

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New Zealand to fund immigration resource center in Sri Lanka Source : colombogazette New Zealand is to fund the establishment of an immigration resource centre in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment said today. The High Commission of New Zealand has informed the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara that it will provide support and necessary funds for the establishment of an immigration resource centre in Sri Lanka. A crucial discussion regarding this was held today between the Minister and the Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand Andrew Traveller. A memorandum of understanding is to be signed between the two countries and the relevant MoU is to be reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet of Ministers. The centre, if approved, will be established at an appropriate location chosen by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). New Zealand will provide assistance ...

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Sri Lanka, Australia New Zealand Business Council holds AGM Source : dailynews The 28th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka – Australia – New Zealand Business Council (SLANZBC) was held recently, with Paul Stephens, High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Michael Appleton, High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as Chief Guests. South Asia Gateway Terminals Senior Manager Commercial and Marketing Udara Cumaratunga, was elected as the first female President of SLANZBC, while Sampath Jayasundara CEO and Director hSenid Business Solutions and Dr. Dhananjay Kulkarni, Dean, Universal College Lanka, were elected Vice-Presidents for 2023/24, with Ruwan Rajapakse, Managing Director Jiffy Products S.L. (Pvt) Ltd., serving as the Immediate Past President Cumaratunga outlined her vision for the upcoming year, aiming to provide a platform for new business ventures, encourage trade delegations and work closely with respective trade missions to build stronger and ...

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Chamari Athapaththu Makes History as First Sri Lankan to Lead Women’s ODI Rankings – By eLanka Chamari Athapaththu, the captain of the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team, has achieved a remarkable feat by claiming the top spot in the women’s ODI rankings for batters. Her exceptional performances in the series against New Zealand propelled her six places higher, surpassing Australia’s Beth Mooney to become the first Sri Lankan woman to achieve this milestone. Athapaththu’s outstanding display began with an unbeaten knock of 108 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand. In a rain-affected match, she steered Sri Lanka to victory while chasing down a target of 172 runs. Although she was dismissed for a duck in the second match, which New Zealand won, she rebounded in spectacular fashion in the third game. Athapaththu unleashed a breathtaking innings, smashing an incredible 140 runs off just 80 deliveries, securing another rain-hit ...

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Chamari Athapaththu smashes New Zealand to a memorable series win in the one-dayers – by TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor) Inspirational skipper makes Sri Lanka proud by soaring to number one in ICC rankings.  Inspirational skipper Chamari Athapaththu fashioned a lone crusade as she made Sri Lanka proud of a first ever one-day series win over New Zealand.  Sri Lanka’s superstar in  the womens game,  carved up the respected  Kiwi attack in the series decider, smashing 140 off 80 balls to literally single handedly decide the decider in an amazing array of strokeplay that left the visitors dumbfounded.  The 2-1 series win was Sri Lanka’s first against a top echelon team in world cricket and those lucky to witness it in Galle will long savour those special memories.  What was more memorable was Athapaththu’s lead from the front scoring two centuries against a proven attack in three games, ...

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