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Paranavithana
For – Left handed so he will complement Dilshan
Against – These days this isn’t really that bigger a deal. Bowlers adjust better and quicker. Australia open with two lefties.
For – Could be his breakout series
Against – Could be his last
For – Adds solidity to Dilshans flamboyance
Against – Hardly sticks around long enough to display any sort of solidity
For – Deserves to be persisted with to give him a fair run
Against – Since the England tour
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Imagine a strange world around the 18th or 19th of December in the small city of Hobart, where Sri Lanka have battled hard to stay within touching distance of Australia. It then boils down to need a last throw of the body and mind to either win or save the game.
We’ve all been there in some form or the other. You come home spent from a day of dealing with a pile of dung at work and you see your dishes from last night are still in the sink. And if you are anal about a
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Impact on Sri lankan Cricket
The SLPL’s impact on Sri Lankan cricket was direct and immediate. When SLC requested the deadline for naming the World T20 squads be extended for them, they did it with the thought that the SLPL would force them to change their minds and also allow them to come to concrete conclusions about certain players. The 15 man squad they announced proved both cases to be true. Akhila Dananjaya, Dilshan Munaweera were picked solely on their exploits in the SLPL. And the rest of the squad was more or less accepted as one
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As the rain swept away any chance of an intriguing finale for the first real crowd the SLPL had attracted, it rung true with the atmosphere that surrounded the whole tournament. A tournament that offered promise but stumbled across a few hurdles. The SLPL has had mixed reviews and split fan opinion down the middle. There are be the fanboys of Sri Lankan cricket, who’ve been starved of their accessibility to domestic cricketers who would argue that it was the best thing since Microwave oven came out. Then there are the ones who didn’t get it at all -no
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Point
Sexual misconduct in the workplace will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated
By a Sri Lanka Cricket spokesperson
SLC takes the allegations of its employees engaging in sexual acts on its premises very seriously. We are already in the process of putting together several committees and sub committees to support said committees to arrive at the “root” of the issue. The disciplinary committee will then punish all those who they deem to have been bad.
We would first like to thank the security guard, who with his timely and diligent work,
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“But Dad we are already late!” yelled young Keshan.
He had been bursting at the seams thinking about this day. The day his A-level exams were over, the day he would finally get to see the magnificent spectacle that was the SLPL.
“WELL ITS NOT MY FAULT YOUR MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO OPERATE THE WASHER. Now my favorite Nirvana shirt is a bright pink. So many memories. Did you know I was once in the same city as Kurt Cobain. At the SAME TIME ?
“Dad I don’t care. I don’t want
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Picking a squad isn’t really an exact science. That is why fans, pundits and eventually the selectors rarely have the same set of players when asked to pick one.
Do you simply pick the best players on current form? Do you give someone another chance? Do you go with the tried and trusted or try to introduce some new blood?
These are questions that every selection panel struggles with and one that the Sri Lankan’s rarely, if ever, get right. Sri Lanka aren’t hip to picking squads or teams that are suited for the three
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A bit late we know but here is a commemorative poster for the Eng v SL series which has been signed by Mahela Jaywardene and Rangana Herath – stars of the tour for SL.
The best thing about this is that the proceeds will go to the Mahela Jayawardene Foundation which helps kids in rural areas in Sri Lanka with cricket equipment. So this is your chance to help SL Cricket grow, even a little bit. We always talk about how much talent there is outside of Colombo, so this is a real
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Sandeep Bhammer, the CEO of Somerset Entertainment Ventures (SEV), explains the SLPL tournament’s origins, its format and structure and the financial motivators for both SLC and SEV. Bhammer provides insights into the SLPL’s future as well its sustainability. He also teaches Damith the difference between a failed start and a simple postponement – listen to the show, you’ll know what we mean!
Listen here
iTunes Download
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Andrew is back from hibernation and joins Damith as the two talk to Tim May, CEO of FICA, the Federation of International Cricketers Associations. Tim explains FICAs role in resolving last years Sri Lankan player’s pay disputes, the inner workings of the SLPL contracts, the rise of domestic 2020 leagues and the lasting impact is it having on the international game.
Listen here , but I’ve heard some people complain about some problems there if so try here.
iTunes
Download
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Posted: July 27th, 2012, 9:47am MDT by damiths
Stripping apart the Decision Review System (DRS)
In a 2 part discussion, Damith is joined by Kartikeya Date from the blog A Cricketing View, to help peel away the many layers of the DRS onion and investigate its objectives, its struggle to marry the umpire and technology and where it is currently heading.
Part 1
Karthikeye explains the initial goal of DRS, its impact on cricket at large and the paradigm shift in what the ICC are trying to gain from it now. He also talks in depth about the philosophy of DRS,
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Posted: July 22nd, 2012, 2:51pm MDT by damiths
It seems they are everywhere these days. They are a necessary evil in cricket. Sure we’d love to see Lara’s and Viv’s and the Miller’s just flay attacks with their eyes closed and emasculate us while they are at it but like the cockroach the accumulators have survived and are thriving in the modern game. Cook, Amla, Trott just in the immediate test eye line. But Sri Lanka also has their fair share of them. Unfortunately for them, they are quite keen to stack a lot of them in the same batting line up in the short formats of
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Posted: July 22nd, 2012, 12:54pm MDT by damiths
Join Damith and Indika (Andrew is still away on his US road-trip), as they look back at the Pakistan tour and its missed opportunities for Sri Lanka. Damith then explains why he is not ready to get caught up in the SLPL hype just yet and the pair also look in to why no one is looking into the Sri Lanka A side.
Listen to it on Island Cricket
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Posted: July 19th, 2012, 11:12pm MDT by damiths
The SLPL seems like a neat idea. We wonder how much the whole thing might cost the SLC
“We are yet to estimate the cost. We are working out the budget,”
SLC’s treasurer Nuski Mohammed
Oh right. So I guess there is no point at all in asking if the SLC will make any sort of financial gain from…
“We are estimating a net profit of Rs. 250 million out of the SLPL’s first edition”.
SLC’s treasurer Nuski Mohammed
Oh. Oh Ok.
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Posted: July 15th, 2012, 2:06pm MDT by damiths
There are 3 year old babies who have never known a Sri Lankan test series win. And its finally come. Mahela is posting on Cricinfo about it. Posing with trophies. The whole proverbial nine yards. But something is still amiss.
When Kumar Sangakkara started shaking hands with Misbah and the end of the 5th day, with 10 overs to go, we were in shock. When Mahela plodded around for 11 off 43 balls we were not amused. Angry even. That Misbah agreed to call of the game knowing, how improbable it may have seemed, that they
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Posted: July 11th, 2012, 2:16pm MDT by damiths
Pakistan
Needed to show grit and determination from the start of play to not let the game run out of control. Hafeez and Azar Ali found their feet slowly and almost got to lunch. But losing wickets when they really did not was a feature of Pakistan’s play today. And it is the way that they lost a couple of those that will annoy Pakistan. Dilhara Fernando picked up the two most important wickets with two of the worst balls in the game – When you are trying to set a total but also fighting every ball
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Posted: July 10th, 2012, 2:19pm MDT by damiths
Sri Lanka
Having had a day to think about how to go about things Sri Lanka came out and plodded around for a bit before finding their feet. This was a massive innings for Paranavitana. But also one of those tailor made situations for a player to prove their worth. His side in trouble and looking to dig themselves out of a hole. Samaraweera found the perfect time to be his ally. It wasn’t a particularly pleasing innings. Nor was it a solid effort. But he did just about enough to possibly save his career. Again. He
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Posted: July 1st, 2012, 11:55pm MDT by damiths
While Andrew is away on a road-trip exploring the US East Coast, Indika joins me on the show to review the first Test against Pakistan. The pair also weigh in on the DRS issue. Later, I speak to Umair Qazi aka Q, from wellpitched.com to ask him how much Pakistan fear Nuwan Kulesekara and more.
Listen to it on Island Cricket
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Posted: June 26th, 2012, 4:28am MDT by damiths
Almost.
In February, we wrote this about Kulesekara. A somber look ahead to his inevitably sad demise. 6 months on, the lad seems genuinely interested in proving us an utter failure at calling a cricketer. Our biggest fear now is that we will achieve a similar reverse jinx with what is about to follow. But at least we will be safe in the knowledge that we are consistently wrong about our opinions.
It would be interesting to know if someone told Kulesekara at the nets that he should try his hand at fast bowling
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Posted: June 26th, 2012, 3:02pm MDT by damiths
The first test is done. So we thought we might try our hand at a little report carding.
Paranavitana.
Plucked out of the opener’s carousel and slotted into be Dilshan’s latest partner. Although going by stats Paranavithana and Dilshan form Sri Lanka’s 2nd best opening combination in history. We liked bringing him back. Slow yes but probably a little steadier than Thirimanne. Looked alright against the quicks but played Ajmal like he was trying to swat flies with his eyes closed. It didn’t work nor did it look particularly healthy. As an opener you might
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Posted: June 23rd, 2012, 4:40pm MDT by damiths
Pakistan
If we were them we’d be pulling out what was left of our hair. A handful of important decisions went against them and when Ajmal walks in as nightwatchman on day 2, things can’t be going too well.
The spinners bowled well. But it was interesting to note that Ajmal went for more than 3 an over. Was there a game plan to put him off his game. Regardless, no one ever looked set against him. With better support he will still matter in this series.
5 wickets left with a trillion
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