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   http://www.lankanewspapers.com/zaharan - Archive of Sep 2011




Herath, Lakmal Help Restrict Australia To 273
Thursday, 1 September 2011 - 11:37 AM SL Time

Sri Lanka couldn`t have asked for a better start in their campaign to beat Australia in the ongoing three match Test series between the countries as their spin bowlers shared six wickets between them to restrict the former World Champions to 273 runs after losing the toss in the first Test here at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

Australia have had complete domination over Sri Lanka in the 21 Tests played between these countries with the visitors winning 13 games compared to Sri Lanka`s solitary win. However, with the Australians not the force they once were, the three match series has been seen as a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to settle old scores.

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Sri Lanka Doomed In Own Trap
Friday, 2 September 2011 - 1:17 PM SL Time

Rex Clementine reporting from Galle

The national cricket team relived the Cardiff debacle a few months ago as they collapsed again in the first Test against Australia here at the Galle International Stadium to be bowled out for 105 runs yesterday in reply to the tourists` 273 all out.

On a turning wicket which had awkward bounce as well, 16 wickets fell, but having asked for a turning track, the hosts had only themselves to be blamed for their batting debacle.

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Rejoice - Sri Lankans Have Taken Test To Fourth Day
Saturday, 3 September 2011 - 11:52 AM SL Time

Rex Clementine reporting from Galle

There is quite a big viewership for the current Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia due to the school holidays, but by mid-afternoon yesterday, the kids had switched onto Scooby Doo for it looked far better watching the cartoon heroes than these uncommitted, lazy, overpaid bunch of jokers in the garments of national cricketers as Sri Lanka headed towards another crushing defeat here at the Galle International Stadium. The way Sri Lanka`s batsmen collapsed for the second time in the game suggested that there must be surer heads in school cricket.

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Clarke, Dilshan Blast Galle Wicket
Sunday, 4 September 2011 - 2:22 PM SL Time

Michael Clarke and Tillakaratne Dilshan blasted the dry wicket in Galle. Clarke, celebrating his first win as Australian captain, said he had never played on a tougher pitch than the dustbowl prepared at the Galle International Stadium.

Day one felt like day five out there, Clarke said after his team took the lead in the three-Test series, Australia`s first in Sri Lanka since 2004.

I hate to see a Test match being determined by the toss. It was obviously prepared for their spin bowlers and that backfired. I guess I was just fortunate I won the toss.

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Needed - Eleven Passionate Sri Lankans
Monday, 5 September 2011 - 12:28 PM SL Time

by Rex Clementine

Cricket matches against Australia was akin to war.

Losing a cricket contest to an Australian side is considered an embarrassment by most Sri Lankans. Is there a better feeling in cricket than to see a Sri Lankan score a hundred against Australia? The humiliations faced by the Sri Lankan side that toured Australia in 1995 was such that Sri Lankan supporters want even Bangladesh to beat Australia in cricket. A few months back, most Sri Lankans desperately wanted England to retain the Ashes, not because they like England, but because the feeling of seeing Australia losing is so sweet!

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Dilshan Decision A Delight For Aussies
Tuesday, 6 September 2011 - 12:53 PM SL Time

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is adamant he won`t change his risky batting style and that`s fine with Australia.

Dilshan made four and 12 in two brief stays at the crease during Australia`s 125-run win in the first Test in Galle last week, losing his wicket early in both innings to give the tourists early momentum.

In the first innings the opener got off the mark smashing a ball through cover off debutant Trent Copeland but then fell the very next delivery attempting the same shot, this time picking out Ricky Ponting at short-cover.

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Sri Lanka Can Learn From Clarke, says Ranatunga
Wednesday, 7 September 2011 - 12:57 PM SL Time

Chris Barrett

KANDY: Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has singled out Michael Clarke for praise over his snubbing of Indian Premier League and Big Bash League riches, arguing the Twenty20 phenomenon is proving the downfall of Test cricket in his homeland as too many put cash before country.

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Second Test starts Today At Pallekele
Thursday, 8 September 2011 - 11:30 AM SL Time

Eranga on standby for Welagedara

Rex Clementine reporting from Pallekele

Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis will be drafted into the playing 11 for today`s second Test match against Australia here at the Pallekele International Stadium in place of off-spinner Suraj Randiv, but Sri Lanka`s preparations for the crucial game suffered a blow as left-arm paceman Chanaka Welagedara withdrew to the dressing room, complaining of a pain in the knee, while training, yesterday.

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Australian Cricket Team Visit Child Action Lanka In Kandy, Sri Lanka, 2011
Friday, 9 September 2011 - 1:52 PM SL Time

Sri Lanka Might Need Psychiatric Help - Dilshan

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE Reporting from Pallekelle

If the present trend of poor performances continue, there is a likelihood of seeking the help of a psychologist , said Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan to a question whether there is a mental problem that is causing the team to continually perform poorly.

Dilshan admitted that it was bad batting that caused the team to collapse for 174. We have been practising hard. Doing the basics, talking about the game and its aspects, but still things seem to be going wrong , he said.

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Captain Warns Of Dire Consequences
Saturday, 10 September 2011 - 1:43 PM SL Time

Rex Clementine reporting from Pallekele

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan warned tough action if his batsmen failed to address the batting slump the team is experiencing in the current Test series against Australia. The current Australian side was said to be the weakest to arrive in Sri Lankan shores, but under a new captain have done exceptionally well so far.

New captain Michael Clarke guided Australia to a series win in the ODIs before winning the first Test in Galle by 125 runs to record Australia`s first Test win in the sub-continent in five years.

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Ajantha Mendis Faked Injury, Report says
Sunday, 11 September 2011 - 12:34 PM SL Time

Sri Lanka`s mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis opted out of the second Test match at Pallekele after faking his injury, according to a report on a Sri Lankan newspaper.

Mendis was in line for selection when Rangana Herath was ruled out due to a finger injury.

`The cricket hierarchy suspected Mendis of faking the injury ...` a report on The Island newspaper stated.

`Mendis was named in the playing eleven on the eve of the second Test, but had complained of back pain to a senior member of the Sri Lankan side on the morning of the Test Match,` the report added.

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Sangakkara Calls For Extended Runs For Players
Monday, 12 September 2011 - 11:38 AM SL Time

Daniel Brettig in Pallekele

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka batsman, has called for stability in the team after they gave themselves a chance of staving off a Test match and series defeat by Australia in Pallekele. While he acknowledged the team`s poor performances with the bat so far in the series, he said the batsmen needed to be given extended runs without the constant fear of being dropped. Only that, he said, could bring positive results - Sri Lanka have not won a Test match since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan.

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Sangakkara Shines At ICC Awards
Tuesday, 13 September 2011 - 1:02 PM SL Time

Kumar Sangakkara became the only player to win two awards at the ICC Awards by clinching the ODI Cricketer of the year award and the People`s Choice award. With the award Sangakkara has become the second-ever recipient of the LG People`s Choice Award at the LG ICC Awards in London.

Sangakkara was voted to the award by the general public and beat off strong competition for the award from South Africa`s Hashim Amla, England`s Jonathan Trott, West Indies` Chris Gayle and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

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Aussies, Sri Lanka Both Battling Injuries
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 - 12:36 PM SL Time

Australia and Sri Lanka were both battling injuries to key players ahead of the third and final Test starting in Colombo on Friday.

Australia`s frontline fast bowler Ryan Harris was due to undergo scans on a hamstring strain later on Tuesday, while Sri Lanka`s unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis was ruled out with a back injury.

Harris, nicknamed `Rhino` for his strong physique, complained of a stiff hamstring on the final day of the drawn second Test in Pallekele on Monday and went off the field.

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Sangakkara Seeks Lanka Win In 100th Test
Thursday, 15 September 2011 - 12:22 PM SL Time

A hugely proud Kumar Sangakkara hopes Sri Lanka will celebrate his 100th Test appearance with a series-levelling victory over Australia in the final match in Colombo from Friday.

It`s a great honour to have represented my country for a period of time, and also a great honour to play 100 Test matches, Sangakkara told reporters ahead of his landmark match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).

It`s not often that a player gets that opportunity and I`m very, very proud and also very privileged to be given the opportunity to represent my country and my people for so long. But the most important thing is to contribute as much as I can to the side winning games. It`s nice to participate, but you want to say to your team-mates and others that we are winners.

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Privileged To Play For Sri Lanka For So Long - Sangakkara
Friday, 16 September 2011 - 1:54 PM SL Time

Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Former Sri Lanka and World Cup cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara said that playing in his 100th Test match is not an emotional one as such, but a privilege to have been a part of Sri Lanka to play so long in hundred Test matches.

He said `there were times when Sri Lanka did not play 10 matches for an year, and felt that we haven`t played as many as we should have`.

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Ponting`s Wicket Was Just Unbelievable - Eranga
Saturday, 17 September 2011 - 11:49 AM SL Time

by Rex Clementine

Young fast bowler Shaminda Eranga impressed many on debut with a disciplined bowling effort in the third Test against Australia at SSC yesterday. He started off by picking up a wicket off his first delivery in Test cricket, becoming the 18th player to do so and only the second Sri Lankan.

An impressive effort by Sri Lanka`s bowlers enabled them to restrict Australia to 235 for five on day one of the third Test and Eranga believes Sri Lanka need to make the new ball to count today. `The wicket will have something in the morning. The good thing is that we have taken five wickets and we have a new ball. If I get an opportunity to bowl I will go back to the plans we had against the Australian batsmen. We have started off well and we need to finish this off well too,` Eranga told journalists yesterday.

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Sanga and Mahela Lead Sri Lanka`s Fight-Back
Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 11:44 AM SL Time

Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 61 in his 100th Test as Sri Lanka responded bravely to Australia`s 316 in the third and final game of the series in Colombo on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, seeking a series-levelling win, closed the second day at 166-2 in their first innings after a batting masterclass from Michael Hussey had steered the tourists out of trouble at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Mahela Jayawardene chipped in with 31 not out in a third-wicket stand of 69 with Sangakkara to leave the hosts 150 runs behind with eight wickets in hand. Hussey followed a match-winning 95 in the first Test in Galle and 142 in the drawn second game at Pallekele with a fluent 118 studded with 12 boundaries and two sixes.

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Solid Middle Order Performance Gives Sri Lanka The Edge
Monday, 19 September 2011 - 11:39 AM SL Time

by Rex Clementine

Centurion Michael Hussey had said at the end of day two of the SSC Test that day three was going to be the most crucial in the three match series. It was Sri Lanka who got on top at the end of day three, with their batsmen taking on the challenge and ensuring that they got into a position from where they can`t lose the game, provided they avoid another Cardiff debacle.

At stumps yesterday, the Sri Lankans had reached 428 for six, a lead of 112 runs thanks to half-centuries from Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, T. M. Dilshan and Angelo Mathews.

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Australia Fight Back After Mathews` Maiden Hundred
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 - 11:39 AM SL Time

Middle order batsman Angelo Mathews scored a much awaited maiden Test hundred, but could regret his approach to three figures if Sri Lanka were unable to win the third and final Test against Australia where the hosts have to call all the shots in today`s final day to square the series.

Sri Lanka have been at their best in this Test and if they are able to maintain that consistency, their first Test win after ten games, since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan could come here.

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Clarke Surprised By Sri Lanka`s Go-Slow Tactics
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 - 12:56 PM SL Time

Australian captain Michael Clarke said he was surprised by Sri Lankan vice-captain Angelo Mathews` go-slow tactics on day three and four of the third and final Test Match at SSC in an effort to get to his maiden Test hundred.

Mathews, batting with the Sri Lankan lower order, didn`t take an effort to push the total and by the fourth morning Australia had spread out the field making it even more difficult for him to get the milestone.

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Muralitharan Hopes For New IPL Offer
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 - 7:56 PM SL Time

Muttiah Muralitharan has said he hopes another IPL franchise will sign him now that the BCCI has terminated Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Murali, who retired from all forms of international cricket after the 2011 World Cup, was bought by Kochi in the January 2011 auction after he played the first three IPL seasons for Chennai Super Kings.

`I am hopeful that if they [Kochi] are not playing, some other franchise will take me as I am fit and playing this format continuously,` Murali told PTI in Colombo. `I want to play two more years in IPL.`

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Samaraweera Dropped For Pakistan Tests
Thursday, 22 September 2011 - 4:52 PM SL Time

Dinesh Chandimal has been recalled to Sri Lanka`s Test squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE and is one of four wicketkeeper-batsmen in the 16-man party. Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera, 34, and spinner Ajantha Mendis are the major omissions from the squad that lost 1-0 to Australia at home, while legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna was also left out.


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Sri Lanka In Group `C` Of T20 World Cup
Friday, 23 September 2011 - 4:10 PM SL Time

Hosts Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe have been placed in the same preliminary group (Group C) for next year`s World Twenty20 tournament here, the sport`s governing body said on Wednesday.

Australia, West Indies and a qualifier are drawn in group B and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh in group D.

Defending champions England and India are in group A.

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Marsh Targets World Test Championship,T-20 World Cup
Saturday, 24 September 2011 - 3:00 PM SL Time

by Rex Clementine

Newly appointed Sri Lanka cricket coach Geoff Marsh says the problems faced by Sri Lankan cricket are very much similar to that of Australian cricket due to the retirement of several great players.

Marsh, in an exclusive interview with `The Island` from Perth, said that he is excited to work with Sri Lanka, given the raw talent he saw in the country during his recent visit to the island.

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Memorable Day For Tomorrow`s Test Heroes
Monday, 26 September 2011 - 1:58 PM SL Time

It will be a memorable day for tomorrow`s Test heroes when the 33rd Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year mega awards ceremony takes place at the Grand Ballroom of the Galadari Hotel, Colombo commencing at 5.30 p.m. today.

The event, hosted by our sister paper the Sunday Observer, is sponsored by Sri Lanka`s national mobile telephone service provider Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel. Since its inauguration way back in 1979 at a time there were no inter-school tournaments to awards ceremonies to reward outstanding schoolboy cricketers, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year has gone from strength to strength over the past three decades.

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Who Robbed ICC Souvenirs
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 - 2:23 PM SL Time

by Chamila Karawita

A stock of ICC cricket souvenirs meant to be distributed among the invitees who attended the logo and schedule launching ceremony of the T20 World Cup 2012, held last Thursday, Sept. 21 has gone missing.

It is reported that only a few who attended the above ceremony had received the ICC souvenir. The private institution which organised the event has failed to properly distribute the souvenirs among about 175 invitees, including journalists, who were present on the occasion.

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Marsh Arrives In Sri Lanka
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 - 3:08 PM SL Time

Former Australian cricketer, selector and coach Geoff Marsh arrived in Sri Lanka last evening to assume his duties as national coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the governing body of cricket on the island, announced that it had appointed Marsh as coach last week and the 52-year-old arrived on the island yesterday (27) aboard a Malaysian Airlines flight which touched down at the Bandaranaike International Airport at 10:55PM.

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`I`m ready to play Pakistan` - Nuwan Pradeep
Thursday, 29 September 2011 - 5:05 PM SL Time

After recovering from a knee injury, which deprived him of his debut earlier this year, fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep speaks to Island Cricket about his road to recovery and being selected for the series against Pakistan in UAE next month.

How did you sustain your injury?

NP: I injured myself during a warm-up match against England Lions. When fielding, I tried to stop the ball, and my knee hit the ground pretty hard. At the time, I didn`t feel a thing - it was OK. The very next ball, I took a running catch too, but the following morning I could barely walk.

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Marsh Wants Say On Sri Lanka Selection Policy
Friday, 30 September 2011 - 2:54 PM SL Time

In his very first press conference as coach of Sri Lanka, Geoff Marsh said that he will require some control over selection matters, as he hopes to adopt a rotation policy similar to England and Australia, where seniors will be rested more regularly.

Sri Lanka is going through a phase similar to Australia at the moment, that`s the way that I see it, Marsh told reporters today at a press conference in Colombo.

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