Wednesday 24th December, 2008 15 Hayden BCB XI clueless weighs up against Herath After ruling out times in his next four play on the first day overs. Muralitharan his exit fog and bad light took two in two balls allowed only 53.1 to put them in more MATTHEW HAYDEN could draw overs on the second, trouble and only No. 8 the curtain on his distinguished but that was more Saikat Ali (22) provid- international career after the than sufficient for the ed any resistance. Sri Lankan spinners The Sri Lankans’ Sydney Test. to roll over a batting wasn’t as Sources close to the veteran Bangladesh Cricket Herath impressive; Malinda opener said Hayden was now Board XI for 88 in Warnapura and deciding whether to proceed with Savar. The wrecker-in-chief Chamara Kapugedera were his original plan and play through surprisingly was not Muttiah both dismissed for ducks next year’s Ashes series or retire Muralitharan but left-arm before Michael Vandort and from Test cricket at the conclu- spinner, Rangana Herath, captain Mahela who was included in the tour- Jayawardene dragged the sion of the summer. ing party after Ajantha visitors to 36 off 19 overs. Hayden, who has yet to make Mendis was ruled out with This is the Sri Lankans’ a final decision, spent much of an ankle injury. only practice match before yesterday morning locked in dis- After the new-ball bowlers the first Test gets underway cussions with Australian captain had nipped out a couple of in Mirpur on Boxing Day. Ricky Ponting. It is not known early wickets Herath, who Several of their practice ses- whether the talks centred specifi- has played only 13 Tests since sions have also been ham- making his debut in 1999, pered due to the fog. cally on the issue of retirement, ran through the young BCB Brief Scores: Sri although teammates have sug- Prasanna Jayawardene effects a stumping to remove VVS Laxman, Sri Lanka v India, 3rd Test, PSS, Colombo, side. Opener Imrul Kayes Lankan 36 for 2 trail gested the 37-year-old could 1st day, August 8, 2008. (Files) and Raqibul Hasan had Bangladesh Cricket Board make a definitive call before the taken the hosts to 47 for 2 XI 88 (Herath 6-16) by 52 Boxing Day Test. before Herath struck five runs. The uncertainty over his play- ing future has not helped Hayden’s form in the centre. The Prasanna’s the astute shot selection displayed throughout his career has been absent since his return from an Achilles injury. Poor umpiring decisions and a pair of run-outs best keeper in the have done little to improve his state of mind, and the left-han- der is well aware of the pressing need to provide meaningful con- tributions with the bat during a time of team transition. world – Sanga Hayden met selectors earlier in ri Lanka vice captain the bat, and has also taken 41 Prasanna only featured in five the summer and expressed his Kumar Sangakkara believes catches and 15 stumpings. Tests until the home series desire to play through next Sthe Sri Lankan Test team Prasanna was superlative stand- against South Africa in mid-2006. year’s tours of South Africa and has benefitted by having him ing up to the two spinners, Sangakkara was the keeper England before leaving the game. play as a specialist batsman and Muttiah Muralitharan and for Sri Lanka in the period, but But that is now in significant letting Prasanna Jayawardene Ajantha Mendis, during Sri his increasing vital role with the Mrs. Sunetha Wijesuriya, President of the Anatoly Karpov Chess doubt, as the father-of-three take charge behind the stumps. Lanka’s last Test bat made it necessary for him to Club, hands over a chess souvenir to Ayrat Akhmator, Director resolves whether he still possess- Sangakkara remains Sri Lanka’s series against hand over the role to Prasanna. first-choice keeper in the limit- India at home The move has worked wonders, of the Russian Centre, as a token of appreciation at the 10th es the passion, commitment and ed-overs games, while Prasanna in August. with Sangakkara raking up big anniversary celebrations of the Russian Centre, at the Russian form to compete at cricket’s elite has been impressive with his Although, scores consistent- Centre Auditorium, in Colombo. level. glovework behind the stumps in he made ly since then. There have been several indi- the longer version. his debut “Statistics cators this week that Hayden is “We have got Prasanna in 2000, show that I Sampath Bank wins both not yet ready to quit. A day after Jayawardene who is right now bat better when his second innings was terminat- would be the best keeper in the I don’t keep in world by far,” Sangakkara was Tests,” Mercantile chess titles ed by Aleem Dar’s incorrect quoted as having told the Daily Sampath Bank retained Nishantha Withanage caught-and-bowled decision, Star. “He’s doing the job for their chess titles at the 5th Kasun Perera Hayden donned the gloves and us. So it is a win-win sit- Mercantile Open Chess ran through a series of visualisa- uation for everyone.” Championship, conducted by 1st Runner-up: Prasanna, 29, Sangakkara tion exercises on the WACA the Mercantile Chess Sampath Bank “D” has played 21 said. In 48 Ground pitch. And the following Association at the Lions Madhunika Ekanayake Tests for Sri Tests as a keep- morning, he took centre stage in Activity Centre Auditorium, G. M. Dissanayake Lanka. er, Sangakkara’s Colombo. Dilan Chandima the team huddle in an attempt to He aver- average is 40.48, This was sponsored by K. D. D. C. Kuruppu inspire his teammates for one, ages which soars to 83.05 Seylan Merchant Leasing final charge at the South 26.78 in the 28 Tests he has PLC. 2nd Runner-up: with played as a specialist Africans. Results: Seyland Merchant Bank batsman. Mickey Arthur has said the Team Event - A Division “B” Sri Lanka are in South Africans rate Hayden and Champions: Prabash Ariyasinghe Bangladesh for a two-Test Ponting highest among Australian Sampath Bank “A” Sashee Yapa series and a tri-nation ODI Dulan Edirisinghe Danushka Samarasinghe batsmen, given their ability to tournament. However, foggy H. P. N. P. Harischandra. dominate an attack and change conditions ruled out play on Sanjeewa Subasinghe Individual Event - A the course of a match in a ses- the first day of their only K. H. R. Weerasekara Division tour game, against a sion. Arthur also admitted to an Joint champions: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI. element of schadenfreude in the 1st Runner-up: Dulan Edirisinghe of The weather has also hampered Proteas’ attitude towards Sampath Bank team “B” Sampath Bank the team’s outdoor practice ses- Hayden’s playing future, hoping Kumar Sangakkara A. G. G. D. Sandun Saman 4 out of 4 (unbeaten) sions. the uncertainty surrounding his Kumara H. P. N. P. Harischandra of place in the team could disrupt Buddhika Amunugama Sampath Bank the Australian top order. S. Sahan Sanjeewa Subasinghe of Sampath Bank Arthur’s Australian counter- Premier League Cricket Ananda Basketball Wing 2nd Runner-up: part, Tim Nielsen, conceded this Seylan Merchant Bank Individual Event - B week that Hayden’s form slump Annual Get-together Prageeth Perera Division has added to the pressure on the Bloomfield, Saracens Being the first school to start Anujan Rathnapala Joint champions: top and middle order, but basketball in Sri Lanka, the Buddhi Colombage Nishantha Withanage of expressed optimism that the Ananda College Basketball Wing Sampath Bank Team Event - B Division Asanga Jayawardena of powerful Queenslander could lead after five rounds intends to organize a get-together Champions: Ashen Advertising (Pvt) Ltd. return to form and play on by Revata S. Silva Both Ragama CC and Colts CC for it’s members for the first time Sampath Bank “C” 3rd place: Madunika beyond the summer. were in contention for the top on January 3, 2009, at Water World, Sashikala Yatawara Ekanayake of Sampath Andrew Hilditch’s selection Bloomfield C&AC were lead- spot after a fine five rounds Malabe, Pittugala. Kalana Abeysinghe Bank. panel had hoped Hayden would ing with two outright wins in while standing a few points play deep into 2009 and serve as Tier ‘A’ of this season’s Premier behind the table leaders. a mentor to the younger squad League cricket tournament Meanwhile, Saracens SC were leading the ten-team Tier ‘B’. 10th International Karate tournament in Ghaziabad, India members coming through the organised by Sri Lanka Cricket. The Ananda College, Colombo in Ghaziabad, India. The other countries which took ranks, although that was contin- Points Table of Premier League Cricket 2008-09 as at Dec 22 karate team took part in the 10th The tournament was held on part in the tournament were India, gent on his scoring consistently International Karate Tournament December 22 and 23. Nepal, Iran and Bangladesh. at the top of the order. Hayden’s departure would leave selectors with a difficult decision ahead of the tours of South Africa and England. Their original choices, Phil Jaques and Shaun Marsh, are returning from surgery and battling a form slump respectively, while Chris Rogers’s off-field demeanour remains a sticking point with some members of the Australian team. Phil Hughes has scored heavily for NSW this season and appears a star of the future, but at 21 there is a hesitancy among some to expose him to the high- pressure world of Test cricket too early. If Hayden is to walk away from Test cricket, it is likely he will Ananda College Karate team also call time on his one-day Seated: Mrs. Padma Malani (Asst. Team Manageress), E. L. Jayasiri Perera (Coach) G. K. De Zoysa (Team Manager/Deputy career. Hayden is the reigning Principal), Lal Dissanayake (Principal) Standing: P. G. Sachindu Dananga, Helitha Weerasinghe, Sagara Bandara international limited-overs player Harasgama, Avishka S. Thamanagama, Dishan Esada Harischandra, V. A. Dinushanka Udeshana, Dilshan Ratnaweera, of the year. Yasiru Fernando, Oshada Malshan Ratnaweera, Naveen Ranasinghe, Buwaneka Ganiarachchi, Kushen Hennayake, (SMH) Sachinda Dulanjana, Menaka Prabath Liyanaarachchi and Pulasthi Samarakoon.