Confident Lankans Take on West Indies in Galle

Monday 15th November, 2010

Sammy says first Test win in Sri Lanka possible

REX CLEMENTINE day. “Two days of our prac- REPORTING FROM GALLE tice game got washed off and it’s disappointing. But we put As the West Indies look to in some good work coming record their first Test win on from Barbados and we are Sri Lankan soil, captain ready to go out there and Darren Sammy said that the face the challenges Sri tourists will take a cue from Lankans pose,” Sammy the Sri Lankans, who won added. their first ODI series in Former captain Chris Australia last week. Gayle and Shivnarine “I am not predicting any- Chanderpaul will be key to thing. Our guys are confi- West Indies’ success as they dent and they know the task are two players who have ahead. It’s not been easy to played Test cricket here beat Sri Lanka here. Not only before. “Obviously their West Indies but most teams presence gives us experience. find it tough. We are confi- They have played here before dent that if we put in hard and all in all we share infor- work we can be consistent in mation and getting as much our performances. Like you information as possible to saw, Sri Lanka just won in compete well in this series.” Australia. They had never This will be Sammy’s first won in Australia. It’s a moti- Test as captain and he will vation for our guys to come become the 34th West Indian up with some consistent per- Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, center, team-mates Thilina Thushara Mirando, left, and Dilhara Fernando look on during a to lead the national side. formances,” Sammy, who’ll practice session ahead of the first cricket Test against touring West Indies in Galle, Sunday, Nov. 14. The match begins today. “It’s a massive honour for captain his first Test Match, (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) said. me. Like I said earlier West He however expressed his Indies cricket carries a great disappointment in not get- history and a legacy. To lead ting much out of the warm any West Indies team is up game at SSC that got exciting and I am looking Confident Lankans take washed off after just the first forward to move forward.” Sanga calls for on West Indies in Galle focus ahead of series

REX CLEMENTINE Pakistan at the same venue after to the side after being left out for Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dinesh REX CLEMENTINE rise up to the occasion. REPORTING FROM GALLE Muralitharan was injured, they five months. Either Dilhara Ramdin, Fidel Edwards and IN GALLE "We don't have the likes didn’t do too badly recoding a Fernando or Dhammika Prasad Jerome Taylor have been left out. of Vaasy or Murali any he last time Galle hosted a come-from-behind win and will be could share the new ball with the Sri Lanka (Probable XI): Sri Lanka's captain more. So attack and pene- looking for big things from Suraj left-armer. Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Test Match, the whole area Kumar Sangakkara called tration that we have now is Randiv and Rangana Herath in A series win against the West T.M. Dilshan, Tharanga Twas in a party mood. It was on his team to focus on very different. But the the final Test Match of Muttiah this Test. Indies could lift Sri Lanka from its Paranavithana, Mahela Herath, despite having reason- current position of number three Jayawardene, Thilan playing the longer version bowlers whom we have in Muralitharan and the Galle of the game after all the the squad will really enjoy District Cricket Association had able success always lived in the in Test cricket to two ahead of Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, euphoria following the the challenge of trying and come up with some awesome deco- shadows of Muralitharan and at South Africa and just behind Prasanna Jayawardene, Suraj rations and on all five days the the age of 32 has now the assur- India. Randiv, Rangana Herath, Thilan team's first ever series win stepping into those big venue was full to its capacity and ance to go through the full series The Sri Lankans have an excel- Thushara, Dilhara Fernando or in Australia. Less than a shoes and try to win match- Muralitharan retired on a high while Randiv, seven years his jun- lent record against the West Indies Dhammika Prasad. week after arriving from es for Sri Lanka," the Sri note, giving Sri Lanka yet another ior will look to cement his place in having won five of the six games Australia, Sri Lanka will go Lankan captain added. Test win for one last time. the Test squad. at home. The inaugural Test West Indies (From): in for a Test series with the "We have three spinners Three months later Sri Lanka Angelo Mathews will again between the countries in 1993 at De Darren Sammy (Captain), first Test against the tour- who are very capable play as a specialist batsman and Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa was Brendan Nash, Chris Gayle, have moved on and have played ing West Indies starting bowlers. We have Mendis, his inability to bowl means Sri drawn. Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, two Test Matches, but failed to win today at the Galle Herath and Randiv and all any of those. As the first Test Lanka will go with an attack of The Test will be Darren Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, two fast bowlers and two spinners. Sammy’s debut as captain after he Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine International Stadium. of them have been very Match against the West Indies gets "Winning habits are impressive in everything underway at the Galle Both Herath and Randiv could replaced Chris Gayle ahead of the Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar good, but we've got to under- they have done. More they International Stadium today, the probably get the nod ahead of series. Roach, Andre Russell, Shane focus will be on Sri Lanka’s bowl- Ajantha Mendis, the third spinner Gayle along with Shivnarine Shillingford, Devon Smith and stand that this is a different play the stronger they ing attack. The question will be in the side. Chanderpaul are the only players Devon Thomas. format of the game. This is become and I think Sri whether they are capable to hold Sri Lanka’s pace attack too to have played Test cricket in Sri Umpires: Steve Davis (Aus) and a five-day game and the Lanka spin is in very good onto their top tier rank in Test looks interesting with Thilan Lanka before. Some other players Richard Kettlebrough (Eng) time is very important and hands," Sangakkara further cricket without Muralitharan. Thushara Mirando, who was side- who have previous experience of Third Umpire: Asad Rauf (Pak) batting and bowling in long said. Last year when they played lined with a knee injury returning playing in these conditions like Match Referee: Alan Hurst (Aus) . partnerships is going to be Although not very many always the key in Test people are giving the West cricket. That's why people Indies a chance, enjoy playing in this game," Sangakkara said that the Following is a media release of New Delhi, and that the sample Furthermore, the rules require Sangakkara told journalists tourists are taking some issued yesterday by the Amateur was found to contain metabolites that all documentation regarding Manju fails ‘B’ Sample test too yesterday. positive measures to get Boxing Association of Sri Lanka of Nandrolone, a prohibited sub- the ‘A’ sample analysis and relat- It will be dawn of a new back into track. "I think the with regard to Manju stance. ing to chain of custody are pro- era for Sri Lankan cricket West Indies are on their Wanniarachchi’s ‘B’ Sample The Commonwealth Games vided before the ‘A’ sample as they play their first way back. They've sorted report. Federation also informed Mr. opened. series without Muttiah out lot of things under their Mr. Kalinga Indatissa, Wanniarachchi that the following The opening of the ‘B’ sample Muralitharan and new coach and they've Attorney-at-Law representing options were available to him. was scheduled to be held on Nov. Chaminda Vaas, a deadly taken some tough decisions. Manju Wanniarachchi in the dop- 2 at the NDTL in New Delhi. This combination that accounted That shows that they are ing test inquiry held in New Delhi was not held in view of the objec- for more than 1,000 Test determined to make a mark. on No. 12, took up the position SL Boxing tions raised by Mr. Indatissa but wickets over a 16-year peri- We're going to look at them that the chain of custody of the subsequently was opened on od. Sangakkara was confi- as very tough opposition sample of urine taken soon after Association’s Nov. 12. The ‘B’ sample was also dent the young players who and try and concentrate on the boxing Bantamweight finals tested to be positive. have come into the side will playing as best as we can." had not been properly maintained, reaction Susanthika Jayasinghe, the as per the WADA rules. Any dop- a) That he could admit to the heroine of Athens, was subjected ing test sample had to have a result of the analysis in which to similar humiliation in the 1990s report on a chain of custody to event he had to face a hearing at the peak of her career. ensure that there were no mal- which will make a determination Susanthika was also tested to be Vettel, youngest ever practices in the testing. on the sentence to be imposed on positive in both samples, and The Sri Lankan hero of the him, later the panel of arbitrators of F1 champion New Delhi Commonwealth b) That he could exercise his the IAAF sitting in Monaco exon- Games was represented by Mr. right to the opening of the ‘B’ erated her of all chargers based ABU DHABI, United Vettel by four points in the Indatissa who took up this con- sample at which point either he or on similar objections raised by Arab Emirates (AP) - Red final standings. tention with many other issues. his representatives could be pres- Counsel. Incidentally, it was Mr. Bull driver Sebastian Vettel Alonso started third but It was reported on Saturday, has clinched the Formula One paid the price for pitting his November 14, that the ‘B’ Sample of Manju Wanniarachchi who ent at the opening of the sample. Indatissa who appeared for won the gold medal at the recent- Accordingly, Mr. Susanthika and successfully got title after winning the Abu Ferrari too early and getting Sri Lanka’s gold medal winning boxer Dhabi Grand Prix to become stuck behind Nico Rosberg at the Commonwealth Games in New ly concluded Commonwealth Wanniarachchi informed the her exonerated from all allega- the youngest ever champion. and Vitaly Petrov for nearly 40 Delhi, Manju Wanniarachchi, which Games was subjected for a dop- Commonwealth Games tions. Vettel started the race laps. was analysed by the Games’ officials, ing test after receiving the Gold Federation of his intention to Mr. Indatissa further stated from pole position but 15 Red Bull’s Mark Webber of has contained banned substance of Medal on October 13. A few days exercise the right to have the ‘B’ that as in Jayasinghe’s case, the points behind two-time cham- Australia came in behind Nandrolone. His ‘A’ Sample too was later he was informed by the sample opened. In terms of the testing procedure and the other tested positive earlier. pion Fernando Alonso of Alonso in seventh spot and The Amateur Boxing Association of Commonwealth Games WADA rules, this is a statutory related matters will be challenged Ferrari. However, the finished third overall. Sri Lanka was expected to make an Federation that the ‘A’ sample had right granted to every sportsman by Wanniarachchi before the Spaniard lost the title by fin- The 23-year-old Vettel is six appeal to an international courts of been analysed by the National whose ‘A’ sample is found to con- Commonwealth Games Medical ishing a disappointing sev- months younger than Lewis sports, it was also reported yesterday. Doping Testing Laboratory (NDTL) tain a prohibited substance. Commission. enth and trailed Hamilton was in 2008.

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