Tuesday 10th August, 2010

Chamara believes night practice is Focus on World Cup as solution for ODI maladies tri-series begins today BY REX CLEMENTINE Middle order batsman Chamara ROSHEN STEELMAN Silva, who has been recalled to the national ODI squad after being reporting from Dambulla dropped from the side for the Asia ith just six months to go for Cup, believes that next year’s World Cup to be held conducting practice Win the subcontinent in February sessions in nights 2011, will host New Zealand could solve some of and India in the the problems Sri Micromax Triangular Series beginning at the Rangiri Dambulla International Lanka have encoun- Stadium today. tered in One-Day All matches will be day night encoun- Internationals in ters and with six months to go for next recent years. year’s World Cup, the teams will take Sri Lanka have struggled in recent this tournament as a preparation for it. The three teams have made slight home ODIs against changes by resting some of their senior India having lost four players and bringing in young blood. successive series. The five match series India who won the Asian Cup two played in 2008 in August was won by months ago at Dambulla, will take on India 3-2 followed by another five the Kiwis in the curtain raiser today match series win in January 2009, and Sri Lanka will play their first match where India triumphed 4-1. The against India on Friday (13). Compaq Cup tri-nation series last The tournament will be played under September that also involved New lights which has become the talking Zealand was also won by the Indians point. The teams that took part in the when they beat Sri Lanka in the final Asian Cup recently, had much to com- at R. Premadasa Stadium. Then last plain about the floodlights and nothing month India won the in will be different in this tournament as Dambulla when they beat Sri Lanka in the sides that win the toss would prefer the final once again. to take first lease of the , rather Most of these defeats came with Sri than bat under lights. Lanka chasing and Silva believes that “If the pitch was previously used (in Sri Lanka will have to look at changing the Tournament) it will not be a big New Zealand’s Ross Taylor, left, India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni, center, and Sri Lanka’s hold the methods of training. “People attribute issue under lights as the ball will swing Micromax Trophy during a media briefing in Dambulla yesterday. The curtain-raiser of the tri-nation tournament gets it to various reasons. But I think one only in the first 8-10 overs, but if the underway today in Dambulla.(AP) thing that we need to look into is prac- pitch was new, it will swing up to 25-30 ticing at nights,” the 30-year-old told overs under lights,” Sangakkara speak- of senior players will give Changes in the Indian Squad The Island. ing about playing conditions under an opportunity for the Zaheer Khan’s shoulder “The time we get to practice in lights said. young players. injury which kept him out nights is very little. When we go to a Sri Lanka will come to the tourna- “We have lost some of the of the Test series against match situation only we face chal- ment as the favorites on home condi- players due to injury, but Sri Lanka, will keep him lenges that we are not used to and at tions, but will look to end their trend of this will be a good opportu- out of this series as well, times you are not prepared to take up finishing tournaments poorly. After nity for the youngsters, opening the door for Ishant those challenges. So practicing in being considered favourites to win the while at the same time, we Sharma to play his first ODI nights is one way to get prepared for Asian Cup, Sangakkara’s team went need to keep our balance for game this year. the challenges ahead. I don’t know down in the final against India under the world cup without any However, according to whether it’s the perfect remedy, but I lights. injured players,” Dhoni said. Dhoni Sharma will not be think we should give it a try and I am The Sri Lankan speaking Dhoni also said that they available for today’s game. sure we’ll talk about it when we get about the competition said that all the have played enough Abhimanyu Mithun who together as a team tomorrow. With three teams have an equal opportunity with Sri Lanka to under- made his Test debut against matches being played in one ground, to win the tournament. stand their strength and Sri Lanka will secure his getting night practices will be an issue, “The conditions in a day-night game weakness. Test series against India, Thilina place in the ODI squad as but I think we should whenever we at Dambulla will suite the New “We have been playing against Sri Kandamby and for well. can,” Silva added. Zealanders really well, therefore all Lanka a lot during the last two years, the Triangular squad, while Ajantha Sachin Tendulkar who had a great Whenever Chamara Silva has come teams have an equal opportunity to win both teams know their strengths and Mendis makes a comeback after being outing in the recently concluded Test into the Sri Lanka side, he has done the tournament,” Sangakkara said. weaknesses. It’s good to see the New dropped for the Asian Cup. series against Sri Lanka, Gautam reasonably well, but consistency has MS Dhoni, Captain of India speaking Zealanders in the Tournament,” he said. Farveez Maharoof became the third Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh will be been an issue and before too long he Top order batsman Ross Taylor has about the tournament said that resting Sri Lanka bowler to get a hat-trick when rested for the tri-series and Yuvraj has been dropped. With the World Cup been appointed New Zealand captain for he did it in the recently concluded Asia Singh makes a comeback to the squad not too far away and with certain posi- the triangular, while regular captain Match Fixtures Cup against India. after being dropped for the Asia Cup, tions in the team’s middle order still Daniel Vittori and Brendon McCullum Spin wizard , which was also conducted at the vacant, Silva has an opportunity to have been rested for the tournament. Date Match the highest wicket taker in both One Dambulla International stadium. grab one of those slots. Fast bowler Kyle Mills will act as Day Internationals and Tests, will be “I am looking forward to take the Tue Aug 10 1st Match - Ind v NZ Taylor’s deputy. rested for this tournament due to a knee Changes in NZ squad opportunity and do my best. I just got The series will be conducted on a Fri Aug 13 2nd Match - SL v NZ injury, while Chamara Silva who has New Zealand middle order batsmen one opportunity to bat in the tri-nation league basis where each team would performed well with the Sri Lankan “A” Jesse Ryder will not feature in the series in Zimbabwe. Then I missed out Mon Aug 16 3rd Match - SL v Ind play the other twice before the top two has secured his spot. New Zealand’s 15-man squad and rook- from the Asia Cup squad. I don’t think teams advance to the finals on August Thu Aug 19 4th Match - SL v NZ After vice captain Muralitharan’s ie batsman Kane Williamson will 28. you can look too far ahead. Just try to retirement from , former make his international debut in this do well in this series and take it on Sun Aug 22 5th Match - SL v Ind Sri Lanka captain Mahela tournament. Apart from that all from there,” he said. Changes in the Sri Lanka Squad Jayawardena has been appointed Wed Aug 25 6th Match - Ind v NZ Sri Lanka have left out fast bowler rounder Grant Elliott will make a Chamara Silva has represented Sri Sangakkara’s deputy until next year’s Chanaka Welagedara, who had a poor comeback after recovering from Lanka in 58 ODIs where he has made Sat Aug 28 Final World Cup. injury. 1333 runs at an average of 29:62. He has also scored a century and 11 fifties.

England-Sri Lanka Youth ODI Series Sri Lanka Under-19 win by five Sri Lanka Under-19 levelled the five runs for the third wicket with Bhanuka Rajaguru picked up three wickets for 33 match Youth ODI series 1-1 as they beat Rajapaksha (46 in 41 balls) before com- runs, paceman Lahiru Jayaratne picked England Under-19 by five wickets in the bining for an unbeaten sixth wicket up two wickets. Skipper Chathura Peiris second ODI played at Arundel Castle stand of 51 runs with Akshu Fernando. and Bhanuka Rajapaksha picked up a Cricket Club Ground yesterday. Deciding to bat first England got off to wicket apiece. Chasing 176 runs to win, Kithruwan a disastrous start as paceman Sanitha de England Under-19 175 all out in 49.4 Vithanage top scored with an unbeaten Mel picked up three wickets in a fiery overs (Lewis Gregory 87, Luke Wells 20; 51 runs and put up two valuable partner- first spell to leave the hosts tottering at 29 Sanitha de Mel 3/23, Lahiru Jayaratne ships with Bhanuka Rajapaksha and for three in the eighth over. Only a 2/29, Saranga Rajaguru 3/33) Akshu Fernando to guide Sri Lanka to patient 87 runs from Lewis Gregory Sri Lanka Under-19 176 for five in victory with 15 overs to spare. could take England to their eventual 34.3 overs (Bhanuka Rajapaksha 46, Kithruwan scored six fours and one score of 175 runs as the rest of the bat- Kithruwan Vithanage 51 n.o, Akshu six in his unbeaten knock and added 72 ting line collapsed. While spinner Fernando 29 n.o; Paul Best 2/38) Isaac becomes new ICC vice-president DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - endorsed by the ICC executive board and the tional game as well as the unity that exists The International Cricket Council confirmed full ICC council ... has also approved the rec- within the game,” Lorgat said. Alan Isaac of New Zealand as its new vice ommendation,” ICC president Sharad Pawar Isaac succeeded John Anderson as chair- president on Monday. said in a statement. man of New Zealand Cricket in 2008 and is a The Sri Lanka Youth basketball team took wings to Bangalore yesterday to take Cricket Australia and New Zealand “I am looking forward to working with former chairman of the New Zealand divi- part in the Middle Asia Basketball Championship which is the qualifying tourna- Cricket jointly nominated Isaac for the posi- Alan as we now set out to continue improv- sion of global accounting firm KPMG. ment for the FIBA Asia Championship. The team is captained by Clinton Stallone tion after their earlier nomination of former ing the ICC’s image and reputation.” Isaac was a left-handed batsman who of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena. ANC University College is sponsoring the Australian Prime Minister John Howard Isaac’s focus will be on the scheduling of also captained the second team of travel expenses of the team. Front from left to right: Sivashakthi Selvaraja was blocked by six of the ICC’s 10 full mem- the Future Tours Program - the ICC’s calen- Wellington. bers. dar of international cricket - ICC chief exec- “It is a great honor and privilege to be (Coach), Kanishka Perera, Charith Perera, Clinton Stallone (Captain), Arun Mario, Isaac will now step down as chairman of utive Haroon Lorgat said. confirmed as the ICC vice president,” Isaac Malaka Vimukthi, Charles Perera (Head Coach). Back row left to right: Randeel New Zealand Cricket. “I am looking forward to working with said. “I am looking forward to serving our Seneviratne, Madusanka Ratnayake, Udayanga Perera, Thushan Dharmasena, “Alan Isaac’s nomination for the role of him and I know that together with Sharad great sport at international level and protect- Sudesh Ahamed, Elijah Sinthaby, Thusara Warapitiya. ICC vice president was unanimously Pawar they will look to enhance the interna- ing the primacy of international cricket.” Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi.

Tuesday 10th August, 2010