Friday 6th May, 2011 Practice matches Cook takes over as captain to select Sri Lanka ‘A’ side Two practice matches will Team ‘B’ be played simultaneously on Malintha May 13, 14 and 15 at the SSC Warnapura(Captain), of England one-day team and Tamil Union grounds in Mahela Udawatte, Banuka lieu of the forthcoming Sri Rajapakshe, Kushal LONDON (AP) - England has three cricket Lanka ‘A’ tour of England. Janith(Wicketkeeper), captains after Alastair Cook was placed in charge The two three day Kithruwan Vithanage, of its one-day team. encounters consisting of four Sachithra Pathirana, Kosala The England and Wales Cricket Board already teams will be captained by Kulasekera, Dilruwan had a separate captain for the Twenty20 side, but Thilina Kandamby, Malintha Perera, Sajeewa Weerakoon, said Thursday that 26-year-old opener Cook will Warnapura, Jeevan Mendia Tharanga Lasitha, take over the 50-over team after test captain and Upul Tharanga. Shaminda Eranga, Isuru Andrew Strauss relinquished control. Team ‘A’ captained by Udana, Udara Jayasundara. Strauss, who quit limited-overs cricket to Thilina Kandamby will play Team ‘C’ focus on the Test side, retains the Test leadership. against Team ‘C’ led by Jeevan Mendia (Captain), The ECB dropped veteran all-rounder Paul Jeevan Mendia at the SSC, Ashen Silva, Yohan de Silva, Collingwood as Twenty20 captain in favor of pace whilst Team ‘B’ captained Ramith Rambukwella, bowler Stuart Broad. by Malintha Warnapura Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo “It’s never been tried before so we’re quite will play their game against Perera, Chathura Peries, excited about the opportunity this provides us,” Team ‘D’ captained by Upul Gihan de team director Andy Flower said. “I don’t think Tharanga at P. Sara Oval. Silva(Wicketkeeper), any side has had three separate captains so it’s Team ‘A’ Malinda Pushpakumara, covering new ground. We do not know 100 per- Thilina Chaminda Vidanapathirana, cent if it will work or if it will be the most effec- Kandamby(Captain), Kanishka Elvitigala, Yasoda tive system but we will give it a try. Dimuth Karunaratne, Lanka, Lahiru Gamage. “This could be the most effective use of our Dilshan Munaweera, Team ‘D’ resources.” Sachithra Serasinghe, Upul Tharanga(Captain), Roshen Silva, Milinda Nadeera Nawala, Dhanushka Strauss said that the amount of cricket now Siriwardena, Sameera Gunathilake, Chamara played — with lengthy one-day series now cus- Soysa(Wicketkeeper), Kapugedera, Janaka tomary alongside Test matches and Twenty20 Sachithra Senanayake, Gunaratne, Denuwan increasingly popular — was one of the reasons Seekuge Prasanna, Omesh Rakjakaruna(Wicketkeeper), for the decision to pick multiple captains. Wijesiriwardena, Nilanka Malinga Bandara, Sohan “The thing I’m most excited about with the Premaratne, Ishan Boralassa, Dhammika structure is that it gives each captain the oppor- Jayaratne, Ashan Priyanjna. Prasad, Sanitha de Mel, tunity to come in and add their drive and verve,” Madura Lakmal, Romesh Strauss said. Buddika, Chinthaka Perera. Flower said there had been a formal inter- view process for players interested in the captain roles, with star batsman Kevin Pietersen among those passed over. Pietersen was stripped of the Test captaincy in 2009 over a fallout with then Three England cricket captains, Alastair Cook, left, becomes England’s one-day captain, while SAfrica’s cricket body coach Peter Moores. Stuart Broad, right, takes the Twenty20 role and Andrew Strauss remains Test skipper but retires “There was a rigorous interview process and from one-day internationals during a press conference at in the Long Room at Lords cricket ground we’re very comfortable with the decision we agrees to external audit London Thursday May 5, 2011. (AP) made,” Flower said. JOHANNESBURG (AP) Cricket South Africa said it Strauss averaged 47.71 at a strike rate of 93.55 win in Australia with 766 runs in seven innings, ly and as a top order batsman in one-day cricket.” — South Africa’s cricket had decided “to institute an in England’s seven matches at this year’s World Cook led England on tour in Bangladesh last year. England hosts three Tests against Sri Lanka body bowed to pressure on external investigation Cup, where England reached the quarterfinals But he was omitted from the one-day World Cup before Cook takes charge for the first of five one- Wednesday and agreed to including a forensic audit” despite embarrassing defeats to Ireland and squad largely because his one-day scoring rate of day internationals against the same opponent on allow external auditors to in response to allegations of Bangladesh. 71.38 and average of 33 were not perceived as June 28 at The Oval. examine its finances after missing money and of But Cook has long been discussed as a future being strong enough. India also plays five one-day matches in allegations that 68 million improper bonuses paid to its Test captain and now has the chance to gain expe- “I believe I can play an integral role with the September after a Test series. rand ($10 million) ear- chief executive and up to 40 rience before taking over the Test side from the bat as well as captain,” Cook said. “I’ve worked The 24-year-old Broad has only a single marked for the 2009 Indian staff members. 34-year-old Strauss. hard on my limited-overs cricket in recent times. Twenty20 match against each touring side this Premier League went miss- The troubled body also England’s key batsman in the recent Ashes I’ve never seen myself as a Test batsman exclu- summer. ing from its accounts. reinstated its president — sively and I know I have a lot to offer strategical- At an extraordinary who made the allegations — meeting of its board at a after a court ruled his sack- Davis Cup team Johannesburg airport hotel, ing was improper. to be named U-17 A Division Basketball 18 schools vie for honours before May 17 Eighteen schools will courts. compete for the Under 17 A Group A: St. Benedict’s BY REVATA S. SILVA Sri Lanka’s Davis Cup team for the Asia- Division title as the All- College, St. Sebastian’s Oceania Zone Group-III will be named before island Under 17 A division College- Moratuwa, Trinity May 17, Rohan de Silva, one of the members of Boys Basketball tournament College- Kandy, CIS- Kandy the national tennis selection committee, who kicks off today at four ven- Group B: D.S.Senanayake oversees training and trials, along with selection ues in the Island. College- Colombo, St. committee head Suresh Subramaniam, said on This year the tourna- Joseph’s College Colombo, Thursday (May 5). ment will be organized by St. Prince of Wales- Moratuwa, This year’s Davis Cup is to begin on June 13 Benedict’s College Kotahena. Lyceum International- at the SLTA, Colombo with the participation of It will be conducted by the Nugegoda eight nations. Sri Lanka Schools Group C: St. Thomas’ “At the moment, we are having a pool of five Basketball Association. The College- Mt. Lavinia, AIS - players consisting Rajeev Rajapakse, schools have been pooled Colombo, Azar Central- prospect for every- Thangarajah Dineshkanthan, Amresh into four divisions. Kandy, Royal College- body. Jayawickrema, Ashan Dep and Mohamed Group A and C matches Colombo, St. Anthony’s “We know we’re in the Shaakir. Artha Hewacottege and Nishangan will get underway today College- Wattala, group of death and Twenty20 Nadarajah lost in the initial trials. Harshana while Group B and D match- Group D: CIS- Colombo, can be a bit of a lottery, but all Godamanna, Vimuktha de Alwis and Oshada es will get under way tomor- St. Peter’s College- Colombo, you can do is give yourself a Wijemanne are to return from abroad to take row. The organizers expect Kegalle MV- Kegalle, St. chance. part in the trails soon. We’ve to name the final to conduct the finals on 11 Michael College- Batticaloa “We’ve got some big players four-member team before May 17,” said de Silva May at 4.30 p.m. at St. and Umar will give us an extra Benedict’s College basketball (MP) ingredient towards doing well. “You’ve always got a chance of winning, but it’s hoping that that extra bit of quality might Sri Lanka volleyball coaches receive training Sussex sign Pakistan make the difference in tight The VCP BVB Grassroots General Secretary of the follow this course with the aim of games.” Course, conducted by the Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation, popularizing the game island wide. Gul, who was part of the Volleyball Federation in collabora- Susil Ranasinghe along with officials The National Olympic Pakistan squad that reached tion with the FIVB, got underway on of Sri Lanka Volleyball attended the Committee of Sri Lanka and The paceman Umar Gul the World Cup semi-finals, has May 2 at Marawila. The course will opening ceremony of the course, last Ministry of Sports too have extended played 34 Test matches, 88 one- conclude today.The Course Director, Monday.Thirty male and two female their fullest cooperation towards the day internationals and 34 for this training programme is coaches representing the provinces Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation in Twenty20 internationals. Mohammad Benhaminda of Qatar. of the country have been selected to conducting the course. (MP) for Twenty20 The right-armer played a starring role as Pakistan won Sussex have recruited ball,” said professional cricket the World Twenty20 in England Pakistan pace bowler Umar manager Mark Robinson told in 2009. Gul for their Friends Life t20 BBC Sussex. “Coming to Sussex is a priv- South Africa vs. Australia series cut to 2 tests campaign. “Umar Gul is certainly that. ilege and the chance to follow JOHANNESBURG (AP) — lists the tour in October and It’s believed this year’s change is The 27-year-old ex- He’s widely known as one of in the footsteps of other Australia’s 2011 series in South Africa November as comprising of two tests, to ease a crowded schedule for players Gloucestershire player joins the best Twenty20 bowlers in Pakistani greats from Imran has been reduced to two tests instead two T20s and three one-day interna- because of the Indian Premier League international team-mate Rana the world.” Khan to Mushtaq Ahmed, and of three, but the teams will play each tionals.