The Island, Wednesday 28th June, 2006 Arnold to get another chance Rex Clementine reporting from Manchester that position,” Jayawardene said. went though a pretty hard time in India ones there. You need to take lot of risks Middle order batsman Russel Arnold Sri Lanka has already clinched the and against Pakistan. The Australian for the team’s sake at that stage and I has come in for intense criticism from series and today’s match at Old Trafford series was a mixed one. This to be honest have got a lot of 50s and 60s but not the the press for his inconsistent batting and gives them an opportunity to get a firm has been a very satisfying tour. Things big hundreds because you end up sacri- lacklustre fielding from the start of the grip in the series and aim for a clean like Power Plays and Super Subs took us ficing your wicket. It helps to go early One-Day Internationals against England sweep at Headingly. time to adjust to and now we have adjust- when Power Plays are on and if you get and although there have been calls to “Last time we played in Manchester he ed pretty well.” through the early period it gets easier to dump the veteran for the promising scored a hundred and a 40 for us in a Test Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando on his make big knocks,” Jayawardene said. Chamara Kapugedara, Sri Lanka captain Match that too opening the innings and comeback after poor form has done rea- Sangkkara, T.M. Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene backed the 33-year- more recently in Australia he con- sonably well bowling lively spells causing Pietersen and Collingwood doubtful Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, old insisting he should be a part of the tributed a lot. Surprisingly he was over- problems to batsmen and Jayawardene Middle order batsmen Kevin Pietersen Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga and side. looked for the Bangladesh matches and welcomed his return. and Paul Collingwood are doubtful for Dilhara Fernando. Arnold didn’t bat in the third ODI at ever since hasn’t been able to come up “What we wanted him was to work on today’s game due to injuries. Pietersen is England (from) Chester-le-Street but failed in the first with runs. You have to consider all these a few areas of his game. I think he want- nursing a knee injury while Collingwood Marcus Trescothcik, Andrew Strauss, two matches in London and has been things that have gone against him,” the ed that time off physically and mentally sustained a thigh strain at Chester-le- Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul hopeless in the field, but captain captain added. and that gave him time to think about the Street. Collingwood Jamie Dalrymple, Geraint Jayawardene maintained that Sri Lanka Jayawardene also said that Sri Lanka game. We all have gone through that and Sri Lanka (Probable XI) Jones Alex Louden, Liam Plunkett, Sajid will persist with the left-hander despite will not make any changes to the side that the best thing is to get out of the hectic Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahmood, Steve Harmison, Kabir Ali him going through a lean patch. won the third ODI. “Obviously our aim is schedule and come back strong.” Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Kumar and Alistair Cook. “Russel hasn’t got a decent enough to finish it 5-0, but first things first. We Jayawardene was also thrilled that he game under his belt. In the two games in want to win this match first and then will was able to score his first hundred in five London he had to go there and fire for us. see how things are by the time we get to years in one-day cricket and admitted I have done the same for the team going Headingly. We are focusing on this game that the fact that he has moved up the A problem for the Sri Lankans? there and sacrificing the wicket and and trying to be not complacent,” order certainly helped. “The reason was Russel needs all the backing necessary. Jayawardene said. that I was batting at four or five and by Mahinda Wijesinghe the saddle for seven years and was a hero not too We still feel that he is the right person at “Winning is good especially as we there’s hardly any opportunity to get big Three successive losses inflicted by Sri Lanka, long ago after England’s grand performances last the third being the most decisive, on England in the summer in the Ashes series. But, to be humiliated by current NatWest series have left their hopes at the the Sri Lankans is what broke the camel’s back. World Cup 2007 in tatters and their cricketing ego Indeed, in retrospect, it was most amusing to recall bruised. the comments, before the third ODI, made by Nasser Injuries to some of their key players have been Hussain and Ian Botham when answering questions a material factor for their current predicament, but put by David Gower. Hussain was quite confident that international teams must have a bench-strength to conditions favoured the home side while the ever- tide over such situations, and is a lesson to be learnt patriotic Botham predicted an England score of “250- for Sri Lanka too. In fact, England’s injury concerns 260” should be sufficient to roll over the tourists. To are not still over. As cover for Kevin Pietersen (knee Botham’s credit, England did get that score, only, the injury) and Paul Collingwood (strained thigh), Sri Lankans reached it with 8 wickets in hand and a Worcestershire’s Vikram Solanki has been invited to little matter of 6 overs and more to spare! join the England squad at Old Trafford before the With the series decided should the Sri Lankans fourth ODI starting today. experiment with youngsters or go for a whitewash? Originally, England established a reputation as Both options are available. What will it be? Cultivating the proverbial bridesmaid – but never the bride – in the winning habit is very important and recording a the World Cup competition, reaching the semi-final clean slate of 5-0 would be very tempting, though, at stage twice (1975 & 1983) and the final thrice (1979, the same time the importance of blooding youngsters 1987 & 1992) but since then it has been a downward too is not be ignored. Sri Lankans, led by Mahela slide. Forget about being a bridesmaid it seems that Jayawardena whose unbeaten hundred at Chester- England now would find themselves lucky to cadge le-Street brought back memories of another stylist at an invitation for the wedding party! The critics are his best, namely, Roy Dias, along with coach Tom now looking for scapegoats. They range from selec- Moody and the senior players, sure have to put their tors to the coach, Duncan Fletcher, who has been in thinking caps on. Crisis in Mohan coming Gampaha DCA from SSC With just 17 days to go for the much The newly elected Gampaha District anticipated Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elec- Cricket Association, which gathered at tions, the Singhalese Sports Club, a Special General Meeting, last Colombo, has nominated Mohan de Silva Saturday (24) under President for the post of SLC Presidency. Prasanna Ranatunga, has lodged an De Silva’s name has been unanimous- entry with the Peliyagoda Police ly approved by the SSC Ex-CO. De Silva, Station against its previous committee who is believed to be a nominee from the for allegedly not returning the famous Thilanga Sumathipala faction, Association assets. was a one time President of the SLC. Present Gampaha DCA Secretary told “The Island” yesterday that they had lodged the entry on Monday (26) against the previous committee, head- Brazil puts an end ed by Lucian Merinnage who is former member of Sri Lanka Cricket, for not to African safari returning the association assets of DORTMUND, Germany (AP) - Ronaldo scored his over Rs.7m. record 15th World Cup goal Tuesday, and Adriano and He further added there was over Ze Roberto added two more to give Brazil a 3-0 win Rs.20m shortage in accounts forwarded over Ghana and a spot in the quarterfinals. by the former committee. Our efforts to Ronaldo became the tournament’s all-time leading contact Merinnage failed yesterday. scorer in the fifth minute when he scored after a bril- liant step-over that beat a defender and then the goal- keeper. The striker broke the offside trap near midfield after a perfectly timed pass from midfielder Kaka. Brazil, which will face either France or Spain in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Frankfurt, is in the last eight for the fourth straight time. It won the title last time. Adriano added to Brazil’s lead in a breakaway in first-half injury time, using his left thigh to complete a right-flank cross from captain Cafu. Defender Lucio started the play at midfield, giving the ball to Kaka, who then found Cafu on the right side. Replays showed Adriano appeared to be offside when he touched the ball into the net. Fans heavily booed when the big screen at the stadium showed the replay. Results (26/6) Jun 30 Italy 1-0 Germany vs Australia (0:0) Argentina 8:30 p.m Ukraine 3-0 Switzerland Italy vs (on penalties) Ukraine 12:30 Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Wednesday 28th June, 2006.