India's status as the number one one-day team proved shortlived after the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side slumped to a 139-run defeat against Sri Lanka in an inconsequential match of Compaq Cup tri-nation cricket series here on Saturday.
Although India were already assured of a place in Monday's final of the tri-nation series after their big win over New Zealand on Friday, Dhoni and his men needed an unbeaten run in the tournament to maintain their number one ODI team status.
However, Sanath Jayasuriya and Thilina Kandambi combined with the bat and then Angelo Mathews ignited fire with the ball to take the hosts to the convincing victory. Chasing a formidable 308 for victory India were bowled out for a paltry 168 in 37.2 overs as only six batsmen could manage to reach double figures.
Earlier, opting to bat Sri Lanka rode on Jayasuriya's blistering 98 off 79 balls and Kandambi's unbeaten 91 down the order to score 307 for six in their alloted 50 overs.
Needing 308 for win, India's makeshift opening duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik (16 off 23) started the innings on a positive note adding 32 runs in the first six overs before Sri Lanka pulled back with the wicket of Karthik.
Trying to glide a leg side delivery to the fine-leg boundary, the Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper gloved a simple catch to Kumar Sangakkara off left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara's bowling in the sixth over.
From there on both Tendulkar and new man in Rahul Dravid found going tough although the the master blaster managed to find the fence in between.
Tendulkar hit some elegant flicks and glances to score his boundaries before Nuwan Kulasekara got the vital wicket in the 14th over with India scoreboard reading 67. He struck five fours in his short but classy 33-ball 27-run innings.
Vice captain Yuvraj Singh made his arrival in style, clobbering Kulasekara for four over mid-on in the very second ball he faced but thereafter went to a shell as he played and missed Lasith Malinga on several occasions.
Boundaries were far and few as Dravid and Yuvraj kept the scoreboard ticking with ones and twos before the right-hander cut loose in the 19th over, hitting a four and a six of Dilshan's consecutive deliveries to pick 13 runs off the over. But Malinga broke the dangerously-looking 38-run fourth wicket stand as Yuvraj edged one to Sangakkara.
After that the famed Indian batting line up crumbled like a pack of card as they lost five wickets for mere 25 runs as Angelo Mathews wreaked havoc, picking three six wickets for mere 20 runs in his six overs.
Suresh Raina's misery with the bat continued as he made a duck. He gave a catching practice to Sangakkara in the very first ball he faced off Mathews.
Dravid was the next to follow, bowled by Mathews as the right-hander went for an extravagant drive.
In his next over and innings 28th, Mathews struck twice, first castling skipper Dhoni's stumps and then Yusuf Pathan handed a regulation catch to Sangakkara, thereby dashing India's hopes with the scoreboard reading 130 for seven. Mathews' rampage continued unabated as he disturbed both Harbhajan Singh and Asish Nehra's timbers.
The duo of RP Singh (19 not out)and Ishant Sharma (13) did make a last ditch effort to take India's score to some respectability by adding 29 runs before Ajantha Mendis wrapped up the proceedings.
Earlier, Jayasuriya returned to form with a blistering fashion. The 40-year-old left-hander, who had failed to score a half-century in his last eight previous outings, smashed 13 boundaries in his innings.
However, after the good start Sri Lanka were struggling at 176 for five at one stage but Kandambi and Chamara Kapugedara (36) rattled up 83 runs for the sixth wicket to pour water on India's hopes.
The duo batted sensibly dealing mostly on singles with occasional fours and saved their last for the final power-play.
A direct hit by RP Singh separated the pair at the fag end but Kandambi batted with vigour and punished all the Indian bowlers with utter disdain.
His 91 came off just 73 balls which included 11 shots to the fence as the last four overs yielded 46 runs. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with Dilshan (23) and Jayasuriya relishing batting on a good track.
Dilshan hit a flashy square cut to fence off Nehra in the first ball of the match and then sent an exquisite straight drive to boundary ropes, to start the proceedings in a brilliant fashion.
With Both Nehra and RP Singh not making any impact, Dhoni brought gangling pacer Ishant into the attack as early as in the fifth over of the innings.
The lanky bowler soon produced result, dismissing Dilshan, who played a casual drive to give an easy catch to Dhoni behind the wicket.
Jayasuriya was unperturbed and severely punished RP Singh, fetching 15 runs from his over, en route to his half-century, which came off just 45 balls.
The hosts were cruising comfortably but some exceptional glove work by Dhoni resulted in the fall of Mahela Jayawardene (17) off Yousuf Pathan and then Harbhajan Singh trapped Kumar Sangakkara (5) to make it 102 for three.
Jayasuriya continued with his aggressive batting as he hit Yuvraj Singh for successive boundaries. He survived a run out chance and together with Angelo Mathews (19) put up 70 runs for the fourth wicket before his heartbreaking dismissal. Mathews too joined him soon when he gave charge to Raina, got foxed by the spin and Dhoni stumped him.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Nehra bowls India into Tri-series finals
India left-armers Ashish Nehra and Yuvraj Singh shared six wickets on Friday to take their team to a six wicket win over New Zealand and a place in the Tri-series final against hosts Sri Lanka.
After dismissing New Zealand for 155 from 46.3 overs, India reached their target in the 41st over.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 not out) and Suresh Raina (45 not out) shared an unbroken 72-run stand for the fifth wicket after they had lost their first four wickets for 84. Sachin Tendulkar contributed 46 off 55 balls.
New Zealand, who won the toss, failed to find any momentum.
Man-of-the-match Nehra trapped openers Jessie Ryder and Brendon McCullum lbw off successive overs with McCullum's dismissal giving him his 100th wicket in one-day internationals.
After the initial damage had been done by Nehra, the left-arm spin of Yuvraj crippled the New Zealand middle order. Yuvraj ended with figures of three for 31 and Nehra with three for 24.
India will play Sri Lanka in their second match on Saturday in what will be a dress rehearsal for Monday's final.
After dismissing New Zealand for 155 from 46.3 overs, India reached their target in the 41st over.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 not out) and Suresh Raina (45 not out) shared an unbroken 72-run stand for the fifth wicket after they had lost their first four wickets for 84. Sachin Tendulkar contributed 46 off 55 balls.
New Zealand, who won the toss, failed to find any momentum.
Man-of-the-match Nehra trapped openers Jessie Ryder and Brendon McCullum lbw off successive overs with McCullum's dismissal giving him his 100th wicket in one-day internationals.
After the initial damage had been done by Nehra, the left-arm spin of Yuvraj crippled the New Zealand middle order. Yuvraj ended with figures of three for 31 and Nehra with three for 24.
India will play Sri Lanka in their second match on Saturday in what will be a dress rehearsal for Monday's final.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
ICC announces schedule of warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC has announced the schedule of warm-up matches to be played in the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy to be staged at The Wanderers and Centurion from 22 September to 5 October.
The matches will be played on 18 and 20 September in Potchefstroom, Benoni and Pretoria. In line with previous ICC events none of these matches will carry official ODI status.
On 18 September, South Africa takes on the West Indies in Potchefstroom and Pakistan faces South Asian rival Sri Lanka at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. Both the matches will be day/night fixtures and will start at 1430 (SA time).
In the other match of the day, which will start at 0930 (SA time), New Zealand plays the Warriors (Eastern Cape franchise team of Cricket South Africa) at LC de Villiers Oval, University of Pretoria.
On 20 September, India plays New Zealand in Potchefstroom and Pakistan takes on the Warriors at Willowmoore Park in two day/night fixtures while Sri Lanka meets the West Indies in a day game at LC de Villiers Oval.
The matches will be played on 18 and 20 September in Potchefstroom, Benoni and Pretoria. In line with previous ICC events none of these matches will carry official ODI status.
On 18 September, South Africa takes on the West Indies in Potchefstroom and Pakistan faces South Asian rival Sri Lanka at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. Both the matches will be day/night fixtures and will start at 1430 (SA time).
In the other match of the day, which will start at 0930 (SA time), New Zealand plays the Warriors (Eastern Cape franchise team of Cricket South Africa) at LC de Villiers Oval, University of Pretoria.
On 20 September, India plays New Zealand in Potchefstroom and Pakistan takes on the Warriors at Willowmoore Park in two day/night fixtures while Sri Lanka meets the West Indies in a day game at LC de Villiers Oval.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sangakkara praises combined effort of teammates
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara showered encomiums on his teammates after they scored a comprehensive 97-run win over New Zealand in the first ODI of the Compaq Cup tri-series here today.
Hosts Sri Lanka put up a brilliant all round show as they folded Kiwis innings for just 119 after putting up 216 on the board.
Thilan Samaraweera (104) and Anjello Mathews (51) starred with bat while Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara did well with the ball.
"When you lose three wickets in the first six seven overs it is always difficult but it was magnificent recovery specially by Samaraweera, who clawed his way back to the one-day side.
"It shows how good he is and what a solid batsman can do when chips are down," he said after the match.
"And Mathews along with Samaraweera showed a huge amount of character and then fast bowlers and spinners did everything right," he added.
Sangakkara also praised his pace trio.
"Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga have now taken over the responsibility of putting in match winning performances day in and day out.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New Zealand beaten fair and square by Sri Lanka
When restricted to 216, it seemed a tight contest on the cards for Sri Lanka, but instead it proved too much for the Black Caps. New Zealand were all out for 119, thus by giving the home side a huge victory in the inaugural match of the Compaq Cup in the R Premadasa Stadium.
Thilan Samaraweera was the batting mainstay of the Sri Lankan innings, surpassing his highest ever score in ODIs, in the way posting his first ever hundred which enabled a big way in ensuring the victory of his country. Lasith Malinga later followed it up with a superlative bowling performance which saw 3 wickets fall in a single over that too of important batsmen.
In-form Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram then Nathan McCullum all fell in the 19th over bowled by the slinging action bowler and from there onwards, it was downhill for the visiting side.
Such was the magnitude of Sri Lanka's victory, that in a tri-series like this, they have incurred the all too important bonus point also. But the early stages of the match, did not give any indication of all the happenings in the evening.
When Sri Lanka were restricted to 216, it seemed a tight contest was on the cards, sending the smattering of spectators home early. Sri Lanka's innings had been resurrected from 69 for 5 by Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews, but New Zealand never recovered after Sri Lanka's fast bowlers sliced through the order.
Within 29 balls, Jesse Ryder (0), Martin Guptill (3) and Ross Taylor (2) were left brooding in the dressing room. New Zealand's shot at victory had been squashed and any self-belief that lingered after the Tests now vanished.
Malinga was a revelation with the ball when your top order has been blown away, and what followed was stunning. With his first three overs, comprising deliveries on all sorts of lengths, Malinga kept the batsmen tied down. The fourth was something out of a shooting gallery. Brendon McCullum had run the risk of being arrested for loitering as he squeezed 14 from 51 balls before Malinga rattled his stumps. Two deliveries later Malinga held back his length and drew an edge off Jacob Oram's bat to Kumar Sangakkara. With his next ball, Malinga hurled down a corker that went right through debutant Nathan McCullum.
At 41 for 6 in the 19th over, this game was as good as done. The only batsmen to cross 14 were Grant Elliott, with a brave 41, and Ian Butler, whose efforts lessened the margin of defeat. Completing the rout with another yorker was Malinga, whose aggressive bowling had undoubtedly been fuelled by Samaraweera's inspirational batting.
Samaraweera, whose highest ODI score coming into this match was 38 not out, teamed up with Mathews and averted a meek surrender with a 127-run association from 134 balls. The pair combined exceptional running between the wickets with some fireworks to help Sri Lanka reach a total that looked remote when they began.
Conventional wisdom and statistics at the Premadasa suggest strongly you bat first in day-night matches, and when Sangakkara won the toss it was greeted with loud cheers as the crowd anticipated a quick start. But this was an unusual two-paced track that didn't encourage for blazing shots and Sri Lanka slipped to 22 for 3.
There were only two boundaries by the half-way mark - both inside the first three overs - and a run rate of 2.72 indicated how much Sri Lanka had struggled. Almost immediately, Samaraweera and Mathews began to build some momentum, unfazed by the nature of the track and energetically hunting for scoring possibilities. A boundaryless streak, lasting 143 deliveries, was soon snapped.
Vettori has a tough match ahead of him against India, who are keen to wrist the No. 1 spot in One-Dayers. The only hope seems to be look forward to a new pitch.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Team India looks to break finals jinx in Lanka
Having led India to many great victories since donning the captain's mantle, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has another chance to ink his name in the record books when the team begins the new season with the tri-series in Sri Lanka.
India have the opportunity to clinch their first final in a multi-nation event in almost 11 years in the island nation when they take on the hosts and New Zealand in the ODI event at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo from September 9-14.
India had last won the final of a major one-day event on Lankan soil in 1998 and then shared the rain-marred ICC Champions Trophy with the hosts in 2002.
The team rode on twin centuries from openers Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly, now retired, to defeat the home side, led by another ex-player Arjuna Ranatunga and clinch the Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy eleven years ago. Incidentally that tri-series also featured New Zealand.
Since then India have participated in five multi-national tournaments (excluding the abandoned Unitech Cup in 2006) but have failed to break the summit clash jinx.
They have finished on the losing side to the hosts on all other occassions.
Since winning the triangular event in 1998, India have taken part in 12 multinational ODI tournaments, barring the abandoned Unitech Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006, in the Indian sub-continent. But their record in these finals has hardly been impressive.
The team emerged joint winners in two tournaments -ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 and the 2003 TVS Cup in Bangladesh - by sharing the top prize with Lanka and South Africa respectively.
On seven occasions, India have finished second-best, while crashing out of the tournament thrice in the league stage itself.
However, Dhoni's team has gradually gained a reputation of not being bogged down by history and past baggage, as is expected from a team that hit a purple patch with five consecutive bilateral ODI series truimphs.
What will boost the squad's morale further is that three of these five recent series triumphs have come against the two opponents it will face in the tri series.
India have not only defeated Sri Lanka in their own backyard twice in the past two years, but also humiliated the Kiwis in New Zealand earlier this year.
A win in the tri-series will not only add another feather to Dhoni's cap, but may also act as a balm for the cricket-mad fans who have not forgiven the team for its below-par display in the T20 World Cup in England in June.
India have the opportunity to clinch their first final in a multi-nation event in almost 11 years in the island nation when they take on the hosts and New Zealand in the ODI event at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo from September 9-14.
India had last won the final of a major one-day event on Lankan soil in 1998 and then shared the rain-marred ICC Champions Trophy with the hosts in 2002.
The team rode on twin centuries from openers Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly, now retired, to defeat the home side, led by another ex-player Arjuna Ranatunga and clinch the Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy eleven years ago. Incidentally that tri-series also featured New Zealand.
Since then India have participated in five multi-national tournaments (excluding the abandoned Unitech Cup in 2006) but have failed to break the summit clash jinx.
They have finished on the losing side to the hosts on all other occassions.
Since winning the triangular event in 1998, India have taken part in 12 multinational ODI tournaments, barring the abandoned Unitech Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006, in the Indian sub-continent. But their record in these finals has hardly been impressive.
The team emerged joint winners in two tournaments -ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 and the 2003 TVS Cup in Bangladesh - by sharing the top prize with Lanka and South Africa respectively.
On seven occasions, India have finished second-best, while crashing out of the tournament thrice in the league stage itself.
However, Dhoni's team has gradually gained a reputation of not being bogged down by history and past baggage, as is expected from a team that hit a purple patch with five consecutive bilateral ODI series truimphs.
What will boost the squad's morale further is that three of these five recent series triumphs have come against the two opponents it will face in the tri series.
India have not only defeated Sri Lanka in their own backyard twice in the past two years, but also humiliated the Kiwis in New Zealand earlier this year.
A win in the tri-series will not only add another feather to Dhoni's cap, but may also act as a balm for the cricket-mad fans who have not forgiven the team for its below-par display in the T20 World Cup in England in June.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Eden may get India-Lanka Test this November
For cricket-starved sports fans in Kolkata who are dying to catch some action at the hallowed Eden Gardens, there's finally some good news.
Come November, Eden may get to host an India versus Sri Lanka Test match. The Sri Lankans will be touring India for three Test matches and five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in November, and the BCCI is apparently mulling over allotting a Test match to Eden Gardens.
The last time Kolkata hosted an international cricket match was way back in 2007 November-end, when India and Pakistan played out a tame draw in which city icon Sourav Ganguly stood out with his maiden Test century at his home ground.
Ever since that match, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has somehow been off the radar for the BCCI when it came to international fixtures.
However, after CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya admittedly sent out repeated requests to the Board to allot an international tie at Eden, the BCCI seems to have finally thinking over handing out one of the India-lanka Test matches to Kolkata.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Tuesday, a senior CAB functionary said: "If things go according to our wishes, then we may get to host a Test match this November. It's been a very long time since Eden hosted an international match. People in Kolkata have nearly forgotten the last time they sat through an international match here."
Problems with Eden missing out on international fixtures began way back in early 2007 when the previous CAB administration misread the loopholes in the Board's renewed rotation policy and agreed to be featured at the bottom of the new priority list of venues.
The new rotation policy that was drawn up just a week or so after an India-Sri Lanka one-dayer at Eden Gardens was washed out.
The new system placed Eden right at the bottom at No 22, as a result of which the CAB has been made to wait for over one-and-a-half years now for the next big tie.
In between, the CAB hosted just the one India-Pakistan Test match in November 2007.
Come November, Eden may get to host an India versus Sri Lanka Test match. The Sri Lankans will be touring India for three Test matches and five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in November, and the BCCI is apparently mulling over allotting a Test match to Eden Gardens.
The last time Kolkata hosted an international cricket match was way back in 2007 November-end, when India and Pakistan played out a tame draw in which city icon Sourav Ganguly stood out with his maiden Test century at his home ground.
Ever since that match, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has somehow been off the radar for the BCCI when it came to international fixtures.
However, after CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya admittedly sent out repeated requests to the Board to allot an international tie at Eden, the BCCI seems to have finally thinking over handing out one of the India-lanka Test matches to Kolkata.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Tuesday, a senior CAB functionary said: "If things go according to our wishes, then we may get to host a Test match this November. It's been a very long time since Eden hosted an international match. People in Kolkata have nearly forgotten the last time they sat through an international match here."
Problems with Eden missing out on international fixtures began way back in early 2007 when the previous CAB administration misread the loopholes in the Board's renewed rotation policy and agreed to be featured at the bottom of the new priority list of venues.
The new rotation policy that was drawn up just a week or so after an India-Sri Lanka one-dayer at Eden Gardens was washed out.
The new system placed Eden right at the bottom at No 22, as a result of which the CAB has been made to wait for over one-and-a-half years now for the next big tie.
In between, the CAB hosted just the one India-Pakistan Test match in November 2007.
New Zealand clinch Twenty20 series win over Sri Lanka
New Zealand won the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka by 22 runs to clinch a 2-0 series victory on Friday.
New Zealand followed their thrilling three-run victory on Wednesday night with an impressive all-round display, following the disappointment of a 2-0 test series defeat.
The tourists won the toss and piled on 170 with Jess Ryder scoring a 37-ball 52 that included three huge sixes. Brendon McCullum scored 49 from 34 balls.
Sri Lanka's bowlers, with the exception of spinners Ajantha Mendis (1-21) and Sanath Jayasuriya (2-22), were punished as Ryder and McCullum gave New Zealand a winning platform with an 84-run opening stand.
Sri Lanka made a poor start to their run chase, collapsing to 11 for 3 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (one), Mahela Udawatte (nought) and Jayasuriya (seven) all going early.
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara repaired some of the damage with a 67-run partnership.
Jayawardene stroked 41 from 30 balls, with five fours and a six, and Sangakkara cracked a career-best 69 from 50 balls with seven boundaries.
However, the hosts were always behind the run rate as New Zealand bowled tightly and fielded brilliantly throughout the innings.
New Zealand followed their thrilling three-run victory on Wednesday night with an impressive all-round display, following the disappointment of a 2-0 test series defeat.
The tourists won the toss and piled on 170 with Jess Ryder scoring a 37-ball 52 that included three huge sixes. Brendon McCullum scored 49 from 34 balls.
Sri Lanka's bowlers, with the exception of spinners Ajantha Mendis (1-21) and Sanath Jayasuriya (2-22), were punished as Ryder and McCullum gave New Zealand a winning platform with an 84-run opening stand.
Sri Lanka made a poor start to their run chase, collapsing to 11 for 3 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (one), Mahela Udawatte (nought) and Jayasuriya (seven) all going early.
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara repaired some of the damage with a 67-run partnership.
Jayawardene stroked 41 from 30 balls, with five fours and a six, and Sangakkara cracked a career-best 69 from 50 balls with seven boundaries.
However, the hosts were always behind the run rate as New Zealand bowled tightly and fielded brilliantly throughout the innings.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Black Caps saunter to victory
Shane Bond claimed three wickets as New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 22 runs in the second and final Twenty20 international in Colombo.
Jesse Ryder clobbered 52 off just 37 deliveries and Brendon McCullum made 49 off 34, the two putting on 84 for the opening wicket in quick time as the visitors piled on a formidable 170 for four after Daniel Vettori won a good toss.
Mahela Jayawardene then made 41 and Kumar Sangakkara struck a valiant 69, but the home side managed only 148 for eight as New Zealand finished with a clean sweep in the two-match series.
Sri Lanka, chasing a daunting total, were left in disarray when Kyle Mills claimed the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya (seven) and one-drop batsman Mahela Udawatte in successive overs after Bond had scalped the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan (one) in his first over with the new ball.
Bond exacted revenge for the mauling he had received at the hands of Dilshan in the previous game, getting the batsman to pull one straight to Martin Guptill at deep square leg in the first over.
Udawatte, who came in at the expense of Chamara Kapugedera, fell for a first-ball duck when he steered Mills straight to Neil Broom at point and Jayasuriya was snared by Mills to leave Sri Lanka 11 for three.
Jayawardene and Sangakkara were left with the task of rebuilding and the two began in earnest.
Mills had conceded just seven from his first two overs, but Jayawardene ruined his figures by smacking him for three boundaries in his third over.
The two shared a stand of 67 for the fourth wicket and Jayawardene was fast closing in on a half-century when off-spinner Nathan McCullum induced a leading edge which was neatly grasped by Ryder at backward point.
Angelo Mathews (one) was Nathan McCullum's second victim in as many overs, but Sangakkara had forged on in the company of the inexperienced Gihan Rupasinghe (18) - the two putting on 49 for the sixth wicket.
Sri Lanka were left needing 61 from the last five overs and later 44 from the last three when Rupasinghe holed out to Vettori at cover.
Sangakkara's valiant innings ended in the 19th over, Jacob Oram securing a caught and bowled dismissal to signal the end of Sri Lanka's resistance.
The hosts needed 28 from the last over, but instead Bond claimed his third wicket and conceded only five to present the Black Caps with victory.
Earlier, Ryder and Brendon McCullum had given New Zealand a flying start, putting on 84 runs for the first wicket in just over 10 overs.
McCullum had generated early momentum, smashing Lasith Malinga out of the attack by hammering him for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries in an over which yielded 19.
Ryder began with a mistimed drive which fell safely just beyond cover, but later picked off boundaries at will as New Zealand amassed 49 from the powerplay.
Sangakkara pressed Ajantha Mendis and Jayasuriya into the attack and the two stemmed the run-flow somewhat, but the other bowlers struggled to contain the Black Cap batsmen.
Much against the run of play, McCullum was dismissed just one short of a deserved half-century, the opener presenting Jayasuriya with a simple return catch as he attempted to turn one onto the on side.
Ryder, however, continued to take heavy toll, smacking Malinga Bandara for a six in the first over from the leg-spinner, while he hammered Dilshan for two sixes and a boundary, bringing up his half-century off just 34 deliveries in the process.
Mendis eventually removed Ryder, while Jayasuriya won a leg-before appeal against Taylor - top scorer in the first match - to send the middle-order batsman back for just 16.
Guptill (32) and Oram (17 not out), however, batted intelligently, steering the visitors past the 150-mark with a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Guptill was bowled off the last ball of the innings by Malinga, his wicket providing the fast bowler some consolation.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
ICC World Twenty20 2010 Team group
| GroupA - Pakistan / Australia / Bangladesh Group B - Sri Lanka / New Zealand / Zimbabwe Group C - South Africa / India / Qualifier 1 Group D - West Indies / England /Qualifier 2 | ||||
Compaq Cup 2009 | Sri Lanka Tri Series Schedule
| Date and Time | Match |
|---|---|
| Tue Sep 8 14:30 local | 09:00 GMT 10:00 BST | 1st Match – Sri Lanka v New Zealand R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Fri Sep 11 14:30 local | 09:00 GMT 10:00 BST | 2nd Match – India v New Zealand R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Sat Sep 12 14:30 local | 09:00 GMT 10:00 BST | 3rd Match – Sri Lanka v India R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Mon Sep 14 14:30 local | 09:00 GMT 10:00 BST | Final – TBC v TBC R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
LG ICC Awards
As part of the ICC's celebration of the game's heroes and role models, it stages the annual LG ICC Awards ceremony to recognise the major individual and team achievements in world cricket.
The ceremony features eleven awards that over the years have honoured some of the biggest names in men's and women's international cricket.
The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its sixth year and in 2009 will take place in Johannesburg around the ICC Champions Trophy. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007) and Dubai (2008).
This year's LG ICC Awards includes eight individual prizes, including the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year. The winners of seven of these individual awards will be voted upon by a 25-person panel from around the world, made up of renowned former players, respected members of the media, and an elite umpire and elite match referee.
Meanwhile, the nominations for the Women's Cricketer of the Year Award will be voted on by a separate 16-person voting academy featuring former players and other experts on the women's game.
The other three awards are the ICC Test Team of the Year, the ICC ODI Team of the Year and the Spirit of Cricket Award.
Based on the 12 months between August 2008 and August 2009, the LG ICC Awards 2009 - presented in association with FICA - will take into account performances by players and officials in a remarkable period for the game.
The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in association with FICA was introduced as part of the ICC centenary celebrations at the start of 2009. This Hall of Fame was launched with 55 founding members and the first new inductees will be announced and receive commemorative caps at the LG ICC Awards ceremony.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Kiwis claim unlikely T20 win in Colombo
Jacob Oram claimed three wickets as New Zealand overcame a destructive half-century from Tillakaratne Dilshan to secure a thrilling three-run victory in the first Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Ross Taylor hit a fine 60 off 45 deliveries as New Zealand finished with 141 for eight batting first, but Dilshan's blistering 57 off just 28 deliveries had threatened to make short work of that total.
But the Black Caps fought back in style to restrict the home side to 138 for nine and secure a narrow victory in the first of two Twenty20 games.
Dilshan began in his customary aggressive fashion, smacking Shane Bond - playing his first international match since his return from a stint in the Indian Cricket League - for four consecutive boundaries in the first over with the new ball.
The opener continued to flourish even as wickets went down in a heap at the other end.
Sanath Jayasuriya (one) went cheaply, caught at short fine leg off Kyle Mills, while Mahela Jayawardene was brilliantly run out by Jesse Ryder for just three.
Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed by Daniel Vettori for 13 as Sri Lanka lost wickets in quick succession, but Dilshan kept the required run-rate from soaring.
He carted Mills for two sixes in the bowler's second over and smashed Ian Butler for consecutive blows to raise Sri Lanka's 50 inside the first five overs.
Dilshan brought up his own half-century off just 23 deliveries with a single off Vettori, but fell soon after, chasing a delivery from Butler and presenting Ryder with a catch at backward point.
Chamara Kapugedera's dismissal almost immediately after left Sri Lanka reeling at 85 for five and brought New Zealand back into contention.
Angelo Mathews (21) and debutant Gihan Rupasinghe (15) steadied the innings somewhat and steered Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark when Vettori won a leg before appeal against Rupasinghe.
Mathews was then caught and bowled by Jacob Oram, setting the stage for a tight finish.
Sri Lanka needed 13 from the last two overs, but Bond conceded only four in the 19th and Oram claimed two wickets off successive deliveries in the 20th to secure victory for New Zealand.
Earlier, Taylor held New Zealand's innings top order together after Nuwan Kulasekara sent back openers Brendon McCullum and Ryder inside the first five overs.
McCullum, looking to flay the bowling right from the first delivery he faced, hit Malinga for a six over the point boundary but was dismissed for just nine.
Kulasekara deflected a drive from Ryder onto the stumps at the non-striker's end and caught McCullum backing way out of his crease.
Ryder, who had driven Kulasekara and Malinga for boundaries, then fell to a slower delivery from the fast bowler for just 13.
Ryder mistimed his drive, the ball going straight up in the air and Bandara completed the dismissal with a superb catch running back from cover.
Taylor, together with Martin Guptill, began the task of rebuilding quickly, hammering Mathews for consecutive blows in the sixth over, but the Black Caps managed only a measly 38 runs from the powerplay.
Jayasuriya should have had the wicket of Guptill in his first over, but Mathews grassed a catch in the deep with the batsman on 18.
Guptill, however, added only 11 more when he fell, sweeping Bandara straight to Kulasekara at deep square leg.
Taylor reached his third Twenty20 international half-century with a tight brace off Ajantha Mendis, but fell in the 18th, caught at third man.
The wickets then tumbled quickly and Malinga provided more thrills by dismissing Mills and Vettori off successive deliveries in the final over.
Butler denied him a hat-trick, but the Black Caps ended with a total which was just par for the course.
Dhoni and Dilshan nominated in three categories at LG ICC Awards 2009
Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India and Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan have both been nominated in three different categories at the LG ICC Awards 2009.
The two men feature in the long-lists for the Awards, which will take place at a glittering ceremony in Johannesburg on 1 October. In addition, there are 18 players who are nominated in two distinct categories.
All appear among the long-lists of nominations for prizes at the sixth annual LG ICC Awards, presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA). The long-lists were announced at a function in Mumbai today hosted by former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri and attended by current India opener Virender Sehwag – who himself is one of the players nominated for the ODI Player of the Year award – and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
This year's LG ICC Awards includes eight individual prizes and also features the selection of the Test and ODI Teams of the Year and the award to the side that has adhered most to the Spirit of Cricket.
"The LG ICC Awards are an opportunity for the ICC and FICA to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable performances of the world's top players," said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
"It is also a chance for followers of our great sport to reflect on some of the great cricketing feats they have witnessed over the past year. This will be the sixth time the awards have been handed out and yet again there are so many great performances to recall. Selecting the winners will no doubt test our selectors and voting academy," he said.
The long-lists of nominations were made by a five-man ICC selection panel chaired by former West Indies captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Clive Lloyd. The panel also includes former players such as India's Anil Kumble, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, Bob Taylor of England and New Zealand's Stephen Fleming.
The individual player awards will be selected by an academy of 25 highly credentialed cricket personalities from around the world. The academy includes a host of former players and respected members of the media, representatives of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and ICC Match Referees.
The nominations from the Women's Cricketer of the Year were decided after a committee of former players, current administrators and journalists created a long-list. The award will then be voted for by a separate 25-person voting academy.
The Spirit of Cricket Award was voted on by all international captains as well as all members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. The Umpire of the Year Award was voted on by the captains and the match referees based on the umpires' performance statistics.
Dilshan is yet to win an ICC Award but he has a good chance this year as he is named among the nominees for the ICC Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year.
Dhoni is a previous winner at the LG ICC Awards having been named as the ODI Player of the Year in 2008. He was also named in the 2008 ODI Team of the Year. This year he has been nominated in the Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year categories.
The Emerging Player of the Year nominees include Australia's new finds Philip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle as well as the New Zealand duo of Martin Guptill and Jesse Ryder. India is represented in that category through leg-spinner Amit Mishra while there is also a place for Kemar Roach of the West Indies and England seamer Graham Onions.
To qualify for that award a player must be under the age of 26 and have played fewer than five Tests and/or 10 ODIs at the start of the voting period.
The Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year award serves to recognise and reward the efforts in all international matches of the outstanding cricketers from the teams outside the ICC Full Members. This year, Ireland boasts the most number of nominees with seven names on the list. This is followed by the Netherlands with three and Canada with two names while Kenya and Scotland claim one player each.
Based on the period between 13 August 2008 and 24 August 2009, the LG ICC Awards 2009 – presented in association FICA – will take into account performances by players and officials in a remarkable period for the game.
That period includes such high-profile events as the ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England, the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 in Australia and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 in South Africa, as well as several bilateral Test and ODI series.
The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its sixth year and this year it will be held in Johannesburg to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007) and Dubai (2008).
The two men feature in the long-lists for the Awards, which will take place at a glittering ceremony in Johannesburg on 1 October. In addition, there are 18 players who are nominated in two distinct categories.
All appear among the long-lists of nominations for prizes at the sixth annual LG ICC Awards, presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA). The long-lists were announced at a function in Mumbai today hosted by former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri and attended by current India opener Virender Sehwag – who himself is one of the players nominated for the ODI Player of the Year award – and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
This year's LG ICC Awards includes eight individual prizes and also features the selection of the Test and ODI Teams of the Year and the award to the side that has adhered most to the Spirit of Cricket.
"The LG ICC Awards are an opportunity for the ICC and FICA to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable performances of the world's top players," said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
"It is also a chance for followers of our great sport to reflect on some of the great cricketing feats they have witnessed over the past year. This will be the sixth time the awards have been handed out and yet again there are so many great performances to recall. Selecting the winners will no doubt test our selectors and voting academy," he said.
The long-lists of nominations were made by a five-man ICC selection panel chaired by former West Indies captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Clive Lloyd. The panel also includes former players such as India's Anil Kumble, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan, Bob Taylor of England and New Zealand's Stephen Fleming.
The individual player awards will be selected by an academy of 25 highly credentialed cricket personalities from around the world. The academy includes a host of former players and respected members of the media, representatives of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and ICC Match Referees.
The nominations from the Women's Cricketer of the Year were decided after a committee of former players, current administrators and journalists created a long-list. The award will then be voted for by a separate 25-person voting academy.
The Spirit of Cricket Award was voted on by all international captains as well as all members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. The Umpire of the Year Award was voted on by the captains and the match referees based on the umpires' performance statistics.
Dilshan is yet to win an ICC Award but he has a good chance this year as he is named among the nominees for the ICC Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year.
Dhoni is a previous winner at the LG ICC Awards having been named as the ODI Player of the Year in 2008. He was also named in the 2008 ODI Team of the Year. This year he has been nominated in the Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year categories.
The Emerging Player of the Year nominees include Australia's new finds Philip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle as well as the New Zealand duo of Martin Guptill and Jesse Ryder. India is represented in that category through leg-spinner Amit Mishra while there is also a place for Kemar Roach of the West Indies and England seamer Graham Onions.
To qualify for that award a player must be under the age of 26 and have played fewer than five Tests and/or 10 ODIs at the start of the voting period.
The Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year award serves to recognise and reward the efforts in all international matches of the outstanding cricketers from the teams outside the ICC Full Members. This year, Ireland boasts the most number of nominees with seven names on the list. This is followed by the Netherlands with three and Canada with two names while Kenya and Scotland claim one player each.
Based on the period between 13 August 2008 and 24 August 2009, the LG ICC Awards 2009 – presented in association FICA – will take into account performances by players and officials in a remarkable period for the game.
That period includes such high-profile events as the ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England, the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 in Australia and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 in South Africa, as well as several bilateral Test and ODI series.
The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its sixth year and this year it will be held in Johannesburg to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007) and Dubai (2008).
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Facts and Figures about the ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy was made by Asprey.
It took 60 hours to manufacture and is made of sterling silver with silver gilt cricket ball at the top.
The ICC Champions Trophy weighs 3.1kgs.
The trophy is 46cm high, while at the base its circumference is 47cm and at the top its circumference is 48cm
Sangakkara gears up for bumper period
Kumar Sangakkara is confident Sri Lanka can carry their impressive Test form into the busy upcoming period of limited-overs cricket.
Sangakkara's side has been outstanding in gaining Test series victories over Pakistan and New Zealand, while they also defeated the former in a one-day series.
Sri Lanka now face the Kiwis and India in a tri-nations ODI series in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy later this month, and Sangakkara is delighted with the form of his players.
"The batting of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene was extraordinary in the Tests and everyone else played their part," he said.
"Everyone chipped and it just goes to show that if everyone is willing to fight, show character and put in the hard work as a team, results will follow.
"I'm sure with those qualities in the side we can walk away with a win.
"Every game we go into we are looking to win and to give it our best," he said on the eve of the first of two Twenty20 Internationals against the Black caps. "We've got to think long and hard about our combination for tomorrow's game.
"One good thing over the last two years with coach Chandika Hathurusinghe doing some great work with the A side is that we have a lot of young players coming through with top quality.
"So the talent is there and if we do our homework right, be confident, prepare as best as we can and go out there looking to win, and if our attitude is positive, we will do well."
Former skipper Jayawardene, who relinquished the captaincy so that Sangakkara could build a side for the 2011 World Cup, is happy with the progress of the team.
"Sangakkara is a very good leader and the team is heading in the right direction," Jayawardene said.
"As long as we keep motivating ourselves to be better cricketers we can keep challenging ourselves to be a better team in all forms of the game."
Sri Lanka have included uncapped 23-year-old all-rounder Gihan Rupasinghe in their squad along with fast bowler Isuru Udana, who featured in the World Twenty20 in England, and Mahela Udawatte.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews' recovery from a hamstring injury gives Sri Lanka further options.
Keen contest expected at One Day tri-series cricket in Sri Lanka
Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has said that the upcoming One Day tri-series in Sri Lanka would see a tough competition.
The series in Sri Lanka, which also involves New Zealand and India, will be held from September 8-14.
The hosts are upbeat after clinching a recent two match test series over Kiwis 2-0.
"Well I think Sri Lanka is a decent side...this series is going to be great...India is of course a good one day side, New Zealand have been in one day format. So, Kiwis are the underdogs..." Fleming told reporters here on Monday.
India earlier this month declared the squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series followed by the Champions Trophy, recalling Rahul Dravid and leaving out explosive batsman Virender Sehwag due to his shoulder surgery.
The former captain, Dravid's last one-day international appearance came in October 2007 before selectors opted for a more youthful side with an eye on the 2011 World Cup.
Indian selectors hope Dravid will bolster the batting in the Champions Trophy on pacy South African pitches. A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling at the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.
Sachin Tendulkar returned to the frame after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies, which the tourists won 2-1 last month.
The series in Sri Lanka, which also involves New Zealand and India, will be held from September 8-14.
The hosts are upbeat after clinching a recent two match test series over Kiwis 2-0.
"Well I think Sri Lanka is a decent side...this series is going to be great...India is of course a good one day side, New Zealand have been in one day format. So, Kiwis are the underdogs..." Fleming told reporters here on Monday.
India earlier this month declared the squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series followed by the Champions Trophy, recalling Rahul Dravid and leaving out explosive batsman Virender Sehwag due to his shoulder surgery.
The former captain, Dravid's last one-day international appearance came in October 2007 before selectors opted for a more youthful side with an eye on the 2011 World Cup.
Indian selectors hope Dravid will bolster the batting in the Champions Trophy on pacy South African pitches. A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling at the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.
Sachin Tendulkar returned to the frame after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies, which the tourists won 2-1 last month.
Ravi Shastri belives jayasuriya should be regarded as de best ODI cricketer
Former India captain Ravi Shastri has revealed which players he believes are the greatest ODI stars of all time.
"If I was to choose my best ODI batsman then it would be Sachin Tendulkar and if I was asked to name my best ODI bowler then it would be Wasim Akram," said Shastri in an interview.
"But looking at all-round cricketers and their impact on the game then I am tied over Viv Richards and Sanath Jayasuriya."
"The best way to sum up the difference between Viv and the rest through his career was that he was the one player who had the ability to spoil a good game of cricket. Even when I was in the opposition and on the receiving end of one of his performances it was still possible to marvel at his ability.
"That ability was primarily as a batsman, of course, and with his body language and his aggression, when everything was in sync' then he was impossible to bowl at. But what shouldn't be ignored is his fielding which also turned matches, most notably his run-outs that helped beat Australia in the 1975 World Cup final and with the ball he invariably produced solid spells with crucial wickets through his effective off-spin. He was the match-winning package in every sense.
"As for Sanath Jayasuriya, he ripped up and re-wrote the one-day rule book through his amazing hitting at the top of the order and he's still doing it today, past the age of 40.
"On top of that, he's always been a brilliant fielder and a very under-rated bowler. Sanath is also, quite simply, a match-winner in every sense and in terms of his performances against India for example, when he's fired then invariably Sri Lanka has won.
"You can talk about the abilities of Muralidaran, Vaas, Sangakkara, Jayawardena and even Aravinda de Silva going back a few years but when Sanath is on song he has set up the match for the rest of them.
"He has redefined batting at the top of the order. When someone starts playing the way he did – and still does – back in the mid-1990s then cricket sense tells you that person will be found out at some stage. But here we are in 2009 and he's still at it, smashing opening attacks everywhere, just as he did over a decade ago. He might not be in his prime any more, that period in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but he can still hammer any attack. I saw his record century in Singapore against a quality Pakistan attack a few years ago and that was a privilege that still sticks in the mind.
Monday, August 31, 2009
ICC Champions Trophy 2009 unveiled
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy for the 2009 tournament is unveiled to media
ICC Test Player Rankings
| Batsmen | ||||
| Rank | Player | Team | Points | HS Rating |
| 1 | K Sangakkara | SL | 859 | 938 v Eng at Kandy 2007 |
| 2 | Gautam Gambhir | Ind | 847! | 847 v NZ at Wellington 2009 |
| 3 | Mahela Jayawardena | SL | 830 | 854 v Ban at Dhaka 2008 |
| 4 | S.Chanderpaul | WI | 821 | 901 v NZ at Napier 2008 |
| 5 | Mohammad Yousuf | Pak | 818 | 933 v WI at Karachi 2006 |
| 6 | Michael Clarke | Aus | 808 | 855 v Eng at Headingley 2009 |
| 7 | Younus Khan | Pak | 801 | 880 v SL at Lahore 2009 |
| 8 | Graeme Smith | SA | 782 | 810 v Aus at Melbourne 2008 |
| 9 | Ricky Ponting | Aus | 779 | 942 v Eng at Adelaide 2006 |
| 10 | Jacques Kallis | SA | 755 | 935 v NZ at Centurion 2007 |
Sangakkara reclaims number-one position as Jayawardena and Samaraweera achieve career-best rankings
ri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has reclaimed the number-one position in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen for the fourth time in his career after brilliant knocks in the second Test against New Zealand.
The Sri Lanka captain followed up his half-century in the first innings with an exquisite 109 - his 20th Test century - to reclaim the top position from India's Gautam Gambhir.
Sangakkara first achieved the number-one ranking in December 2007 before he returned to the top spot in March 2008 and then in July 2009.
He is not the only one on the move after a successful campaign against New Zealand. Sangakkara's predecessor Mahela Jayawardena and middle-order batsmen Thilan Samaraweera, who was player of the series, have both achieved career-best rankings.
While Jayawardena has jumped four places to third position after knocks of 92 and 96 which made him the first Asian and fourth overall to be out in the 90s twice in a Test, Samaraweera's 11th century in what was his 54th Test has put him just outside the top 10 in 12th position after he had started the Test in 16th position.
Tillakaratne Dilshan, however, has failed to defend his 19th position and has dropped out of the top 20 after falling two places following knocks of 29 and 33.
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor and captain Daniel Vettori have also made movements in the right direction.
Taylor, who contributed 81 and 27 in the lost cause, has jumped four places to share 23rd spot with West Indies' Chris Gayle while Vettori's fourth Test century has helped him improve his ranking by one position. He now sits in 28th spot.
The only change in the top 20 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers is New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin who has slipped two places to 18th position.
Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner Rangana Herath is the biggest mover in the bowlers' rankings as the 31-year-old from Kurunegala has rocketed 12 places to 28th spot after match figures of 8-209, including 5-139 in the second innings.
New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel is the other bowler to rise in the latest bowling table. The off-spinner has climbed three places to 46th after match figures of 6-200, including 4-78 in the first innings.
South Africa's Dale Steyn leads the bowlers' ranking from Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka and Mitchell Johnson of Australia.
There is also no change in the top five of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders as Jacques Kallis continues to lead the field by a distance. However, Vettori has achieved his career-best rating that has helped him open up the gap with third-placed Johnson.
Sri Lanka eye Indian scalp
Having toyed with Pakistan and New Zealand, Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lanka are eyeing India as their next scalp as the battle heats up to be the world's top Test team.
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan and New Zealand by identical 2-0 margins at home to climb to the number two spot in the official rankings with a rating of 120 behind number one team South Africa's 122.
With India just one rating point behind Sri Lanka on 119 and Ashes losers Australia in fourth place with 116, the scramble at the top could see a new number one by the end of the year.
Sri Lanka need to win their three-Test series in India in November-December to overtake South Africa, while a 2-0 win for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will push India to the top.
Sri Lanka have never won a Test match in India, let alone a series, in seven previous visits across the Palk Straits, with eight losses and six draws since their first Test there in Chennai in 1982.
It's a record Sangakkara, who has won four of his five Tests as captain since taking over from Mahela Jayawardene earlier this year, is determined to set straight.
"The Indian tour will test everyone, mentally, physically and skill wise," he told reporters.
"But if we do our homework right, be confident, prepare as best as we can and go out there looking to win, and if our attitude is positive, we will do well."
When they last played a series in India in December 2005, Sri Lanka lost the second Test in New Delhi by 188 runs and the third in Ahmedabad by 259 runs after the first game in Chennai was washed out.
"One likes to play against the best and India will definitely be a tough side to conquer," said Sangakkara. "It is not easy playing Test cricket in India."
Both sides get a chance to gauge each other's strengths when India join New Zealand and Sri Lanka in a limited-overs tri-series in Colombo from September 8-14.
India and Sri Lanka are drawn in different group for the Champions Trophy in South Africa in late-September, but could meet in the semi-finals if they qualify after the preliminary round.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Reliance Mobile Test Championship
| Team | Matches | Points | Rating | |
| 1 | South Africa | 30 | 3672 | 122 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 24 | 2852 | 120 |
| 3 | India | 28 | 3327 | 119 |
| 4 | Australia | 25 | 3106 | 116 |
| 5 | England | 33 | 3258 | 105 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 17 | 1424 | 84 |
| 7 | New Zealand | 22 | 1794 | 80 |
| 8 | West Indies | 25 | 1910 | 76 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 19 | 255 | 13 |
Sri Lanka eyes South Africa's number-one spot
Sri Lanka has narrowed the gap with number-one ranked South Africa to just two points in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship after winning the two-Test series against New Zealand in Colombo on Sunday.
Sri Lanka's 202 runs victory in the first Test at Galle and its 96-run win at Colombo has earned it a crucial ratings point which has put it on 120 points – just two behind South Africa and one ahead of third-placed India.
Such is the competitive nature of Test cricket, six ratings points separate the Proteas from Australia. And with all the top four teams to resume action in the longer format of the game immediately after next month's ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, a reshuffling of the pack is definitely on the cards.
The first Test series after the ICC Champions Trophy is West Indies' tour to Australia for three Tests, followed by Sri Lanka's tour to India, England's tour to South Africa for four Tests and a three-Test tour by Pakistan's to Australia.
This gives both India and Sri Lanka the first shot at the number-one spot as the first Test between South Africa and England starts after the conclusion of the Test series in India which, according to the Future Tours Programme, is likely to start in November. While Sri Lanka will need to win the series to go top of the table, India will have to win 2-0 to topple South Africa.
While Sri Lanka's commanding performance in its domestic international series has put it in sight of the top spot, New Zealand has retained its seventh position in the rankings but has conceded two ratings points to lead eighth-placed West Indies by just four rating points and trailed sixth-place Pakistan by the same margin.
Sri Lanka's 202 runs victory in the first Test at Galle and its 96-run win at Colombo has earned it a crucial ratings point which has put it on 120 points – just two behind South Africa and one ahead of third-placed India.
Such is the competitive nature of Test cricket, six ratings points separate the Proteas from Australia. And with all the top four teams to resume action in the longer format of the game immediately after next month's ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, a reshuffling of the pack is definitely on the cards.
The first Test series after the ICC Champions Trophy is West Indies' tour to Australia for three Tests, followed by Sri Lanka's tour to India, England's tour to South Africa for four Tests and a three-Test tour by Pakistan's to Australia.
This gives both India and Sri Lanka the first shot at the number-one spot as the first Test between South Africa and England starts after the conclusion of the Test series in India which, according to the Future Tours Programme, is likely to start in November. While Sri Lanka will need to win the series to go top of the table, India will have to win 2-0 to topple South Africa.
While Sri Lanka's commanding performance in its domestic international series has put it in sight of the top spot, New Zealand has retained its seventh position in the rankings but has conceded two ratings points to lead eighth-placed West Indies by just four rating points and trailed sixth-place Pakistan by the same margin.
ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Match Schedule
| Day | Date | The Wanderers | Centurion | ||
| 1 | Tue 22 Sept | SA v SL | D/N | ||
| 2 | Wed 23 Sep | Pakistan v WI | D/N | ||
| 3 | Thu 24 Sept | SA v NZ | D | ||
| 4 | Fri 25 Sept | SL v England | D/N | ||
| 5 | Sat 26 Sept | WI v Australia | D | India v Pakistan | D/N |
| 6 | Sun 27 Sept | NZ v SL | D | SA v England | D/N |
| 7 | Mon 28 Sept | Australia v India | D/N | ||
| 8 | Tue 29 Sept | England v NZ | D/N | ||
| 9 | Wed 30 Sept | India v WI | D/N | Australia v Pakistan | D |
| 10 | Thu 1 Oct | ||||
| 11 | Fri 2 Oct | A1 V B2 | D/N | ||
| 12 | Sat 3 Oct | B1 v A2 | D/N | ||
| 13 | Sun 4 Oct | ||||
| 14 | Mon 5 Oct | Final | D/N |
ICC Champions Trophy 2009 - Squad list
Australia
Ricky Ponting (captain)
Michael Clarke (vice-captain)
Nathan Bracken
Callum Ferguson
Brad Haddin
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
James Hopes
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Adam Voges
Shane Watson
Cameron White
England
Andrew Strauss (captain)
James Anderson
Ravi Bopara
Tim Bresnan
Stuart Broad
Paul Collingwood
Joe Denly
Eoin Morgan
Matt Prior
Adil Rashid
Owais Shah
Ryan Sidebottom
Graeme Swann
Luke Wright
India
M S Dhoni (captain)
Abhishek Nayar
Amit Mishra
Ashish Nehra
Dinesh Karthik
Gautam Gambhir
Harbhajan Singh
Ishant Sharma
Praveen Kumar
Rahul Dravid
R P Singh
Sachin Tendulkar
Suresh Raina
Yusuf Pathan
Yuvraj Singh (vice captain)
New Zealand
Daniel Vettori (captain)
Shane Bond
Neil Broom
Ian Butler
Brendon Diamanti
Grant Elliott
Martin Guptill
Gareth Hopkins
Brendon McCullum
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Jeetan Patel
Jesse Ryder
Ross Taylor
Daryl Tuffey
Pakistan
Younus Khan (captain)
Fawad Alam
Iftikhar Anjum
Imran Nazir
Kamran Akmal
Misbah-ul-Haq
Mohammad Yousuf
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammad Asif
Naved-ul-Hasan
Saeed Ajmal
Shahid Afridi (vice captain)
Shoaib Malik
Umar Akmal
Umar Gul
South Africa
Graeme Smith (captain)
Hashim Amla
Johan Botha (vice captain)
Mark Boucher
JP Duminy
AB de Villiers
Herschelle Gibbs
Jacques Kallis
Albie Morkel
Makhaya Ntini
Wayne Parnell
Robin Peterson
Dale Steyn
Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Roelof van der Merwe
Sri Lanka
Kumar Sangakkara (capt)
Ajantha Mendis
Angelo Mathews
Chamara Kapugedera
Dammika Prasad
Lasith Malinga
Mahela Jayawardena
Sanath Jayasuriya
Muttiah Muralidaran
Nuwan Kulasekara
Thilan Samaraweera,
Thilan Thushara
Thilina Kandamby
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Upul Tharanga
West Indies
Floyd Reifer (captain)
David Bernard
Tino Best
Royston Crandon
Travis Dowlin
Andre Fletcher
Nikita Miller
Daren Powell
Kieran Powell
Dale Richards
Kemar Roach
Darren Sammy (vice captain)
Devon Smith
Gavin Tonge
Chadwick Walton
Ricky Ponting (captain)
Michael Clarke (vice-captain)
Nathan Bracken
Callum Ferguson
Brad Haddin
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
James Hopes
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Adam Voges
Shane Watson
Cameron White
England
Andrew Strauss (captain)
James Anderson
Ravi Bopara
Tim Bresnan
Stuart Broad
Paul Collingwood
Joe Denly
Eoin Morgan
Matt Prior
Adil Rashid
Owais Shah
Ryan Sidebottom
Graeme Swann
Luke Wright
India
M S Dhoni (captain)
Abhishek Nayar
Amit Mishra
Ashish Nehra
Dinesh Karthik
Gautam Gambhir
Harbhajan Singh
Ishant Sharma
Praveen Kumar
Rahul Dravid
R P Singh
Sachin Tendulkar
Suresh Raina
Yusuf Pathan
Yuvraj Singh (vice captain)
New Zealand
Daniel Vettori (captain)
Shane Bond
Neil Broom
Ian Butler
Brendon Diamanti
Grant Elliott
Martin Guptill
Gareth Hopkins
Brendon McCullum
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Jeetan Patel
Jesse Ryder
Ross Taylor
Daryl Tuffey
Pakistan
Younus Khan (captain)
Fawad Alam
Iftikhar Anjum
Imran Nazir
Kamran Akmal
Misbah-ul-Haq
Mohammad Yousuf
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammad Asif
Naved-ul-Hasan
Saeed Ajmal
Shahid Afridi (vice captain)
Shoaib Malik
Umar Akmal
Umar Gul
South Africa
Graeme Smith (captain)
Hashim Amla
Johan Botha (vice captain)
Mark Boucher
JP Duminy
AB de Villiers
Herschelle Gibbs
Jacques Kallis
Albie Morkel
Makhaya Ntini
Wayne Parnell
Robin Peterson
Dale Steyn
Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Roelof van der Merwe
Sri Lanka
Kumar Sangakkara (capt)
Ajantha Mendis
Angelo Mathews
Chamara Kapugedera
Dammika Prasad
Lasith Malinga
Mahela Jayawardena
Sanath Jayasuriya
Muttiah Muralidaran
Nuwan Kulasekara
Thilan Samaraweera,
Thilan Thushara
Thilina Kandamby
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Upul Tharanga
West Indies
Floyd Reifer (captain)
David Bernard
Tino Best
Royston Crandon
Travis Dowlin
Andre Fletcher
Nikita Miller
Daren Powell
Kieran Powell
Dale Richards
Kemar Roach
Darren Sammy (vice captain)
Devon Smith
Gavin Tonge
Chadwick Walton
Leading writers claim Jayasuriya is the greatest 50-over cricketer
Legendary New Zealand cricket writer Don Cameron and Scyld Berry, Editor of Wisden, believe that Sanath Jayasuriya should be regarded as the greatest one-day player of all time.
Cameron, who was the New Zealand Herald Cricket Correspondent between 1960 and 1998, believes that Sanath Jayasuriya, who will be part of Sri Lanka?s squad at the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, is deserving of this title, as cricket fans across the world discuss who they believe to be the world?s leading one-day cricketer.
"I have chosen Jayasuriya because he has led Sri Lankan cricket for close on half his 40 years, and whether blasting centuries or fiddling batsmen out with his subtle left-arm slows, plays cricket with a smile on his face, and magic in his fingers," said Cameron.
"And when he and Romesh Kaluwitharana played their explosive opening innings as Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1995-96 he brought new life to a one-day game that was strangling itself in theory. From a personal point of view he is a cricket-writer's dream."
Meanwhile, Berry agrees that it was the method in which Jayasuriya played the game which makes him deserving of this crown.
"In the past, batting was defensive and bowling was attacking. Now, as a generalisation, it is the other way round. And nobody has done more to bring about this change than Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, to my mind the greatest of 50-over cricketers," said Berry.
"I can still remember how shocked England were by their World Cup quarter-final of 1996 in Faisalabad. In their philosophy they had never dreamed of an opening batsman who hit every ball from the start, admittedly on a flat wicket, without playing himself in.
"Romesh Kaluwitharana made crash-ball 20s and 30s. His partner, Jayasuriya, scored fast and big: over 12,000 ODI runs in his career, and the second most centuries after Sachin Tendulkar, and all scored at almost a run a ball seizing the initiative for his country.
"If this is not enough to seal the deal, Jayasuriya has been - until Ajantha Mendis came along - Sri Lanka's second best spinner after Muttiah Muralidaran, and taken more than 300 ODI wickets. A brilliant left handed all rounder, his powerful hitting made all formats of cricket more exciting for us all."
To have your say on whom you believe is the greatest one-day player ever.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
South Africa determined to remain number one and win ICC event
South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is determined that his side can maintain its number one spot in the Reliance Mobile Team rankings.
"Being number one on the ICC Reliance Mobile world rankings is no time to rest on our laurels. We must be continually looking to take our game to a new level," said Arthur speaking at Cricket South Africa's season launch.
Also speaking at the launch, Proteas captain Graeme Smith said his team was raring to go and are looking forward to the new season.
"Over the last year we ticked two important boxes in beating both Australia and England away from home. We have two more chances this season to tick another box by winning an important ICC event.
"There will also be the highlight of the home season in playing the Castle Test series against England as well as the MTN ODI series and the Standard Bank International Pro20s.
"We currently hold the D'Oliveira Trophy for our Test series win in England and we intend to keep it."
"Being number one on the ICC Reliance Mobile world rankings is no time to rest on our laurels. We must be continually looking to take our game to a new level," said Arthur speaking at Cricket South Africa's season launch.
Also speaking at the launch, Proteas captain Graeme Smith said his team was raring to go and are looking forward to the new season.
"Over the last year we ticked two important boxes in beating both Australia and England away from home. We have two more chances this season to tick another box by winning an important ICC event.
"There will also be the highlight of the home season in playing the Castle Test series against England as well as the MTN ODI series and the Standard Bank International Pro20s.
"We currently hold the D'Oliveira Trophy for our Test series win in England and we intend to keep it."
SL criciket to de next level
De blog is been created to discuss about sri Lankan cricket.....join de blog and have your say about SL cricket
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