1	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / MUMBAI REBUILDS AFTER TERROR ATTACK  on: Today at 04:52:53
Started by Michael_Roberts | Post by Michael_Roberts
this item features in today's AUSTRALIAN newspaper [ MONDAY] --  not cricket yet but perttinent to cricket politics and a "must read' for any ardent followe rof the scene in South Asia.

2	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: Today at 04:40:19
Started by neilw | Post by Delan
Just a few more thoughts from me:   Firstly, That's great news Michael regarding the Adelaide Newspaper. Not sure if the papers here in Victoria would do the same, given this is the home state of one S.K. Warne.   In terms of spinner choice, whilst Hearth bowled ok, given the nature of the pitch, there's not been too many successful finger spinners on Indian soil in recent times. The ones that are usually bowl a bit more quicker. Again probably reflecting the nature of the pitches and the way the game is more and more in favour of the batsman.   I agree with the thoughts on Malinga. Whilst his extra pace may be handy, he has not played a test for sometime. IMO he bowled well in the 20/20 tournament, but since then hasn't been overly impressive (or rather has been inconistent) in the ODIs. Maybe due to lack of patch fitness/practice. Not sure if this pitch would have been ideal for him either. It was a bowler's graveyard.   With that in mind i want to mention one of the Indian quicks, who has lost some form , and been crticized in recent times from Indian media & fans. That is Ishant Sharma. If you had to bowl on such pitches which a tailor made for batsman in all formats of the game you'd probably be performing the ame way!!!   I see that Dilshan has picked up another injury, again during a non-cricket exercise/training drill. Again he should be fine to play. Sometimes I wonder if sides should be focusing on proper training drills like fielding (aiming at stumps, outfield catches etc) instead of playing with frisbee, volleyball, or soccer etc.   Finally congrats to Mahela on reaching number in Test batting rankings. He is playing exceptional and to his true potential. I don't think many forum memebers here doubted his contributions/performances and record in Test cricket, which has been for the most part terrific throughout his career. It was only his inconsistency in the limited overs game that has frustrated many. I wonder if relenquishing the captaincy in the later part of his career will take his batting to newer heights.

3	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: Yesterday at 23:27:05
Started by neilw | Post by omar nawaz
Michael,   Nice to hear that Murali finally has been recognized Down Under.   Re Thilan - my query was not for him to be a regular or part-time bowler but to know his position as a bowler. Parakrama has answered this. More the pity - many batsmen turn to bowling now and then but it is rare for a bowler turned batsman to give it up altogether.

4	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: Yesterday at 19:02:48
Started by neilw | Post by Michael_Roberts
Some people must have woken up from a long sleep if they are talking of tHILAN as a bowler. And Lasith Malinga !! he ahs not played evena 3-day game for ages so how can he be considered fr a-5-day match? Murali too has not played much lately but I believe it was the dead pitch that blunted his wizardry -- evn if that sleight of hand may not be quite as sharpa s before. Let's see how the enxt game pans out.     by the way the SUNDAY MAIL in Adelaide has chosen himas the MOST OUTSTANDING CRICKETER of the apst decade alongside FEDERER for tenis, tiger woods for Golf etc. WHAT AN ACCOLADE --nipping ahead of an Australian cricketer is a marvel. hats off to those ho took this elap.

5	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: Yesterday at 17:48:09
Started by neilw | Post by Parakrama
Omar,   Murali wont be dropped, thats for sure but same cant be said of Herath though Sanga had nothing but praise for him. They might open with Welagedera and Mathews if we play three spinners.   I have seen lot of people talking about Thilan been not used as a bowler. Thilan has not bowled for some time now, not even at club level. I think he gave up bowling to concentrate on his batting.     Cheers!!

6	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: PALLEKELLE STADIUM READY  on: Yesterday at 17:27:45
Started by Michael_Roberts | Post by omar nawaz
Thanks Michael for that update on Pallekelle. As the correspondent says, the weather gods may be unkind: after all November is the Northe-East monsoon period and the opening ceremony next week may turn out to be a damp squib - hope not as we are all  waiting to see this new jewel in the crown.

7	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: Yesterday at 17:17:45
Started by neilw | Post by omar nawaz
Parakrama,   I doubt Murali will be dropped, if Harbajan's performance is any indicator, and Sanga was full of praise for Herath. The idea of going in with only one fast bowler is also very unlikely.Dilhara probably will play.Dilshan and Paranavitharne will have to provide some part time spin. It has intrigued me that Thilan who started his career as an off-spinner has never been used of late.   I only hope it won't be a dead duck even if it is served with orange and pineapple   Cheers   Omar

8	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: Yesterday at 09:51:03
Started by neilw | Post by Parakrama
Omar,   Dont count too much on Kanpur either. Looking at the profile of Kanpur Green Park on Cricinfo, it says "A number of dull drawn games have been the feature of the Tests at Kanpur, thanks to lifeless pitches; this, in part, is the fault of the region's soil, for it does not encourage bounce and pace". Are we going to get another dead duck. .   Having said that, the last test match on this ground in April 2008 produced a result inside three days when India beat SA by 8 wickets with Haribhajan taking 7 wickets. Will SL go with three spinners and open with Welagedera and Mathews or will they include Dilhara for Prasad and play 2 pacies & 2 spinners. I feel Ajantha Mendis will be in the playinf XI one way or the other.   Cheers!!

9	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / PALLEKELLE STADIUM READY  on: Yesterday at 05:15:45
Started by Michael_Roberts | Post by Michael_Roberts
suSUNDAY OBSERVER 22 NOVEMBER   Pallekelle Cricket Stadium will be opened on Nov. 27   by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.     CRICKET: The Pallekelle Cricket Stadium owned by Sri Lanka Cricket will be baptised on Friday November 27, when the playing fields will be formally declared open with a soft opening with a warm up match being played.     This opening will certainly boost cricket in the hill country and will open new vistas for the game. It holds a good future for the sport with international matches including World Cup cricket matches lined up for the future.     Pallekelle Cricket Stadium was mooted at least about 7 or 8 years ago when S. B. Dissanayake was the Minister of Sports and the foundation stone was laid, but, the work did not progress and next during the tenure of office of Lakshman Kiriella as Minister of Sports this project came under review. There were some dispute at that time the land earmarked for this project partly belonged to the Mahaweli Authority.     But despite all these problems the work on the grounds and the infrastructure started but mid way was halted for many reasons and shrub jungle took over the grounds and the partly constructed buildings presented a sorry picture till it was taken over by the Sri Lanka Cricket a few years back and as a first step, the playing field was cleared of the shrub jungle.     Last year in December, the Kandurata Cricket Centre was formally declared opened with an office and C. P. P. Raj as Operations Manager. Since then the wicket had been rehabilitated over a period of time and the outfield looks as good as any ground in Sri Lanka with a luxuriant growth of grass and officials and the workers working hard on it as this ground will be the cricket centre probably for the hill country due to it being centrally placed and easily accessible for cricketers and above it experiences a lesser a rainfall than Kandy. Therefore the chances of rain interfering play is lesser than the Asgiriya Stadium. This area is known as mid-country dry zone.     There is talks of 2011 World Cup matches being staged at the Pallekelle Stadium which is indeed very good as Kandy has not seen any World Cup matches being played except the one between Sri Lanka and Kenya played at the Asgiriya Stadium in 1996 where Sri Lanka posted a record total of 398 which stood for many years.     Very few limited over international matches have been played in Kandy which has been probably identified as a Test venue and even this has become a thing of the past, as it has been over two years since a Test match was played in Kandy.     It is ironical that both Sri Lanka's national Captain Kumar Sangakkra and Vice-Captain Muttaih Muralitharan hail from Kandy and had their cricket foundation laid in this hill city.     Third player Chamara Kapugedera too is from Kandy and Sri Lanka's opening batsman Tharanga Paranavitharane too is from the Central Region and the cricketers from Kegalle come under the purview of the Central Province and they represent this province.     Thus Kandy should not be neglected from international cricket and the opening of the Pallekelle Cricket Stadium may be the panacea for all these ills and a step in the right direction.     Having a good cricket stadium, international cricket will be certainly played there without having to depend on a school ground used for many sports. The position will be such that it will be available for any match at short notice as only cricket will be played and the grounds maintained to highest standards. But a lot more work requires to be done especially the infrastructure if the World Cup matches are to be staged at this venue Sri Lanka with the materials at its disposal could meet these deadlines.     It is understood that initially the under 19 Triangular series matches involving Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh are expected to be play at Pallekelle commencing on November 29th and on conclusion of these matches it will be known how the wickets behave and adjustments if any, could be made under the guidance of the National Curator Anuruddha Polonowita.     Thus November 27 is going to be a big day for cricket fans in the hill capital, though the weather gods could be a little unkind as they had been diverting their attention in the hill country as they had been doing in other parts of the country these days.

10	Dilmah Cricket Fan Message Boards & Forums / Sri Lanka Cricket / Re: FIRST TEST IND v SL  on: 11/21/09 at 16:40:09
Started by neilw | Post by omar nawaz
SS,   I came to the Club but you were not to be seen. Did you place another bet that India will win?   Dead wicket but hats off to the batsmen on both sides for the concentration in piling up the runs. Despite no assistance to the bowlers it is worrying that Murali is not effective on the fifth day of a match.   We shall have to rethink our bowling strategy for the next match - I hope Kanpur is not another dead duck