SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS
(NOVEMBER 2024)
Compiled by Victor Melder
The Australia Men’s National Cricket Team will tour Sri Lanka from January to February 2025 to participate in a two-match Test series and one ODI. The Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship Cycle for 2023-25. Sri Lanka Cricket said that the Australians will arrive in Sri Lanka on January 20, 2025. The first Test is scheduled to be played from January 29 to February 2, 2025, at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, followed by the second Test from February 6 to 10, 2025. (Daily Mirror, 1.11.2024)
The legendary Galle International Cricket Stadium is set to be the battleground for the two-match Test series between Australia and Sri Lanka this coming January. With both games counting toward the World Test Championship (WTC), the stakes couldn’t be higher – this series might well be the stepping stone to the grand final at Lord’s, slated for June next year. Currently, Australia sit in second place on the WTC leader board, with Sri Lanka nipping at their heels in third. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced yesterday that the series opener would kick off on the 29th of January, with the second Test following on the 6th of February. Australia are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on the 20th of January, giving them ample time to get their feet wet in the local conditions. The last time these two teams locked horns in 2022, they split the series 1-1, Australia drew first blood, but Sri Lanka bounced back to level the series. Both of those games, too, unfolded on the sun-baked turf of Galle. Sri Lanka would relish the chance to play both matches in Galle, a venue that’s become something of a fortress for them. Recently, they clean-swept New Zealand 2-0 here, marking their first series win over the Kiwis in 15 years. All eyes will be on left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who has proven to be nothing short of a thorn in the side of visiting teams at Galle. His record speaks for itself—71 wickets in just eight Tests here, with an eye-popping average of 21.78, including eight five-wicket hauls. In addition to the Tests, Australia will play a one-off ODI on February 13th, though the venue is still up in the air. This match serves as a warm-up for their Champions Trophy campaign, a tournament Sri Lanka will sit out, having failed to qualify. (Daily Island, 2.11.2024)
In a bid to reduce his three-year ban, Niroshan Dickwella, accused of doping, is expected to provide a written submission on November 11 to the Anti-Doping Appeals Committee. Dickwella appeared before the Appeals Committee on Wednesday after the Appeals Committee decided to hear Dickwella’s case. He is pleading leniency. Dickwella recently became the first national cricketer to be slapped with a three-year ban from all forms of the game after failing a doping test. The 31-year-old tested positive for using cocaine, a prohibited narcotic, during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024. The test, conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) on July 14, resulted in swift disciplinary action. A three-member anti-doping disciplinary panel handed down the ban, effective from August 13, 2024, following their decision on Tuesday. This marks a significant low point for Dickwella, who opted not to request a B-sample test, effectively conceding to the charges. Even though out-of-competition use of cocaine is not considered an offence under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, the implications for Niroshan Dickwella were severe due to the timing and circumstances surrounding his positive test. The disciplinary panel, comprising President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa, Prof. Rohini Fernandopulle, and Dr. Nimal Herath Gunaratne, reached their conclusion after thorough deliberation, officially notifying Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and other relevant authorities. Dickwella’s case added a new level of seriousness, casting a long shadow over the sport’s reputation. Following the positive test, Dickwella was suspended from all forms of cricket by SLC and his career now hangs in the balance. The 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL), held from July 1 to July 21, witnessed Dickwella captaining the Galle Marvels, who suffered a crushing defeat to the Jaffna Kings by 9 wickets in the final. The sting of that loss was soon overshadowed by news of the positive drug test, throwing Dickwella into an unwanted spotlight. In August, Dickwella faced a three-member disciplinary committee and agreed to submit a written statement within a week, explaining his side of the story. This document was pivotal in shaping the committee’s final verdict on his fate. Though this marks his first recorded doping offence, Dickwella is no stranger to controversy. Just three years ago, he, along with Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis, were suspended for breaching Covid-19 protocols during Sri Lanka’s tour of England. What was expected to be a one-year ban for the trio was reduced to six months after appeals, and many hoped this incident would serve as a wake-up call for Dickwella. Regrettably, his involvement in scandals continues. Despite receiving his education at Trinity College, renowned for producing cricketing greats like Kumar Sangakkara, Dickwella has struggled to meet the standards expected of an international cricketer. His record—54 Test matches, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20 Internationals—demonstrates undeniable talent, but his lack of discipline has overshadowed his potential. (Sunday Times, 3.11.2024)
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has selected the squads to take part in the T20I and ODI series to be played against the New Zealand National Men’s Team. The two T20I matches are scheduled for November 9th and 10th, while the three ODIs will take place on November 13th, 17th, and 19th, 2024.The first three games will be held at the RDICS in Dambulla, with the final two ODI matches set for the PICS in Pallekele. ODI Squad :1.Charith Asalanka – Captain
2.Avishka Fernando, 3. Pathum Nissanka, 4. Kusal Janith Perera, 5. Kusal Mendis, 6. Kamindu Mendis, 7. Janith Liyanage, 8. Sadeera Samarawickrama, 9. Nishan Madushka, 10. Dunith Wellalage, 11. Wanindu Hasaranga, 12. Maheesh Theekshana, 13. Jeffrey Vandersay, 14. Chamidu Wickramasinghe, 15. Asitha Fernando, 16. Dilshan Madushanka, 17. Mohamed Shiraz. T20I Squad: 1. Charith Asalanka – Captain,2. Pathum Nissanka,3. Kusal Mendis, 4. Kusal Janith Perera, 5. Kamindu Mendis, 6. Dinesh Chandimal, 7. Avishka Fernando,8. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 9. Wanindu Hasaranga, 10. Maheesh Theekshana,11. Dunith Wellalage, 12. Jeffrey Vandersay, 13. Chamidu Wickramasinghe, 14. Nuwan Thushara, 15. Matheesha Pathirana,16. Binura Fernando, 17. Asitha Fernando. (Daily Mirror, 6.11.2024)
Sri Lanka beat the touring New Zealanders by 4 wickets in the first T20 played at Dambulla Rangiri International Stadium. Scores:
New Zealand – 135 in 19.3 Overs (Bracewell 27, Foulkes 27no, Young 19, Wellalage 3/20, Thushara 2/14, Hasaranga 2/20, Pathirana 2/25)
Sri Lanka: 140.19.6 Overs (Asalanka 35no, Kusal Perera 23, Kamindu Mendis 23, Hasaranga 22, Foulkes 3/20)
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Player of the Match: Chrith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
T20 Debut: Mitchell Hay, Lyndon Hannibal (New Zealand)
The touring New Zealanders beat Sri Lanka by 5 runs in the second and final T20 played at the Rangiri International Stadium Dambulla. Scores:
New Zealand – 108 in 10.3 Overs (Young 30, Clarkson 24, Hasaranga 4/17, Pathirana 3/11, Thushara 2/22)
Sri Lanka – 103 in 19.5 Overs (Nissanka 52, Phillips 3/16, Fergusons 3/7)
2-match Series drawn 1-1.
Player of the Match: Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand)
Player of the Series: Wasindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand after sustaining a left hamstring injury while bowling in the second T20I. Dushan Hemantha has been called up to replace Hasaranga in the squad. The three-match ODI series will begin tomorrow, November 13, with the remaining two ODIs scheduled for November 17 and 19. The first match will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, while the final two will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, New Zealand, who levelled the T20I series with a thrilling win on Sunday, will also be without key pacer Lockie Ferguson for the ODI series. Ferguson, who took a hat-trick in the second T20I, was forced to leave the field due to discomfort while bowling his second over. He will not be fit to play in the ODIs. Adam Milne has been added to the New Zealand squad as Ferguson’s replacement. Ferguson will return to New Zealand today for scans to assess the injury and determine the recovery timeline. (Daily Mirror, 12.11.2024)
Sri Lanka have appointed former South Africa batter Neil Mckenzie as a consultant coach ahead of their crucial two-Test series against the Proteas starting later this month. The former right-handed batter will join the visiting team between 13 and 21 November, as confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), ahead of the first Test in Durban. Mckenzie, who played 58 Test matches between 2000 and 2009, racked up over 3253 runs for South Africa. He also aggregated nearly 20,000 runs in first-class cricket. Famously, he is one-half of the highest-ever opening partnership in Test history, sharing a 415-run stand with Graeme Smith against Bangladesh in 2008. Speaking on his appointment, SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said, “McKenzie will bring in vital in-depth insights about the South African conditions to help Sri Lankan players adapt to the challenge.” Since calling it quits from international cricket in 2009, the 48-year-old has been part of multiple dressing rooms as a coach. Last year, McKenzie was South Africa’s batting consultant for the ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies. Earlier this year, he was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore setup in the Indian Premier League as a batting coach. Sri Lanka will be banking on the former Proteas batter for valuable insights for what is their final away Test series in the ongoing WTC cycle. Placed third and fifth respectively on the points table, both Sri Lanka and South Africa are in contention for a spot in next year’s WTC Final. The first Test is scheduled for 27 November at Kingsmead, after which the caravan shifts to St. George’s Oval in Port Elizabeth. (Ceylon Today, 13.11.2024)The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has named a 17-player squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa. The two-match test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship. The series will begin on November 27 at Kingsmead, Durban, with the second Test scheduled for December 5 at St. George’s Park, Gqeberha. Last week, ten Sri Lankan players departed for South Africa to participate in a pre-series camp ahead of the two-match Test series. Sri Lanka Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Prabath Jayasuriya were among the 10 players who left for Durban in South Africa where the arrangements have been made for the players to train and practice. Sri Lanka Cricket said the remaining players will leave for South Africa on November 22, 2024. Sri Lanka squad – (1) Dhananjaya de Silva – Captain, (2) Pathum Nissanka, (3) Dimuth Karunaratne, (4) Dinesh Chandimal, (5) Angelo Mathews, (6) Kusal Mendis,07) Kamindu Mendis, (8) Oshada Fernando, 09) Sadeera Samarawickrama, (10) Prabath Jayasuriya, (11) Nishan Peiris, (12.) Lasith Embuldeniya,, (13.) Milan Rathnayake,
14) Asitha Fernando, (15) Vishwa Fernando, (16) Lahiru Kumara, (17) Kasun Rajitha. (Daily Mirror, 19.11.2024)
Sri Lanka beat the touring New Zealanders by 45 runs (DLS Method) in the first ODI played at the Rangiri International Stadium, Dambulla. Scores:
Sri Lanka – 324/5 in 49.2 Overs (Kusal mendis 413, Avishka Fernando 100, Asalanka 40, Duffy 3.41)
New Zealand – 175/9 in 2 Overs ( Young 48, Bracewell 34, Madushanka 3/39, Asalanka 2/15, Theekshana 2/32)
Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
ODI Debut; Mirchel Hay, Nathan Smith, Tim Robinson (New Zealand)
Sri Lanka beat the touring New Zealanders by 3 wickets (DLS Method) in the second ODI played at the Pallekelle International Stadium, Kandy. Scores:
New Zealand – 209 in 45.1 Overs (Chapman 76, Hay 49, Young 26, Theekshana 3/31, Vandersay 3/46, Avishka Fernando 2/37)
Sri Lanka – 210/7 in 46 Overs ( Kusal Mendis 74no, Nissanka 28, Theekshana 27no, Bracewell 4/36)
Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
The third and final ODI between Sri Lanka and the touring New Zealanders ended in No result, with rain washing out play. Scores:
New Zealand – 112/1 in 21 Overs (Young 56no, Nichols 46no, Shiraz 1/23)
Sri Lanka won the 3-match series 2-0.
Player of the Series; Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
ODI Debut: Zackary Foulkes (New Zealand), Chamindu Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka)
