Sports

Dhananjaya returns for West Indies Tests

Published

6 years ago

2021/03/6

By Rex Clementine

Stylish Dhananjaya de Silva’s calm presence in the middle order had brought so much assurance to the Sri Lankan batting in recent times but he has been out of cricket for almost three months now after pulling a thigh muscle during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion. De Silva was cruising on 79 when he attempted a run and pulled the muscle ruling him out of the series and the subsequent home Tests against England. His absence resulted in Sri Lanka struggling to balance the side.

The 29-year-old has been named in the 17 member squad that also includes Lahiru Thirimanne, who tested positive for COVID-19. Roshen Silva, Vishwa Fernando and Lasith Embuldeniya also have been named in the Test squad. All five players will fly to Antigua on Sunday via Doha and New York.

The selectors were contemplating of retaining an 18th player for the two match series. Lahiru Kumara had been named in the squad but he had to be withdrawn after testing positive for COVID. Sources said that either Nuwan Pradeep or Dilshan Maudhsanka could be retained as the additional player. However, no final decision had been made yet.

The players will have to go through 72 hours of quarantine in Antigua before being allowed to resume training.

All-rounder Dasun Shanaka will also travel to the Caribbean on Sunday but he will be taking an entirely different route – literally four flights. He will travel to Dubai from Colombo and will get connecting flights to Paris and St. Martin before reaching Antigua.

Shanaka was unable to get a US visa in time and was not able to be present in Antigua to lead the side. The all-rounder had lost his passport containing a valid US visa and the US High Commission in Colombo was investigating whether his previous visa had been used by someone else.

Sri Lanka will play three ODIs in Antigua prior to the two match Test series. All five games will be played at Sir Viv Richards Stadium. The T-20 series is being played at Alan Stanford Stadium, named after the Antiguan businessman who is currently serving a 110 year jail term in the United States for financial fraud.

Sri Lanka squad for West Indies Tests:

Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Angelo Mathews, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lasith Embuldeniya, Vishwa Fernando, Roshen Silva and Suranga Lakmal.

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Latest News

Rose Bowl expanded to include Australia vs New Zealand T20Is

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/17

Priyan

Australia have held the Rose Bowl continuously since 2000 [Cricinfo]

The Rose Bowl, which has been awarded to the winner of ODI series between the women’s teams of Australia and New Zealand since 1985, has now been expanded to include T20Is as well.

New Zealand’s three match T20I tour of Australia, which begins on Sunday at the North Sydney Oval, will be the first T20I edition of the Rose Bowl. The teams will get to face off again for the trophy in March 2027 when they meet again for three ODIs, also in Australia.

For Rose Bowl series that include matches in both white-ball formats, the trophy will go to the team with the most wins overall. In case of a drawn series, the current holder will retain the trophy.

“The Rose Bowl is a prestigious trophy that holds a lot of meaning to current and past players, and it’s a series we’ve always taken a lot of pride in competing in,”Catherine Campbell, NZC’s chief cricket operations officer and a former New Zealand player, said. “With so much T20I cricket now being played, this is a brilliant opportunity to keep the Rose Bowl relevant and to build on the history between us and our Australian rivals.”

New Zealand captain Melie Kerr was excited by the broadening of opportunities to compete for the Rose Bowl.

“We’re all aware of what the Rose Bowl represents and the importance it holds in the White Ferns whakapapa [genealogy],” said Kerr. “Great players and teams have fought for it over the years and we’d love the opportunity to claim our own piece of that history.”

Australia have held the Rose Bowl continuously since wresting it back from New Zealand in 2000. Since that 3-0 win, Australia have won 18 times with one series – in 2008-09 – shared 2-2. Overall, Australia have won 26 of the 31 ODI series played for the Rose Bowl, with New Zealand winning three times and three series drawn.

North Sydney will host all three T20Is of the upcoming Rose Bowl series, on October 18, 20 and 22.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Sastralian Premier League to boost school cricket in Matugama

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/17

Thilina Walpola

The inaugural Sastralian Premier League (SPL), a T10 cricket tournament aimed at strengthening the cricketing fortunes of Ananda Shasthralaya National School, Matugama, will get underway next month, bringing together eight teams.

Organised by the Old Sastralians Cricket Association in collaboration with the school, the tournament is designed to provide a platform for emerging talent while generating much needed financial support for the school’s cricket development programme.

Each franchise will be required to assemble a squad of 16 players, excluding the captain, with the competition featuring a unique set of regulations aimed at encouraging participation across different age groups.

Cricketers from other schools in the Matugama area will also have an opportunity to showcase their skills under the ‘Guest Players’ category. Each team can recruit up to six guest players, with four required to feature in the playing XI.

In a move designed to nurture the next generation, every team must include two current school cricketers in its squad, with at least one guaranteed a place in the playing XI.

The tournament will also accommodate experienced campaigners, with teams permitted to select five players over the age of 20 and three over 40. The provision to use an ‘Impact Player’ is another feature of the competition.

The eight teams have been divided into two groups. Group A comprises JSD Challengers, Jagath Express, Liveka Power Lions and Rexhill Warriors, while JPI Royals, Five Star Heroes, Marine Titans and Finnk Falcons make up Group B.

A total of 16 matches will be played across November 7, 8 and 15, with November 16 set aside as a reserve day.

Beyond the action on the field, organisers hope the tournament will provide a financial boost to school cricket while forging stronger ties between past and present cricketers.

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Iyer to lead in last two New Zealand ODIs, Kushagra earns maiden call-up

Published

14 hours ago

2026/10/16

Priyan

Gill & Iyer will share leadership duties across the five New Zealand ODIs [Cricbuzz]

Shreyas Iyer has returned as India’s ODI vice-captain for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, having missed the preceding ODI series against the West Indies due to India’s T20I commitments during the Asian Games.

Iyer will be the vice-captain for the first three ODIs before taking over the captaincy for the fourth and fifth matches, with Ishan Kishan appointed his deputy for the final two games. This allows Shubman Gill, the regular ODI skipper and Test captain, to focus on preparing for the two-match Test series, part of the World Test Championship cycle, which follows the ODIs.

Prasidh Krishna also returns to the ODI squad for the first three matches, but his availability is subject to fitness. He sustained a left hamstring injury during the second ODI against the West Indies and was replaced by Anshul Kamboj. Meanwhile, Kamboj has also been named in the squad for the first three New Zealand ODIs.

India have also made changes to their squad for the latter half of the series, with Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra coming into the 16-member squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs. Prasidh and Kamboj, who are also part of the Test team, are among those not included in the squad for the final two matches. Auqib Nabi, meanwhile, has been included in the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feature in both squads, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav. Incidentally, Reddy, Kuldeep and Siraj are also part of the Test squad but have been retained for the last two matches. KL Rahul has been named as the wicketkeeper for the first three matches, while Kishan will take over the role for the final two ODIs, with the former set to join the Test preparations.

The ODI series begins on November 4, following India’s five-match T20I series. The first ODI will be played in Auckland, while the second game will be held in Wellington on November 7. Hamilton will host the third match on November 10, while the last two ODIs will be played in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15. The Test series begins on November 19.

Squad for the first three ODIs: Shubman Gill [C], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer [VC], KL Rahul [WK], Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan [WK], Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna*, Kuldeep Yadav

Squad for fourth and fifth ODIs: Shreyas Iyer [C], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan [WK, VC], Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav

[Cricbuzz]