Sports
Warner expects a ‘batters’ battle’ in India-Australia Tests
David Warner has admitted that the “greatest challenge” of winning the upcoming Test series in India, starting February, would be a “batters’ battle” and put the onus on the Australian batting group to find methods to deal with the conditions there. Fresh from the dramatic double century in his 100th Test, the veteran opener already seems to be setting his sights on the four-Test tour, saying that it is “extra motivation” for him to continue in this format.
“We know what we’re going to prepare for, they’re going to be turning wickets. It’s different with the venues, Nagpur and Delhi quite dry, then Dharamsala that time of the year, we’ve played there, and we probably should have won that Test, we lost that ourselves.
“There’s going to be times when it’s going to be challenging over there, but it’s about how our batters can build and bat big like we did in Pakistan. I think with the ball, we’re going to do a fantastic job, we’ve got a world-class spinner in Nathan Lyon and we’re going to have to potentially think about playing two spinners,” said Warner following Australia’s massive series win against South Africa in Melbourne.
“Obviously in Sri Lanka we had good methods and we saw in that first Test in Galle, everyone was playing reverse sweeps and sweeps, everyone had a method and they stuck to it,” he added.
Asked if this would be Australia’s best chance to win that elusive Test series in India, Warner said, “Shall I start the headlines now, before we go over there? I did remember somebody talking about two-day Test the other week. It’s going to be interesting.”
Warner also admitted to being in as “happy a place” as he has been in a “long time” with his cricket and in life following his incredible performance in his milestone Test. Having quashed a lot of the skepticism over how long he could continue as a Test cricketer, the 36-year-old revealed that he still had the “hunger and motivation” to keep doing it.
“I wish you’d start talking about my age, I don’t feel 36. As I said before, I’m running faster than a lot of these youngsters in here so when they catch up to me then I might think about pulling the pin. The extra motivation for me is winning in India, and completely winning a series in England. I’ve been told by the coach and the selectors they would like me to be there. Obviously there was a lot of stuff before this series going on in my mind,” he said.
“Was there doubts? Yeah of course there were doubts in my mind but for me it was about just going out there and still knowing I’ve got that hunger and determination because every time I rock up at training, I’ve got it. And people keep telling me ‘you’ll know when it’s time’, and I haven’t really felt that at all yet. I’m still enjoying it, I still know what energy I can bring to the team. I think once I start losing that spark and energy around training and taking the mickey out of people and playing some jokes here and there, and pranks, I think that’s when I’ll probably know it’s time,” he added.
Warner didn’t hold back when asked about how much of an impact the drama surrounding his leadership ban had had on his preparation for the Test summer.
“It takes its toll immensely. And I’ve got all that happening in the background, and I get a message a night before a Test, these are things you don’t want in the back of your mind. And day two, waking up and a lawyer texts about something that has to be spoken about. These are things that you don’t want on your mind when you’re going to training or go to the game,” he revealed.
“So, for me it was just about trying to get in the right frame of mind, and I just couldn’t because it was difficult. And then when you’re out in the middle, you’re trying to be as positive as you can. And I was hitting them as well as I thought I could, but I was just getting no luck. You make your own luck in this game, the game owes you nothing and fortunately enough in this game it paid off, which I’m really happy about,” Warner further added.
He also insisted that it was all behind him now and that he had his eyes set on the road ahead, with no more distractions. “Yep, hundred per cent. That’s all parked now, I don’t have to worry about that, I’m not even thinking about it. The focus is now towards Sydney, and getting myself right for BBL.”
Warner had spoken before the MCG Test about wanting to go back to his former aggressive self. He kept his word too, showing a lot of intensity with his running between the wickets but also looking to take the game to the South Africans both in terms of his mind-set and a slight change in his technique. And he felt that he’d be sticking to this approach going forward for the rest of his Test career.
“You go back to last year against England, I thought the Gabba was probably one of the best innings I’ve played for a long time – I left patiently, I couldn’t drive anything on that wicket. The poor curator’s had tough times the last two years, but for us it’s about adapting to what’s in front of us. I was just thinking to myself ‘so be it, if I’m gonna go down swinging I may as well go down playing a cover drive and nick off rather than defending and getting caught at third slip,” he said.
“It’s one of those things I’ve always had in the back of my mind, just go out there and play that way. I think I’ve allowed myself to go a bit defensive instead of looking to score because of the wickets. If you look at the way Travis Head has come out and played his natural game, he managed to do that last year against England in Hobart, and he’s done it continuously through this summer as well.
“It’s about just having that comfort of backing yourself and I always do that but I felt a sense of responsibility to actually adapt to the wicket and conditions that were in front of me. But now it’s just going back to looking to score then my defence will take care of itself,” he said.
(Cricbuzz)
91st Battle of the Saints
St. Joseph’s hold the edge when they meet arch rivals St. Peter’s in the 91st Battle of the Saints’ big match starting today. After having beaten Petes by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ quarter-final at Polonnaruwa the Joes arive at the SSC ground to prove that the victory registered two months ago was not a fluke.
St. Joseph’s captained by wicketkeeper batsman Kenath Liyanage are concluding a successful season after having remained unbeaten until they were eliminated in the semi-final by St. Sebastian’s .
A strong batting lineup and a dynamic spin department are making them a formidable outfit.
Experienced campaigner Yenula Dewthusa and Demion de Silva with their left-arm spin and Aveesha Samash and Nushan Perera with off spin provide the Joes variety in the spin department. Dewthusa, Demion de Silva and Nushan Perera are their leading wicket takers. Spinners doing well at schools matches have not been effective at the SSC during the last few big matches. It will be interesting to watch as to how the spinners in these two teams would fare during the three days.
For pace the Joes will look to Maanasa Madubashana and Dunick Perera who are expected to share the new ball.
Abishek Jayaweera and Aveesha Samash will open batting, while Senuja Wakunugoda, skipper Liyanage, Dewthusa and Rishma Amarasinghe form the rest of the top order batting lineup.
St. Joseph’s registered three outright victories this season (beat St. Servatius’, St. Benedict’s and St. Peter’s) and remained unbeaten.
St. Peter’s under Oween Salgado’s captaincy did well to reach the business end of the Tier ‘A’ tournament. But the Petes were uncertain of Salgado’s participation in the big match as they were yet to assess his fitness yesterday morning. He was wounded during a match and the stitched wound had not fully healed according to team sources.
Petes beat Gurukula, St. Aloysius’ and Holy Cross this season. Their only defeat was at the hands of their arch rivals. They will look forward to avenge the defeat at the big match.
The Petes will rely on the likes of Dilana Damsara, Thareen Sanketh, Nathan David and Jason Fernando to take a greater share of batting responsibilities. The middle order batsman Sanketh is their leading batsman and has maintained an average of over 50 runs.
Speedsters Ethan Ransilige and Joshua Sebastian will share new ball duties for the Petes.
Lashmika Perera and Sanketh will share most of the slow ball duties.
St Peter’s are in the possession of the coveted Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy having last won the big match under the captaincy of Vinu Mohotty in 2016.
St. Joseph’s lead the series tally 12-10. They last won under Ruwantha Fernandopulle’s captaincy in 2008.
St. Peter’s College Team
(Seated from left) Harsha Prabath Perera (Asst. Physio/Trainer & Massuer), Thushara Maduhanka (1st XI Asst. Coach),
Nalin Wijesinghe (Head Coach), Priyadarshana Cooray (MIC – Senior & Junior), Oween Salgado (Captain), Rev. Fr.
Rohitha Rodrigo (Rector), Rev. Fr. Praveen Wijesekara (Priest in Charge – Cricket), Lashmika Perera
(Vice Captain), Dilana Damsara, Rohan Fernando (MIC – 2nd XI), Dinuka D. Godakanda (2nd XI Coach).
(Standing 1st row from left) Dinsara Rathnaweera, Dineth de Silva, Tharin Senvidu, Nathan David, Hiruka Silva, Thareen
Sanketh, Virul Amarapala, Yatheendra Jayaweera, Salith Gallage, Raphael Hettige. (Standing 2nd row from left) Jason Fernando,
Joshua Sebastian, Savi Fernnado, Ethan Ransilige, Asadisa De Silva, Sadeesha Kariyawasam, Enosh Peterson
by Reemus Fernando
120th Lovers’ Quarrel
The stakeholders of the Lovers’ Quarrel Big Match were still pursuing to make the historic 120th edition a reality on the eve of the match after Richmond authorities threatened to pull out citing that Mahinda had violated an accepted norm by included a newly recruited player in the big match team.
The historic edition was scheduled to commence as a three day encounter at the Galle International Stadium today. But the match remained doubtful at the time this edition went to press. The officials of both teams were unavailable for comments on the eve of the match. According to sources close to the two teams the joint big match committee was scheduled to meet in the evening yesterday to take a final decision regarding the match.
Richmond threatened to pull out after Mahinda included Charya Paranavithana in their big match team. Paranavithana captained St. Aloysius’ this season. He is not eligible to play matches that come under the purview of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association as he is yet to be registered as a Mahinda player. Big Matches are not played according to SLSCA rules but Richmond authorities had raised concerns over the player registration citing that the two schools had honoured the norm even at the big match.
According to sources Richmond were threatening to pull out if Paranavithana’s name was included in the playing XI on the match day morning.
Mahinda concluded a highly successful season as the team captained by Kaveen Rukshan earned the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ promotion this year. They were also the joint champions of the Tier ‘B’ tournament with Thurstan. In contrast former Division I champions Richmond had to fight relegation scares. The team captained by Thamindu Pradeeptha later successfully retained their Tier A position by recording an outright victory.
Mahinda College Team
Seated left to right: T.D. Ajantha Kumara (Head Coach), Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master in Charge – Senior), L. P. Weeraman (Deputy Principal –
Sports), Kaveen Rukshan (Captain), Mr. Janaka Peduruheva (Principal), Arosha Udayanga (Vice Captain), Mr. M.W. Ajith (Prefect of Games), Mr.
Jagath Samarakoon (Master in charge – Junior), Mr. Sachith Lakmal (Asst. Coach)
Standing (Middle row) – left to right – Dineth Pahasara, Thiyon Helika, Vinupa Nethmira, Sahanjith Irugalbandara, Dulisth Darshana, Senuka
Dangamuwa, Sadew Nethmina, Manitha Rajapaksha, Vishmitha Sathsara, Charya Paranavithana, Randula Mabarana
Standing (Back row) – left to right – Sajeew Punsara, Sehas Ashinsa, Kaveesha Githmal, Thevindu Rashmika
by Reemus Fernando
CR & FC huffed and puffed before beating Havelocks Sports Club 25-24 in a keenly contested Clifford Cup semi final game worked off in Colombo yesterday before booking their berth in Sunday’s rugby final, scheduled to take place in Kandy.
In Sunday’s final, CR will meet Kandy SC, the winner of the first semi final.
CR dominated the first half, but Havies came from behind in the second half to be in contention of pulling the game off till the last minute. Havelocks’ chances were boosted with two powerful tries coming from Chathura Dilshan late in the second half. But unpardonable mistakes by the men in the pink and chocolate jerseys helped CR to slip away with the game. Havelocks gave away two yellow cards during extra time in the second half.
The winners collected their points through three tries, two conversions and two penalties while Havelocks responded with three converted tries and a penalty. The winners led 15-10 at half time. Referee Raveen Alexander controlled the game.
By A Special Sports Correspondent
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