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Karunaratne toils his way to a place among Sri Lanka’s greats

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/4

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Dimuth Karunaratne is the seventh Sri Lanka player to 100 Test matches [Cricinfo]

Since the start of 2015, no Test opener has scored as many runs as Dimuth Karunaratne. He has 15 hundred, which is the equal highest among openers. He has struck 34 fifties, easily the best – that tally in some senses making him the most consistent opener to be continuously active through the last ten years. Over the course of this, he has also made the ICC Test XI three times, which no other opener has managed.

This week, as he plays his 100th Test, there is reason to give the man his flowers, because when else was cricket going to find the time? His is a career that has floated on the fringes of the sport’s consciousness. You can still make a serious name for yourself as a Test opener in this age, but you have to crash a lot of boundaries to get that kind of attention, and ideally your country belongs to one of cricket’s bigger economies. Grinding out half-centuries on dustbowls, hunkering down for the new-ball spells, manipulating spin so you’re tracking at roughly three runs an over without risks – these are all nice things to be good at. But as far as the modern cricket ecosystem goes, this is like saying you’re the world’s top air-conditioner repair mechanic. Other people are doing way more glamorous things.

For much of Karunaratne’s career, opening has been especially difficult. Since the start of 2015, men’s openers around the world have averaged 33.71 – significantly lower than they did in the aughts (3.17), and less than in the nineties ( 35.50, and eighties (34.76). You were always at the greatest risk of falling to the swinging and seaming ball as an opening batter, but in the last 10 years of Test batting, fresh terrors have snuck into nightmares, with the wisdom that spinners gain more bite out of a hard new seam taking hold stronger than it ever has before. In the 2020s, a 140+kph quick and an experienced finger spinner sharing the new ball is a pretty standard challenge for an opener, especially in Sri Lanka, where new balls can swing through humid air almost as well as they can explode off dry surfaces. Take away Karunaratne’s runs, and openers have averaged 33.6 on the island since 2015.

There are also few who have lit so steady a fire for Sri Lanka’s place in the Test world. This is, after all, a country that has let its Test-match win-loss ratio slip from 1.31 between 2005 and end of 2014, to 0.81 since the start of 2015. Much of this has been about Sri Lanka’s failure to replace great players. There are no spinners to rival Muthiah Muralidaran and Rangana Herath, no seamers to match Chaminda Vaas or Lasith Malinga, no top-order batters that are on the level of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Aravinda de Silva. But when it comes to openers, there is a case to be heard. Sanath Jayasuriya and Tilakaratne Dilshan did it with more verve, and Marvan Atapattu was more technically correct. But none of them did it as prolifically as Karunaratne, or scored anywhere near his 7079 runs at the top of the order.

With most other positions in the XI, you can look back to the Lankan men’s team of the late aughts and early 2010s – the golden generation – and mostly conclude that Sri Lanka do not produce cricketers of the same quality. Karunaratne gives you reason to pause.

And at no point, by the way, was he ever Sri Lanka’s golden boy. Where it had been suggested of others that they were the next great Sri Lanka batter, Karunaratne was ever the jobbing opener, and rarely believed to be deserving of the care that batters marked out for stardom tend to receive from coaches and staff, though he has outlasted virtually all of them. Karunaratne’s has been a short leash, and he’s got the struggling thirties, and the dirty half-centuries to prove it. No one will call it a pretty career. But fifties didn’t need to be pretty – they just needed to be fifties. And Karunaratne was adept at providing them. Those prods outside off stump, those strong lbw shouts, and inside edges into pad were all in strong supply. But so were Karunaratne’s runs.

There is an obvious skew to his record. He is exceptionally good against spin, which explains why 81% of his hundreds have come in Asia, though he’s also got hundreds in South Africa and New Zealand.

If Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin presented the greatest spin-challenging of this last era, then few batters have denied them as effectively, with Karunaratne hitting hundreds at the SSC in 2017 1nd Bengalaru in 2022. These were classic Karunaratne innings, in that he obviously scratched his way through portions of them, rarely struck the kinds of authoritative boundaries that suggested he was dominating the bowling, and yet he found ways to avoid getting out, while pinching another 10 runs. He has added a few new shots, and refined his defence, but this, essentially, has been his mode of operation for 12 years. There is also a strikingly ego-free quality here. For bowlers, beating a batter’s edge is a small victory; for Karunaratne, it is an opportunity to face the next ball.

It is a career worth celebrating all the more, for it being in its last days, almost inescapably. Karunaratne has not said anything about retirement yet, but the signs are there. He averaged 29.66 across 2024, and was terrorised by Kagiso Rabada in South Africa, just as he is again being hounded by Mitchell Starc – a bowler who has now dismissed him nine times in Tests. But his own performance is almost irrelevant. Even if Karunaratne throws off a career’s worth of precedent and clubs 100-ball double-centuries in his next Test encounters, Sri Lanka will only still be playing four Tests in 2025. Their next World Test Championship schedule will still feel sparse.

If a little navel-gazing is permitted, you do have to wonder how many more Sri Lanka cricketers will get to 100 Tests. Another Sri Lanka opening batter? This could be a last chance to see.

Karunaratne is the seventh Sri Lanka cricketer to this milestone, to follow Jayasuriya, Muralidaran, Vaas, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, and Angelo Mathews. He is probably the least-celebrated of that crowd. But no one could say he does not deserve his place among them. Others have had the benefit of hype, legend, and aura. Karunaratne’s only medium has always been hard, pragmatic runs.

[Cricinfo]

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Workshop Explores Integration of Enterprise Development Programmes with the “Prajashakthi” National Movement

Published

54 mins ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

A special workshop was held today (06) at the Presidential Secretariat to explore the possibility of integrating programmes currently implemented by state institutions that directly contribute to enterprise development with the “Prajashakthi” National Movement.

Discussions focused on identifying development projects undertaken by government institutions for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and incorporating relevant information into a unified data management system.

Attention was also directed towards formulating a strategic framework for the coordinated implementation of these programmes, as well as identifying the nature, scope and eligibility criteria of the initiatives carried out by the respective institutions.

The participating government officials were further briefed on the criteria for selecting beneficiaries for programmes directly related to enterprise development.

In addition, discussions centred on identifying programmes that could be implemented independently or jointly by the relevant state institutions and the “Prajashakthi” National Movement. Particular attention was paid to preventing duplication and overlap in programme selection and implementation.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Sampath Manthrinayake, resource persons Kalum Jayaveera and Madhava Muthukudaarachchi, officials of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, government officials, and representatives of the Prajashakthi Secretariat were among those who attended the workshop.

(PMD)

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England make inroads after New Zealand set 254 to win

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

Gus Atkinson claimed a wicket with his third ball [Cricinfo]

After a 16-wicket opening day of the English Test summer, a further 17 fell on the second on an up-and-down Lord’s surface that left batters guessing. Despite a mid-afternoon wobble when they lost four wickets in 11 balls, England ended it firmly on top by striking three early blows to New Zealand’s attempts to chase 254 in the fourth innings.

A wicket has fallen every 25 balls across the first two days – with 11 batters out bowled and nine lbw – and neither captain has seen fit to use a spinner on a pitch defined by its variable bounce. Emilio Gay’s 57 on Test debut is the highest score on either side so far, and he would have been out lbw to Matt Henry for 24 if Tom Latham had reviewed the on-field decision.

Henry was limited to four overs on the opening day by back spasms and New Zealand’s three other quicks shouldered a heavy workload as a result. But his only wicket summed up the challenge for batters: the ball shot low from a good length, sneaking under the toe-end of Jacob Bethell’s bat to knock back his off stump.

Oliie Robinson the protagonist of the opening day in reducing New Zealand to 29 for 6 with a superb new-ball burst on his comeback to Test cricket, led England off after just under an hour on the second morning after completing his first five-wicket haul in four years. Their first-innings lead stood at 29 after Kyle Jamieson’s three sixes put a small dent in the deficit.

Glenn Phillips had counterattacked on the first evening but lost his off stump to Josh Tongue’s first ball of the morning. Tongue struck again in his second over when Nathan Smith left one that jagged back sharply, Atkinson bluffed Will O’Rourke with a full ball that he edged to slip, and Robinson roared in celebration after knocking back Henry’s middle stump.

Gay’s maiden Test innings had lasted only 14 balls as Jamieson worked him over, but he played tightly and patiently in his second in adding 52 with Ben Duckett. He slowly went through the gears after a cautious start, reaching an 84-ball half-century – the first by an England opener on debut since Keaton Jennings in 2016 – when taking 16 runs off a Smith over.

But New Zealand will rue a series of missed opportunities. Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway both dropped catches for the second day in a row – Ravindra shelled Duckett at short midwicket, and Conway gave Bethell a life at gully – while Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham left a slip catch for one another when Henry found Gay’s outside edge.

Duckett made 33 before slicing O’Rourke to gully while camped on the back foot expecting a short ball before Henry’s daisy-cutter did for Bethell, but it was Gay’s dismissal – fiddling Smith’s outswinger behind – that prompted England’s collapse: Harry Brook and Joe Root were pinned lbw, while Ben Stokes lost his off stump to Smith as 126 for 2 became 127 for 6 in 11 balls.

It took a 57-run stand between Jamie Smith and Atkinson – the highest partnership of the match – to drag England’s lead past 200. Smith, promoted above Stokes to No. 6, was bowled shouldering arms in the first innings but played with far more conviction in the second, driving Henry to both the cover and mid-off boundaries in the over before tea.

Atkinson miscued a flat-batted swat straight up to be caught-and-bowled by Jamieson but Robinson took over from him by swiping at New Zealand’s short balls. Nathan Smith was rewarded when he went fuller, bowling both his namesake Jamie and Tongue before Robinson’s heave to midwicket gave him a second successive six-wicket haul.

It left New Zealand needing the highest score of the match to secure only their second win at Lord’s and while higher targets than 253 have been hauled in across the previous 149 Tests at this ground, few of those can have been on surfaces offering fast bowlers as much encouragement as this one.

Latham decided to chance his arm, chasing Atkinson’s third ball with a hard-handed drive which he steered straight to Brook at second slip. Unsurprisingly, Robinson’s first over was less eventful in the second innings than his three-wicket effort in the first, but he very nearly had Kane Williamson bowled shouldering arms in his second.

Robinson was chuntering when Stokes brought the keeper up to force Williamson to stay in his crease, and his attempts to send Jamie Smith back were ignored. But the argument came to a natural end between overs as Williamson was pinned lbw by Tongue, reviewing only in desperation as his fifth and likely final Test at Lord’s ended with scores of 0 and 18.

O’Rourke was given the unenviable task of walking out as nightwatcher, and lasted six balls before he was castled by Atkinson. Devon Conway, who reached the close unbeaten on 12, will need substantial support from New Zealand’s middle order to reel in the remaining 218 runs.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 113 in 29.5 overs (Kyle Jamieson 38; Gus Atkinsonn2-09,Ollie Robinson 5-39, Josh Tongue 3-40) and 36 for 3 in 11.5 overs (Devon Conway 12*; Gus Atkinson 2-10) need 218 more runs to beat England 140 in 39.4 overs (Harry Brook 56; Kyle Jamieson 5-62, Nathan Smith 3-38, Will O’Rouke 2-25) and 226 in 5 overs (Emillo Gay 57, Jamie Smith 39; Nathan Smith 6-70, Will O’Rourke 2-46)

[Cricinfo]

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Rusty West Indies face upbeat Sri Lanka with series on the line

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/6

Priyan

Kusal Mendis scored a vital half-century in the first ODI [Cricinfo]

A first ODI win in the West Indies since 2013 and more importantly, a winning start to Gary Kirsten’s tenure as head coach. The action now returns to the same venue for the second of three games, as the hosts seek to keep the series alive and both sides look to implement any learning from the first game.

For Kirsten and Sri Lanka, there were elements of the veteran coach seeking to come to terms with the talents at his disposal and identifying their best fit. The promotion of Kamindu Mendis to the top of the order – while not coming off on Wednesday – is one such example, while Kusal Mendis’ aggression through the middle overs showed that captaincy has not dulled his attacking instincts.

But there were concerns too. Pavan Rathnayake had a breakout 2026 T20 World Cup, but having been positioned in a pivotal No. 4 role, his 24 off 38 only served to snuff the momentum Kusal had created. Kirsten will no doubt have taken note, as he would have of Janith Liyanage’s pivotal contributions at the death. Perhaps trialing Liyanage at four instead?

For West Indies, the problems certainly outweighed the positives. Despite the quick start provided by their openers – something that in most scenarios ought to have helped break the spine of a 300-plus chase – the middle order struggled to contend with Sri Lanka’s spinners.

There also seemed to be a distinct lack of clarity in their batting approach; unlike in T20s where they are a side renowned for their ability to clear the boundary with regularity, in the 50-over format – perhaps owing to the fact this was their first such assignment in six months – there seemed to be some rustiness and even unease around the need to build at pace through the middle.

Nevertheless, there will be strands to cling to heading into Saturday’s second ODI, particularly the execution of their plans in shackling Pathum Nissanka. At the same time, it will have been impressed on the top-order the importance of capitalising on their starts.

In the opening game, Roston Chase showcased his utility, delivering a tidy ten-over spell of 2 for 47 before chipping in with a steady 33 off 46 balls during the chase. Those numbers kept the home side competitive, but in a must-win second game, West Indies will be hoping he ramps things up, particularly with the bat. Chase’s technical expertise against spin will likely prove pivotal in combating the pair of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, and that anchor role will ideally allow the team’s designated boundary-hitters to play with freedom around him.

Dushmantha Chameera proved that absolute pace remains lethal, regardless of the type of surface on offer. The quick turned up once more with his now customary consistent displays of hit-the-deck bowling, as he ran through the West Indies middle-and-lower order to finish with match-winning figures of 4 for 67. His capacity to extract sharp bounce from a good length will also once more prove a challenge for the West Indian openers.

West Indies will most probably go in with an unchanged XI.

West Indies (probable): John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (capt & wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

Sri Lanka will likely field an unchanged lineup. Though considering Sri Lanka’s stacked seam-bowling department, and the reverse swing on offer in the first game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Eshan Malinga brought into the XI.

Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (capt & wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Milan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando/Eshan Malinga

[Cricinfo]