Sports

Remembering Warne’s legacy

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/2

Rex Clementine in Galle

They say, “the good die young.” Shane Warne, though, was no saint. His life was a rollercoaster of triumphs and tribulations, a Shakespearean tragedy with a touch of reckless abandon. He signed a lucrative deal to quit smoking, only to be caught puffing away in New Zealand. He was fined for leaking information to a bookie. There were scandalous text messages, a doping ban, and more controversies that would have sunk lesser men. But Warne was no ordinary man.

For all his flaws, he was a genuine bloke. As Aravinda de Silva told this publication recently, what he admired most in Warne was his genuineness. He never wore a mask, never played to the gallery. He was who he was – raw, unfiltered and unapologetically himself. That, for a global icon, was a dangerous thing to be.

Warne’s greatness as a bowler is well documented. Some of his most defining moments were etched in Sri Lanka. His first overseas tour in 1992 saw him rise from obscurity, bowling Australia to a miraculous 16-run win in Colombo. Sri Lanka had posted a mammoth 547 for eight declared in the first innings – victory seemed inevitable. But Warne, with the guile of a master illusionist, turned the game on its head. When the dust settled, Allan Border called it “the biggest heist since the Great Train Robbery.”

Galle, too, holds a special chapter in Warne’s story. It was here, amid the ruins of a drug ban, that he staged a triumphant comeback, claiming his 500th Test wicket. Australia, against the odds, won 3-0, and Warne was the architect of the turnaround, spinning webs around Sri Lanka when it mattered most.

But it wasn’t just his cricket that endeared him to Sri Lanka. Warne’s heart was as big as his talent. When the 2004 tsunami devastated the island, he was among the first international figures to visit, witnessing the horror firsthand. Just days later, a charity match in Melbourne raised a fortune, much of which found its way to rebuilding shattered lives in Sri Lanka.

Together with his great mate, Muttiah Muralitharan, Warne lent his name and energy to the Foundation of Goodness, a charity founded by former cricketer Kushil Gunasekara. Warne’s mere presence turned the global spotlight on the initiative, paving the way for institutions like MCC and Laureus to join in. Today, the Foundation’s Center of Excellence at Seenigama is a breeding ground for young talent, producing cricketers, including many in Sri Lanka’s women’s Under-19 team. Without Warne’s influence, that vision may never have come to life.

Warne was larger than life, a man who embraced excess, who lived every moment as if it were his last. No wonder they called him ‘Hollywood’. His passing at 52 was a massive blow to the game.

As the Bard himself wrote, “When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night.”

Warne’s star will never fade.

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Sports

Brilliant one day, baffled the next

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dasun Shanka’s captaincy has been uninspiring

One day they were kings of the hill, brushing aside mighty Australia with two overs to spare and sending the faithful into raptures. The next, they were brought crashing down to earth, unable to bat out their 20 overs as England handed them a sobering reality check. Cricket, as ever, proved to be the great leveller, lifting you to the heavens on Monday and reminding you of your frailties by Sunday.

The same fans who had burnt the midnight oil celebrating Australia’s exit turned restless when Sri Lanka ate humble pie. The wheel turns quickly in this fickle game. Applause morphs into angst in the space of little time.

Kandy’s supporters, passionate as they are, must tread carefully. Their behaviour in recent years has not always been up to scratch and the last thing the city needs is a clampdown on international cricket. Disappointment is part and parcel of sport. But hurling abuse and worse, objects onto the field, crosses the boundary rope of decency. That is simply not cricket.

There were positives amid the rubble. A depleted bowling attack did a commendable job to restrict England to under 150, no mean feat given modern T20 batting excesses. On another evening, that total might have been hunted down with calculated aggression. Instead, Sri Lanka’s chase never quite got out of second gear.

The over-reliance on Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis is becoming glaring. Once the top order’s twin pillars are dislodged early, the middle order appears to play catch-up cricket, swinging between caution and desperation. It is a dangerous tightrope.

Conditions, too, played their part. After incessant rain in Kandy, the pitch had been under covers for more than 48 hours. Surfaces suffocated that long tend to wear a different face once unveiled, gripping, stopping, turning. The return catches that accounted for Kusal and Kamindu Mendis told their own tale. They weren’t able to get the timing right.

Selection, meanwhile, has raised more than a few eyebrows. The omission of seasoned campaigner Kusal Janith Perera after two outings begs explanation. The recall of Kamil Mishara has left many scratching their heads. And Charith Asalanka, arguably one of Sri Lanka’s more assured players of spin, remains on the sidelines as the team grapples with slow surfaces. At this level, such calls can make or break campaigns.

Questions, too, swirl around leadership. Sliding down the batting order while wickets tumble is rarely the hallmark of strong captaincy. When the ship is taking on water, the skipper must be seen on deck. Leaders shoulder the burden; they do not pass the parcel.

Now Sri Lanka face a classic Hobson’s choice. Win their remaining two games and book a ticket to Calcutta for the semi-finals. Slip up once more, and it will be curtains. In tournament cricket, there is no room for half-measures. It is time to either hold their nerve or pack their bags.

by Rex Clementine

Sports

Vishmi Gunaratne, spinners star as Sri Lanka claim series 2-0

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Vishmi top-scored with 58. (Getty)

‎Sri Lanka Women took a 2-0 lead with another tight victory over the West Indies at St George’s on Sunday (February 22).

‎The second ODI carried a script similar to the first game: West Indies chasing a sub-250 total, an exact 50 by Jannillea Glasgow from No.7, and a narrow win for Sri Lanka.

‎The West Indies, who fell short by 10 runs in pursuit of 241 in the first ODI, had a smaller total to chase this time, bundling out the tourists for 208. At 166-4 in the 36th over, Sri Lanka looked set for much more, but lost their way, even as Vishmi Gunaratne kept one end occupied with a fighting fifty.

‎In response, West Indies, just like in the first ODI, had their top five sent back inside 100, leaving the lower order to push them close to the finish.

‎The talking point, though, was Deandra Dottin’s dismissal, out obstructing the field.

‎The incident occurred in the 30th over, with West Indies needing 94 at that point. Facing Chamari Athapaththu, Dottin went for a sweep, but missed the wide ball. It ricocheted off the keeper’s pads and flew back towards Dottin, who bizarrely tapped the ball with her bat and caught it with one hand. The Sri Lanka fielders went up in appeal straight away, claiming obstruction.

‎After consultation between the umpires and a referral upstairs, Dottin was given out. Next over, Aaliyah Alleyne was caught at backward point, pushing West Indies further into trouble.

‎But Glasgow stayed put, briefly finding company in Shawnisha Hector, but the partnership was broken by a brilliant diving catch in the deep by Nilakshika Silva, falling inches from the boundary.

‎Glasgow kept finding boundaries, targeting the area down the ground, forging a crucial stand with Afy Fletcher for the ninth wicket. With 18 needed off 22 though, Fletcher perished trying to take on Inoka Ranaweera, succumbing to another sharp catch by the Sri Lankans.

‎Even as she ran out of partners, Glasgow kept them in the hunt. However, off the last ball of the 48th over, her resistance ended, slapping one straight to cover, where Kavisha Dilhari took a fine catch on the second attempt. Glasgow crouched in despair, held up by her bat and consoled by Ramharack, even as the Sri Lankan fielders around celebrated the series win.

‎Sugandika Kumari took a three-wicket haul, as did Ranaweera, adding to her four wickets in the first game.

‎It’s the second bilateral ODI series win in a row for Sri Lanka over West Indies, having broken a streak of four straight series defeats to them until 2024.

‎Brief scores:

‎Sri Lanka 208 all out in 47.1 overs

(Vishmi Gunaratne 58, Harshitha Samarawickrama 35; Karishma Ramharackh 3-26)

‎West Indies 194 in 48 overs

(Jannillea Glasgow 50, Sugandika Kumari 3-38, Inoka Ranaweera 3-44)

(Cricbuzz)

‎

Sports

Saad wins best athlete title, reaches qualifying standards for World Junior Championship

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Saad Faleel with his coach Asanka Rajakaruna. (File Picture)

‎Inter International Schools Athletics Championship

‎Gateway College Kandy sprinter Saad Faleel stood out prominently among the rising stars of International Schools at the Inter International Schools Athletic Championship concluded at Diyagama on Sunday.

‎The athlete trained by Asanka Rajakaruna delivered a performance that not only earned him top honours but also established him as one of the most promising young athletes of the meet as he produced a record breaking feat in the 100 metres.

‎Competing against some of the finest athletes of the international schools arena, Saad demonstrated remarkable sprinting prowess to clock 10.44 seconds to win the Under 20 age category event.

‎Saad not only shattered the record held by Dineth Weerarathne (10.62 sec) but also reached qualifying standads for the World Junior Athletics Championship. His outstanding performance earned him the Best Athlete title of the meet as well.

‎Yahanu Ranasinghe of Lyceum Inyernational School, Panadura was the only other athlete to clock sub 11 seconds in the Under 20 100 metres.

‎Saad was also the winner of the 200 metres of his age category returning a remarkable time of 21.71, just four miliseconds shy of Weerarathne’s 2024 meet record.

‎From the very outset of the championship, Saad showed he was in exceptional form. His event performances reflected meticulous preparation and disciplined training. Whether it was his commanding presence at the start or his composed execution during crucial moments, Saad maintained a high standard throughout the competition winning the 100m heats in 19.67 seconds and 200m heats in 21.72 seconds.

‎In the girls category, Risansa Silva won the best athlete title for her outstanding feat in the Under 20 100 metres. The Lyceum International Wattala athlete broke the meet records in the 100m and the 200 m with feats of 11.88 and 24.25 respectively

‎

‎A milestone achievement

‎Saad Faleel’s accomplishment at ISAC 2026 marks an important milestone in his athletic journey as he has now earned qualifying standards to represent Sri Lanka at the August 5-9 event at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

‎As expected, topping the points table was Lyceum International School Wattala, amassing an impressive 960 points to emerge as overall champions. Their consistent excellence across events ensured a commanding lead.

‎Finishing in second place was Gateway College – Colombo with 686 points. Gateway’s strong all-round performances kept them competitive throughout the championship.

‎Third position went to Lyceum International School Nugegoda, who collected 513 points, while OKI International School secured fourth place with 405 points.

‎Close behind in fifth place was Lyceum International School Ratnapura with 400 points, demonstrating commendable determination and team spirit. Horizon College International finished sixth overall with 239 points.

by Reemus Fernando