Sports
A thrilling contest on the cards as Joes meet Petes
90th Battle of the Saints
by Reemus Fernando
Formidable opponents St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s will be out to produce a close contest when they take the field in the 90th Battle of the Saints Big Match starting at the SSC ground today.
With a couple of Sri lanka Under 19 players bracing key positions, the two teams are expected to produce a thrilling contest. The two teams have peaked at the right moment to do so.
St. Peter’s, captained by Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Vishen Helambage, are just one win away from securing a place in the Tier A category after the team did well to reach the semifinals of the Tier B tournament.
St. Joseph’s under Lahiru Amarasekara completed the league stage at the fifth place in the points table in the Tier ‘A’ tournament. Though they are not part of the knockout stage the Joes too have come up with some outstanding performances during the latter part of the season.
The Joes have a strong batting line up. Though it was once rocked by Trinity this season they bounced back in dramatic fashion in the second essay. Hiran Jayasundara and Yenula Dewthusa, who were part of that rescue mission, are ready to repeat the rearguard action they have produced on more than one occasion this season if needed. Jayasundara has earned a special place in St. Joseph’s cricket history by becoming the only batsman to have scored two double centuries during the schools career. Abhishek Jayaweera, Aveesha Samash, Senuja Wakunugoda, Sri Lanka Under 19 player Hirun Kapurubandara and Rishma Amarasinghe are the other batsmen to watch.
In the bowling department Amarasekara and Dewthusa are expected to play a major role. Like their counterparts from other schools, the Joes speedsters too have shone when conditions suited them, with Dinuk Serasinghe and Manasa Madubashana leading from the front.
For Petes, Shennon Rodrigo was the key strike bowler during the season. He is expected to play vital roles in both the bowling and batting departments. While Lakshmika Perera and Helambage join him in the spin department, Ishira Ayupala will spearhead their pace attack.
Asadisa de Silva, Dilana Damsara, Oween Salgado, Helambage and Rusanda Gamage form the top order bating line up for Petes.
The Joes lead the victory tally of the Big Match 12-10. However, they have not tasted victory since the team led by Ruwantha Fernandopulle won the match in 2008. The Rev. Father Maurice J. Legoc Trophy remains in the custody of St. Peter’s having won it in 2016 under the captaincy of Vinu Mohotty.
Seated (from left): Torin Pitigala (Asst. Coach), Dilan Ramanayake (Head Coach), Asiri Caldera (Master in Charge), Lahiru Amarasekara (Captain), Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi (Rector), Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera (Priest in Charge), Hiran Jayasundara (Vice Captain), Sanjeewa Fernando (Master in Charge Second XI), Hirun Kapurubandara, Kalpaq Fernando (Coach Second XI) Second row (from left): Nushan Perera, Subashana Potzmann, Dihen de Silva, Yenula Dantanarayana, Yenula Dewthusa, Heshan Ramanayake, Maanasa Madubashana, Dunick Perera, Dunik Serasinghe, Kenath Liyanage, Aveesha Samash. Back row (from left): Abishek Jayaweera, Kaven Pathirana, Rishma Amarasinghe, Deshan Thalahitiyagala, Senuja Wakunugoda, Demion de Silva.
Todd Murphy is firming to play his first home Test, after the SCG’s head curator declared the pitch’s green covering would be near-irrelevant come day one.
With administrators still on edge after last week’s two day debacle in Melbourne, an extremely green SCG surface raised eyebrows in Sydney on Thursday.
But chief curator Adam Lewis insisted on Friday that should not be a concern, and he was hopeful Sydney would extend into a fifth day.
“You want to see green tinge three days out,” Lewis said. “If you’re not seeing any live grass three days out, then that’s when it’s a worry, … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting.
“We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment. We’re looking good.”
Lewis admitted he felt for MCG counterpart Matt Page last week, but said he felt no external pressure to ensure the fifth Test in Sydney went the distance.
It’s estimated that Cricket Australia (CA) has lost in the vicinity of AUD15 million in profits this summer, with the opening Test in Perth also finishing inside two days.
Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked at a function with teams on Thursday night that they had to ensure the game went to day three, in order to support the McGrath Foundation fundraiser.
One of the hardest grounds in the world to bowl on between 2014 and 2023, last year’s SCG Test was over in just two-and-a-half days.
Lewis said that his ground staff would go with 6mm of grass this year compared to 7mm last season, while also reducing its density. That in itself generally acts to flatten out the wicket and produce less movement, while also inviting the chance of spin late in the match.
“We just thought … we could thin our density out a little bit,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’ve done this year. We’ve practised that in the Shield matches and we’ve received very good marks.”
CA CEO Todd Greenberg said he too was confident the SCG Test would last the distance.
“I’ve had more phone calls and conversations about wickets and millimetres of grass than I thought I’d ever have,” Greenberg said. “But I’m hopeful and confident we will have a long and productive Test match here.”
All of which should spell good news for Murphy. Australia’s coaching staff had a prolonged conversation around the pitch on Friday morning, after leaving Murphy out and going with four quicks at the MCG.
Murphy then spent most of Friday’s training session bowling to Australia’s top order, while Alex Carey also had an extended run keeping to him.
With seven Tests to his name overseas, Murphy would be expected to come in for Jhye Richardson if he does play in Sydney.
England have promised to take the attack to Murphy, who played two Tests during the 2023 Ashes were he conceded 4.72 an over.
“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people,” opener Zak Crawley, said. “Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.
That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it’s definitely going to be a threat. But I think we’ll try and put pressure on all their bowlers.”
The other question for Australia will be whether Cameron Green remains in the side, after Beau Webster was spotted fielding in the gully during slips training on Friday. Green has averaged 18.66 with the bat in this series. The SCG was the scene of Webster’s debut a year ago against India.
[Cricinfo]
Young Pramod Madushan has become the talk in cricket circles after he scored 42 runs in an over for Mercantile Services Cricket Academy against Sigi Cricket Academy at Ambalangoda recently.
In an over that contained nine deliveries, including two no-balls and a wide, Madushan cut loose hitting three fours and five sixes. In all, the over bowled by Bihandu Sandiv went for 45 runs.
The young cricketer from D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo shares the same name as Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramod Madushan. However, the 19-year-old is a wicketkeeper batter.
His knock of 103 came in just 38 deliveries and contained eight fours and ten sixes.
Australia batter Usman Khawaja will retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney this week.
The 39-year-old will play his 88th and final Test on the ground where he made his debut against the same opponents in January 2011.
Khawaja was born in Pakistan and became the first Muslim to play for Australia when he took the place of Ricky Ponting at the end of England’s 3-1 series win 15 years ago.
The left-hander has made 6,206 Test runs at an average of 43.39, with 16 hundreds.
He has played in six Ashes series – winning two, losing two and drawing two.
He was also part of the Australia team that won the World Test Championship in 2023.
The final Test at the SCG starts on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday).
Alongside Steve Smith, Khawaja is one of two remaining members of the Australia team beaten by England in their most recent series win in this country in 2010-11.
He needs 30 runs in his final Test to go above Mike Hussey and into 14th on Australia’s all-time run-scorers list, behind the great Donald Bradman in 13th.
Khawaja played the last of his 40 one-day internationals in 2019, having scored 1,554 runs at 42. He played in nine T20 internationals, scoring 241 runs at 26.77.
Now playing domestically for Queensland, Khawaja will end his career on the ground that was his home when he first played professional cricket for New South Wales in 2008.
Often in and out of the Australia team during his Test career, he found a home at the top of the order during the previous home Ashes in 2021-22.
However, his place has come under scrutiny during this series after he suffered back spasms in the first Test that prevented him from opening.
Travis Head took Khawaja’s place in the second innings and made a swashbuckling century to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win.
Khawaja subsequently missed the second Test with the back problem and was due to be left out of the third, only to receive a late call-up when Steve Smith fell ill.
He made 82 and 40 in Adelaide to retain his place for the fourth Test. Australia lead the series 3-1.
After the Ashes Australia will not play another Test until August, by which time Khawaja will be almost 40.
[BBC]
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