Sports

Angelo Mathews : Game over, class forever

Published

10 months ago

2025/06/1

Angelo Mathews

It’s been a week since Angelo Mathews called time on his Test career, and with the dust now almost settled, we can fully appreciate the mark he left on Sri Lankan cricket. Mathews wasn’t just part of a side that etched its name into the record books – he was the ink in the pen that scripted history.

A career spanning 17 years, Mathews walks away as Sri Lanka’s third-highest run-getter in Tests. But numbers alone don’t capture the essence of his contribution. For those who had the privilege to watch his journey unfold, certain knocks leap off the page – Melbourne 2010 and Headingley 2014. Moments not just of personal triumph, but of national glory. The kind of innings that linger in memory like Aravinda’s epic in Lahore or Kusal Janith’s miracle in Durban.

Melbourne was magic. In a land where cricket is played hard and victories for visiting teams are few and far between, Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel after a batting collapse. But Mathews, batting with the tail, held firm. He stitched together priceless partnerships and dragged the team from the jaws of defeat to their first-ever series win in Australia. It was gutsy, gritty, and glorious cricket at its purest.

Then came Headingley, four years on. By now, Mathews had the captain’s armband and was leading a seasoned side into English conditions. After a battling hundred at Lord’s, he arrived in Headingley with Sri Lanka behind the eight ball. England had secured a 100-run lead, and another familiar collapse had the Sri Lankans on the ropes.

What followed was a masterclass in crisis management. Mathews, once again shepherding the tail, farmed the strike with surgical precision and notched up a captain’s hundred. His knock turned the tide, giving his bowlers enough runs to work with – and they delivered. Sri Lanka ran through England’s second innings like a hot knife through butter to seal a historic, first-ever series win on English soil. Any cricketer who plays a leading role in landmark wins in both Australia and England deserves a place in the pantheon. That’s what makes Angelo Mathews a giant among men.

His ascent to the national team was swift. After making waves during Sri Lanka ‘A’ team’s successful tour of South Africa in 2007, where coach Chandika Hathurusinghe tipped him as a future star, the selectors wasted no time. With backing from heavyweights like Kumar Sangakkara, Trevor Bayliss, and Ashantha de Mel, Mathews was fast-tracked into the big league.

And while he carved a name with the bat, his early impact came with the ball. In the 2009 T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval, he tore through the West Indies top order in a blistering first over – clean bowling Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo before the scoreboard had time to move. It was the perfect set-up for Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis to tighten the screws and seal a spot in the final.

As captain, Mathews wore many hats – mentor, mediator and sometimes, lone warrior. His tenure coincided with a tricky period for Sri Lanka, one where unity was frayed and egos loomed large. But Mathews didn’t shy away from the hard yards. He stood his ground, made the tough calls and in doing so, ruffled a few feathers. Strong leadership often comes at a cost, and Mathews paid it in full. There were whispers, barbs, and attempts to smear his name. But through it all, he remained steadfast – a good man playing a straight bat in a game that sometimes threw him googlies.

On and off the field, he was the glue that held the team together. Whether it was pushing back against poor decisions or being the voice of the dressing room in times of crisis, Mathews didn’t duck the bouncers. He fronted up, spoke out and stood tall.

Now, as he walks back to the pavilion one final time, he leaves behind not just a pair of boots too big to fill – but a legacy built on courage, commitment, and class.

by Rex Clementine ✍️

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Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

6 mins ago

2026/03/29

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 March 2026, valid for 29March 2026.

Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Tharanga shatters national javelin record again ‎

Published

19 mins ago

2026/03/29

Priyan

(File pic)

Rumesh Tharanga created history with yet another world leading throw that shattered his own national javelin record at the Champions Track and Field event at Diyagama on Saturday.

‎The massive 89.37 metres throw, when recognized by World Athletics is set to become the fourth furthest throw in the history of the Asian region.

‎Despite little competion from his rivals, Tharanga rose like a champion of an entirely different league when he delivered the record breaking feat in his final attempt.

‎Tharanga had a world leading mark of 83.07 metres for the year coming into this meet. His national record of 86.50 metres was from August 2025. (RF)

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Woods charged with driving under influence after crash

Published

20 hours ago

2026/03/28

Priyan

iger Woods was fortunate to escape with his life from this 2021 crash near Los Angeles [BBC]

Tiger Woods has been charged with driving under the influence after rolling his car in a crash in Florida, police have confirmed.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the 15-time major champion was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Woods, 50, rolled his Land Rover after clipping a pressure cleaner truck while trying to overtake it at “a high rate of speed”, according to Sheriff John Budensiek.

The golfer, who had to crawl out of the passenger door of his vehicle, passed a breathalyser test after the crash but refused a urine test.

No-one sustained any injuries in the incident which took place on Beach Road in Jupiter Island just before 14:00 local time on Friday (about 19:00 GMT).

Sheriff Budensiek told a news conference: “The DUI investigators came to the scene and Mr Woods did exemplify signs of impairment.

“They did several tests on him. He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he’s had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests.

“When it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail.

“At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we were really not suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case and that proved to be true.

“Mr Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused.”

Budensiek also said Woods had been “co-operative but was trying not to incriminate himself”.

“He has a right to refuse that test,” added the sheriff. “There is a statute which he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash.”

US president Donald Trump was asked about the crash on Friday, saying: “I feel so badly. [Woods has] got some difficulty. There was an accident. That’s all I know.

“He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man.”

Sheriff Budensiek said Woods would remain in jail for eight hours then be released on bond. The charges are misdemeanours, not felonies.

The BBC has contacted the golfer’s representatives for comment.

This is not the first time Woods has been involved in a car accident – he has played a limited schedule since the serious crash in 2021 that left him with extensive injuries and fortunate to be alive.

In 2017 police officers also found him slumped at the wheel of his parked Mercedes-Benz not far from his Florida home.

A toxicology report found Woods had several legal medications in his system and marijuana’s active ingredient, and he was sentenced to a year’s probation after pleading guilty to reckless driving.

In 2009 Woods hit a fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges in a bizarre collision outside his home.

The incident sparked accusations of extramarital affairs which led to the end of his seven-year marriage and the loss of lucrative sponsorship deals.

[BBC]