Sports

Dharmaraja Cricket Foundation felicitates seven stalwarts at annual Awards Night

Published

11 months ago

2025/02/3

Haresh Ratnayake, Rienzie Subasinghe, Ananda Wijajasekara and Senaka Dissanayake

Three present First XI players and four team officials were felicitated by the Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation (DRCCF) at its annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony for the 2023/2024 season held on the 25th of January at the Grand Kandyan Hotel in Kandy. The event, which coincided with the 25th anniversary celebrations of DRCCF saw the presence of over 200 past cricketers of Dharmaraja College joining hands.

The annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony conducted by DRCCF, an event highly anticipated among the former cricketing alumni of Dharmaraja College, recognised the achievements of their three Under-19 talents, who represented Sri Lanka Youth in 2024. They were Pulindu Perera, Lakvin Abeysinghe and Sheshan Marasinghe, who have been outstanding contributors to Dharmaraja cricket, as well as the teams they represented at different levels.

Pulindu Perera, a fifth-year player who bats Left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spins, has been awarded the best batsman award in the 34th and 35th editions of the Limited Overs encounters against big match rivals Kingswood College. He also was adjudged the best batsman at the 115th Battle of the Maroons against Kingswood, and was adjudged the best bowler in the 116th edition of the two-day encounter.

Pulindu went onto represent Sri Lanka U-19s against West Indies, Pakistan, England, as well as the Youth Asia Cup and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2024. His achievements earned him the promotion to compete in the National Super League, the Lanka Premier League and a slot in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team against Pakistan Shaheens.

Lakvin Abeysinghe was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19s in the Youth Asia Cup 2024 held in Dubai, where he scored 50 against Nepal and 69 against India. He was adjudged the best batsman in the U-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ segment, and also has gone the extent of playing four times in the Super Provincial Tournament, representing Under-17 and Under-19 teams since 2022.

Shehan Marasinghe, who has many accolades under his belt, has represented the Kandy District team in the SLC Super Provincial Youth League at Under-17 and Under-19 levels. A fast bowler who could hit the above 130 kilometres per hour range, Shehan represented Sri Lanka Under-19s against their tour of England.

Lakvin Abeysinghe, Pulindu Perera and Sheshan Marasinghe.

The four officials felicitated by the DRCCF were Ananda Wijajasekara, Rienzie Subasinghe, Senaka Dissanayake and Haresh Ratnayake, who contributed to the growth and success of Dharmaraja cricket in different capacities.

Wijayasekara, an experienced cricket coach who imparted his services as a coach at different age groups since 1994, has helped Dharmaraja produce many cricketers at national level, including the school’s recent star, Chamara Kapugedara. Under him Dharmaraja was able to win many titles.

Subasinghe, a well-qualified public servant, has been actively involved with Dharmaraja cricket as the Master in-Charge since he joined the Hill Capital school as an English teacher in 1987. He has worked alongside many coaches of Dharmaraja cricket including David Karunaratne, Sonny Yatawara and Senaka Dissanayake, and has guided many Rajan cricketers reach the highest level.

Celebrated cricketer from the Hill Capital, Dissanayake, has contributed his yeoman services to the recent successes of Dharmaraja cricket. Being a well recognised cricketer himself, Dissanayake has represented his alma mater, at all age levels beginning from Under-13, and also represented Sri Lanka Under-19s under the legendary Aravinda de Silva against Australia in 1984. The first Rajan cricketer to score 200 runs for his school team at the iconic Asgiriya Ground, Dissanayake has served Dharmaraja First XI cricket as a coach from 1984 to 1992 while serving as Head Coach of the team from 2005 to 2017 and a second tenure from 2023 to date.

Considered as a cricketing legend among the Rajans, Ratnayake’s achievements as a former player and captain of Dharmaraja cricket speaks greater volume. Ratnayake, who captained the Dharmaraja First XI team in the 2001/02 season, has many accolades under his belt, such as an impressive batting average of 94.5.

His talent earned him the national spotlight from the category of Under-15, where he was picked to represent the Sri Lanka Development Squad. A former skipper of Dharmaraja U-15 and U-17 teams as well, Ratnayake led the Kandy District and Central Province teams at Under-17 and Under-19 levels, before earning Sri Lanka Schools Colours. He has played for different teams, home and abroad, and has been an inspiration to the young cricketers of Dharmaraja College for many years.

The Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation, who recognised these seven individuals for their outstanding contributions at different capacities, as players, coaches and officials, also pledged to continue their enduring commitment towards the development of the school’s cricket future. The event was held under the patronage of the Immediate Past Principal of the school as well as the Past Presidents of the DRCCF.

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SCG curator ‘really happy’ with pitch for final Ashes Test

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

The pitch at the SCG has been the centre of much attention [Cricinfo]

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]

Sports

Pramod hits 42 runs in an over

Published

18 hours ago

2026/01/2

Thilina Walpola

Pramod Madushan hit 42 runs in an over.

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.

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Usman Khawaja to retire after fifth Ashes Test

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/2

Priyan

Usman Khawaja has played 22 Ashes Tests [BBC]

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]