Sports
Emphasis on Under-19 cricket commendable
by Rex Clementine
Since reaching the finals of the ICC Youth World Cup in the year 2000 under the captaincy of Malintha Gajanayaka, Sri Lanka Under-19 have struggled to make an impact in the tournament although several players involved in the competition have gone onto have an impact with the senior side. Sri Lanka have never reached the finals since they hosted the event in 2000 where they lost to an Indian side that comprised Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.
In recent months, however, there has been a concerted effort to uplift the standards of the Under-19 team and the young cricketers just completed a three week residential coaching camp with training taking place at SSC.
SLC had conducted an island wide talent search and had picked 75 players who went through a residential training camp in Kandy and that was further trimmed to 26 and apart from emphasizing on the technical and tactical aspects of game, the players were also educated on history of the game, an area that has been earmarked as vital.
When the 75 players camped in Kandy, they were asked a simple question, which year did Sri Lanka gain Test status and not a single player could answer. Alarmed by this lack of knowledge, the authorities have made an effort to educate players on this vital aspect of the game.
While there are some brilliant coaches in school cricket both in Colombo and in outstations who are keen in seeing the development of young players rather than winning alone, there are also coaches and school authorities who want to win at any cost and that is not helping the young players.
SLC’s second residential camp for the Under-19 players ended on Wednesday and the players have returned home for a break and will enter a bio-secure bubble again as they will play a bilateral series against Bangladesh in two weeks time. Bangladesh are the World Champions in Under-19 cricket having upset a strong Indian side in the finals in South Africa last year.
There will be more exposure for the young players as Sri Lanka will host England Under-19 in November followed by the Asia Cup and then the World Cup in the Caribbean.
As a goodwill gesture, SLC gave away Rs. 100,000 each to the 26 players who have been chosen for the Under-19 squad.
Former opening batsman Avishka Gunawardene is the Head Coach of the Under-19 side and former captain Mahela Jayawardene will work with the team as a consultant.
Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya has been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the two Tests in South Africa, more than two years after he last played a Test. Offspinner Nishan Peiris, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in September, has also been included.
Ramesh Mendis, the offspin-bowling allrounder, misses out on selection, though he claimed six wickets in his only Test appearance this year. Ramesh, additionally, can bat.
Though Prabath Jayasuriya leads the spin contingent, this amounts to something of a shake-up in the ranks with Sri Lanka playing in Durban and Gqeberha, where the tracks are expected to take more turn than most South African surfaces, particularly as matches wear on.
The squad is largely as expected in the batting and seam-bowling fronts, however. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and allrounder Milan Rathnayake make up fast-bowling outfit. Top order batter Oshada Fernando makes it in into this squad, but Nishan Madushka – who has made a bright start in ODIs – does not.
Both Embuldeniya and Oshada have partly been picked on account of their good performances in South Africa in 2019, when Sri Lanka had also played in Durban and what was then Port Elizabeth. Embuldeniya took six wickets at 23.83 across three innings on that tour, while Oshada hit a fourth-innings 75 not out alongside Kusal Mendis to see Sri Lanka home in what could have been a tough chase. Neither player, though, has been especially impressive in domestic cricket over the last season, though Embuldeniya did have a decent outing in the four-day National Super League.
Several Test specialists are already in Durban for a pre-series training camp, overseen partially by former South Africa batter Neil McKenzie, who serves as Sri Lanka’s consultant on this trip.
The first Test is scheduled to start on November 27, in Kingsmead, Durban.
Both Sri Lanka and South Africa have a shot at finishing in the top two on the World Test Championship table.
Sri Lanka squad for Test series in South Africa
Rex Clementine at Pallekele
It’s been pure cricketing poetry watching the Sri Lankan team in action. They’re on a roll, and Tuesday night saw them bag yet another series triumph, leaving fans beaming from ear to ear. It’s hard to believe this is the same side that finished a dismal ninth in last year’s World Cup. What a turnaround—it’s like NPP sweeping the general elections. This time they have a two thirds majority. Last time they had a mere three seats.
So, what’s the secret sauce behind Sri Lanka’s resurgence? Quite a few things, actually.
The team has embraced a two-pronged approach, balancing short-term goals with long-term ambitions. The quick fixes—improving fielding, injecting energy into their game, running smarter between the wickets, prioritizing fitness, and fostering commitment—are already bearing fruit. Meanwhile, the long-term strategies, like unearthing finishers who can hit the ball out of the park and developing seam-bowling all-rounders to compete abroad, are seeds sown for future harvests. Sanath Jayasuriya is a smart man. So is Upul Tharanga.
At the heart of this success story is that dynamic duo. As Head Coach and Chairman of Selectors, they’ve been pulling the strings with precision. Their knack for picking the right personnel has been nothing short of masterful.
Take Charith Asalanka, for instance. One of the youngest players in the squad, he’s being groomed as a long term leader. The selectors borrowed a leaf out of Haroon Lorgat’s book—remember when Lorgat entrusted a 22-year-old Graeme Smith to lead South Africa? That gamble paid off spectacularly, and Asalanka seems poised to follow in similar footsteps. He commands respect, reads the game like a seasoned pro, and is tactically astute—a strong leader in the making, no doubt.
The management has also mastered the art of using the carrot and stick approach. Consider Kusal Mendis. Dropped for the Lord’s Test this September, Sri Lanka’s vice-captain received a loud and clear message: performance trumps seniority. Since then, Kusal has been a man transformed. Against New Zealand, he was the Man of the Match in the first two ODIs and, unsurprisingly, the Player of the Series.
Smart planning has been another hallmark of this team. Even as the ODI squad wrapped up their series against New Zealand, the Test team was in South Africa, undergoing a residential camp to gear up for the fiery pace of Rabada and Mulder.
Sri Lanka’s focus on developing the next generation of cricketers also deserves a standing ovation. After clinching the series against New Zealand, the team rested five senior players for the dead rubber and handed opportunities to fresh faces. This forward-thinking approach ensures the pipeline remains robust and ready for the challenges ahead.
Rewind to the start of the year, and Sri Lanka’s World Test Championship hopes were pie in the sky. The team was sinking faster than the Titanic. But fast-forward to today, and they’re on the cusp of booking their tickets to Lord’s. It’s been a turnaround for the ages.
The team’s wins haven’t been limited to home soil; they’ve triumphed away, too, in places like Bangladesh and England. What’s more, they’ve been climbing the rankings ladder across all formats, taking down teams ranked higher than them with an underdog’s grit and flair.
The glory days of Sri Lankan cricket that once seemed to be slipping through our fingers are back. This team is brimming with potential, and the horizon promises even greater feats. Rest assured, remarkable things lie ahead for this rejuvenated side.
by Reemus Fernando
Long jumpers Dilni Rajapaksha of Lyceum International Wattala and D.A.S. Samalka of Gonagala MV Gonagalpura were adjudged the best athletes for their record breaking feats as Maris Stella College Negombo and Lyceum International Wattala clinched the overall boys’ and girls’ titles of the Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletics Championship at Matara on Wednesday.
Samalka cleared a distance of 6.54 metres to create a new meet record in the Under 14 boys’ long jump.
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- Dilni Rajapaksha receiving her award from Nilupul de Silva general manager marketing CBL FOODs.
Dilni Rajapaksha won the Under 15 girls’ long jump with an outstanding feat of 6.04 metres which shattered the meet record. Rajapaksha winning the title was a foregone conclusion as she had already turned tables on seniors at All Island competitions.
Nethra Ranasinghe of Gateway College Negombo was recognized for her outstanding performance in the Under 15 girls’ 400 metres. She clocked 61.55 seconds to win yesterday and that was adjudged the best 400 metres feat in either category of the three-day event.
Maris Stella were awarded the overall boys’ title as they accumulated 82 points. Their closest rivals were St. Benedict’s who settled for the runner up position with 67 points. St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road (42), Lyceum International Wattala (32) and Thurstan Colombo (31) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Lyceum Wattala aggregated 60 points to win the girls’ overall title. Ave Maria Convent Negombo were the runners up with 51 points.
Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara (38), Vidyaloka MV, Balangoda (35) and Vijitha MV Dickwella (32) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.
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- Nethra Ranasinghe returned a time of 60.7 seconds to win the Under 15 girls’ 400 metres.
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- D.A.S. Samalka of Gonagala MV Gonagalpura established a new meet record in the Under 14 boys’ long jump.
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