Sports
I don’t like sloppy cricketers – Arthur

“He is a very talented cricketer; he’s got great hands and superb hitting ability. His fielding, however, is not international standards. His fitness levels too are not at required standards.”
Coach wants Bhanuka to give up chocolates
by Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka Head Coach Mickey Arthur comes out as a friendly, jovial and nice guy but when it comes to work ethic, he does not tolerate anything below par. He is famous for dropping of all players Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson during the tour of India in 2013 for breach of discipline. As a result, cricket’s lexicon had a new term – ‘Homework gate’. Arthur, a stern advocate of fitness, during his previous stint with Pakistan axed Umar Akmal in 2017 for poor fitness levels. A team known as not the fittest in world cricket improved their standards remarkably and went onto win the Champions Trophy in England beating arch-rivals India in the final.
Arthur’s fitness regime in Sri Lanka has resulted in a few players getting axed for failing fitness tests such as Dilruwan Perera, Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. It has upset a few people and after being overlooked for the tours of West Indies and United Kingdom, Rajapaksa expressed his disappointment in a YouTube interview with journalist Danushka Aravinda.
“When you run on the gym or work out on the gym, I don’t think you can improve your performance… For 12 years I have not suffered a major injury or broken down during a game. I have been given step motherly treatment. The board sorts out my visa and everything to go on tours, but in the last moment I am told that I can not make the tour because my skin folds are high,” Rajapaksa had said.
“When I was dropped, the Head Coach told me that I was running with the gloves in hands and that I didn’t have commitment for running between the wickets,” Rajapaksa had added.
The Island
asked Arthur for a comment. “First of all, I want this on record. I don’t want discuss players on public forum. But when a player has a one-sided interview, I feel I need to respond. Bhanuka is a comfort zone player. In Sri Lanka we cannot afford that. His fitness levels are not there where it has to be,” Arthur said.
“He is a very talented cricketer; he’s got great hands and superb hitting ability. His fielding, however, is not international standards. His fitness levels too are not at required standards. We are building a culture to push the players to be the best they can be. We want our best players on the field. He would be in our T20 squad. But at the moment his skin folds have gone up and he’s got to work on it,” Arthur explained.
“Bhanuka has got to make some commitments and he’s got to look after his diet. His excuse has been that he loves chocolates. If you want to be one of the finest cricketers, then you have got to make some sacrifices. We had a diet plan for him and we expected him to look after himself but his skin folds have gone up again.”
Asked on his reservations about Rajapaksa having gloves in his hands while running between the wickets, Arthur was unimpressed with the sloppy attitude. “I was upset that he was running with gloves in hand. It highlights the fact that he didn’t push the first run hard. It was just sloppy cricket and I don’t like sloppy cricketers. That shows me his attitude as he jogs the first run. If someone has scored 120 in 40 degrees heat, I can understand that. But I want our players to get out of their comfort zones.”
“Bhanuka failed the skin folds test and went home without doing the rest of the tests. Just shows me the attitude and the short cuts he is looking to take.
“Kusal Janith has lost 15 percent of his skinfolds. In that humidity of Dhaka, the other day, he batted for 42 overs and scored a match winning hundred. If he is not at the best standards, he gives it away at 60 odd. Fitness gives you the base to score those runs and be electric on the field.”
Sports
Sri Lanka’s lower order fight back but Australia in control

Rex Clementine in Galle
Sri Lanka’s lower middle order showed some character and resilience, digging in to mount a spirited fightback, ensuring the hosts reached 229 for nine at stumps on day one of the second Test against Australia in Galle on Thursday. However, Australia were firmly in the box seat despite losing a big toss as Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets apiece.
After making a steady start in the morning, Sri Lanka found themselves in choppy waters as Australia’s bowlers came roaring back, ripping through the middle order. From a promising 93 for one, the hosts nosedived to 127 for five, leaving the innings on shaky ground.
Amidst the ruins, Dinesh Chandimal stood tall, waging a lone battle with a defiant, back-to-the-wall 74, peppered with six boundaries and a towering six. Just as he looked set to take Sri Lanka to safer shores, Alex Carey produced a moment of brilliance behind the stumps, smartly stumping him and sending alarm bells ringing in the Sri Lankan camp.
Their lower order hasn’t exactly set the world alight in recent months, often folding without much resistance. But on this occasion, the only remaining recognized batter, Kusal Mendis, found a willing ally in off-spinner Ramesh Mendis.
Recalled to the side for this crucial clash, Ramesh played the perfect supporting act, adding a vital 65-run stand for the seventh wicket with his namesake. The Australians threw everything but the kitchen sink at them, but the duo held firm, negotiating the sharp turn and extra bounce with aplomb.
While Ramesh was rock-solid in defense, Kusal took a more aggressive route, pouncing on anything loose. The tourists, frustrated by their inability to break the stand, eventually turned to the second new ball, and Steve Smith’s gamble paid dividends as Mitchell Starc delivered with immediate effect.
Steaming in at speeds north of 145 kmph, Starc was relentless, hitting a nagging line and length. His persistence bore fruit when Ramesh, after a gritty stay, edged one behind. The left-arm quick struck again off the very next delivery, with Prabath Jayasuriya feathering one to the slip cordon, leaving the Aussies sniffing a collapse.
With Starc on a hat-trick, Nishan Peiris walked in under immense pressure. The Australian fans, who far outnumbered the locals, were on their feet, anticipating history, but Peiris dead-batted the hat-trick ball, much to their disappointment.
Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis kept the scoreboard ticking and reached his well-earned half-century with a single to long-off. As Sri Lanka’s last recognized hope, he carried the weight of their innings on his shoulders, with 250 looking like a competitive total in these conditions.
Hundreds of Australian supporters have traveled to Galle, with former players Geoff Marsh and Merv Hughes leading large touring contingents. The Galle stands were awash with yellow, with the tourists making their presence felt.
Earlier in the day, there was a moment of celebration for Sri Lankan cricket as Dimuth Karunaratne was felicitated for reaching the milestone of 100 Test matches, becoming only the seventh Sri Lankan to do so. The veteran opener, who will hang up his Test boots after this match, received a warm ovation from the crowd.
Sri Lanka rang in three changes following their humiliating innings-and-242-run defeat in the first Test, bringing in Pathum Nissanka, Ramesh Mendis, and Lahiru Kumara at the expense of Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, and Jeffrey Vandersay.
Australia, meanwhile, made just one tweak, handing a debut to Cooper Connolly in place of Todd Murphy.
Sports
Quarter-final fate on tournament committee’s hands after Mahanama withdraw

by Reemus Fernando
The tournament committee of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association will have to decide on the fate of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ quarter-final match between Trinity and Mahanama after the latter withdrew from the match without bowling a single ball on the second day citing that the ground staff had rolled the wicket before the scheduled time.
Mahanama had cited that they had been at a disadvantage due to the early preparation of the wicket in the morning. Kanishka Perera, the Under 19 tournament secretary said that Mahanam had refused match officials request to play under protest and now the tournament committee will decide on the fate of the match.
Mahanama were looking forward to take advantage of the moisture on the wicket in the morning but early preparation of the wicket at Royal Central Ground Polonnaruwa had disappointed the team from Colombo.
One of the formidable teams this season, Mahanama were rattled for 74 runs and in reply Trinity had amassed 141 for five wickets at stumps on day one.
The quarter-finals of the Tier ‘A’ tournament are being played at outstation venues due to the unavailability of grounds in Colombo.
Scores
Mahanama
74 all out in 35.4 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 26; Thisal Yapa 2/18, Malith Rathnayake 6/21)
Trinity
141 for 5 in 50 overs (Chaniru Senarathne 75n.o., Sweath Anurajeewa 24; Dulnith Sigera 3/19)
Sports
Sri Lanka to host two international badminton events in February and March

Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) is gearing up to host the 2025 version of the Hundred Series – the Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge and the Hundred Sri Lanka International Series during February and March.
Set to take place during the final week of February and first week of March, Sri Lanka will host at least 550 shuttlers from 28 countries, promising 12 days of continuous excitement at the Sugathadasa Indoor Sports Complex in Colombo.
The first of the two tournaments, the Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, will be held between February 25 and March 2, where the most recognised shuttlers from the Asian region, as well as other parts of the world, are set to vie for a total prize money of USD 17,500.
This will be followed by the Hundred Sri Lanka International Series 2025, set to take place from March 3 to 8 at the same venue, with an equal number of participants, from 28 countries, including hosts Sri Lanka, affiliated to Badminton World Federation and Badminton Asia. The second competition will offer a total prize money of USD 5000.
The two international badminton tournaments will be the platform in bringing together players from various countries, providing the opportunity for healthy competition and fostering the growth of badminton talent of Sri Lanka as well.
Last year, Sri Lanka brought a nine-year international competition drought to an end when SLB hosted the LiNing Sri Lanka International Challenge 2024 and LiNing Sri Lanka International Series 2024, which were held through February 5 to 18 at the Dadella International Sports Complex in Galle. India dominated the LiNing Sri Lanka International Challenge 2024 held from February 5 to 11, while Thailand swept most of the medals on offer at the LiNing Sri Lanka International Series 2024, which was held from February 12 to 18.
“The inauguration of the two international competitions last year, after an absence of nine years, was a significant initiative made by SLB. Not only were we able to see some quality international competition for 14 continuous days, we were also able to give the local talents the opportunity to gain international exposure at events of this magnitude. At the same time, SLB was able to put Sri Lanka back in the world map as a location to host international tournaments, while promoting the country and its facilities on offer as an ideal tourist destination. This year we expect to surpass the success of 2024,” the Sri issuing an official statement, SLB said.
By hosting the two Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Asia (BA) sanctioned international events at the Sugathadasa Indoor Sports Complex in Colombo, SLB intends to provide the local badminton followers the opportunity to experience solid rivalry among top international shuttlers.
Nearly 550 shuttlers from over 25 countries are expected to participate at both events, with medals and prize money on offer for winners, finalists and players who reach the knockout stages in Open Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Sri Lanka Badminton are the official organisers of the two events, sanctioned by BWF and BA, with LiNing, HUNDRED, Mobil, McFoil and 3M coming in as sponsors.
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