Sports

Ireland arrive in Sri Lanka for two Tests

Published

3 years ago

2023/04/11

The Irish cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. They will play two Test matches in Galle starting later this week.

by Rex Clementine

There will be a historic game later this week in Galle as the first-ever Test between Sri Lanka and Ireland gets underway on Sunday. The Irish arrived in Colombo on Easter Sunday and were transferred to the coastal town of Galle and are putting up at Lighthouse resort, the most popular hotel in the south for visiting cricket teams over the years.

The Irish have an opportunity to get a first-hand experience of Sri Lankan culture and traditions as they spend the avurudu week down south. They will soon be joined by their Sri Lankan counterparts who will miss being with their loved ones for the festive season.

Eoin Morgan is the most famous Irish cricketer and later he went on to represent England and win their first-ever World Cup in 2019. Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien are other famous Irish cricketers, both now retired.

Ireland were granted Test status in 2018 along with Afghanistan but the country has made little progress over the last five years having played only four Test matches. If you take Sri Lanka by the way, in their first five years of Test cricket, they had played 25 Tests and had already beaten sport’s powerhouses like India and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka had to be thankful for their generous hosts who gave them frequent opportunities. In their first five years of Test cricket, Sri Lanka had played all Test-playing nations except West Indies.

Ireland’s four games have been all one Tests, and this is the first time they’d be engaging in more than one Test. There was only one Test scheduled on this tour as well but both boards mutually agreed to scrap couple of one-day games and add an extra Test match.

Ireland arrived straight from Dhaka where they played a Test against Bangladesh last week and suffered a seven-wicket loss. So, there’s some momentum behind them having played competitive cricket.

Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker was in the headlines after making a hundred in Dhaka. The 26-year-old has already got breaks in franchise cricket and is one of the players to watch out for.

Captain Andrew Balbirnie is also one of their key players having featured in international cricket for over 13 years now in which he has played in close to 100 ODIs. He has also got experience playing County Cricket.

Both Test matches will take place in Galle and in helpful conditions Sri Lanka will be looking to breathe easy after being hammered in New Zealand.

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Rasara, Puvitharan rewrite meet records as National Athletics Championship begins

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/5

Thilina Walpola

Rasara Wijesuriya

The 104th National Athletics Championship got off to an impressive start at the Diyagama Stadium, with Rasara Wijesuriya and Arunthavarasa Puvitharan producing record-breaking performances on an action-packed opening day.

‎Rasara dominated the women’s 10,000m to win the gold medal in 33:32.77 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process. G. W. O. N. Fonseka finished second in 38:25.55, while H. I. S. Fernando took the bronze in 39:00.69.

‎Puvitharan provided another record-breaking highlight in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.10m to establish a new meet record. H. S. Eranga Janith followed with 5.00m for silver, while M. H. I. Sandaruwan secured bronze with 4.90m.

‎The men’s 10,000m produced a closely contested battle, with M. Kobinathan claiming the national title in 30:58.50. M. S. A. Fernando was second in 31:10.08, while D. P. S. S. Senanayaka completed the podium in 31:22.72.

‎As expected Madushani Herath secured the women’s triple jump title with a best effort of 13.60m, finishing ahead of I. S. W. Arachchi, who recorded 13.13m. G. I. S. Lankathilaka took third with 13.00m.

‎In the men’s shot put, Suseenthirakumar Mithunraj produced a winning throw of 16.41m to take gold. W. J. R. Alwis was second with 14.91m, while R. S. Jayawardana secured bronze with 14.47m.

‎Ovini Chandrasekara completed the women’s shot put podium-topping performance, winning gold with a throw of 12.82m. V. D. V. Gimhani took silver with 12.29m and A. D. W. Mendis won bronze with 11.84m.

‎With two new meet records already providing the opening-day highlights in thr morning, the championship has begun on a high note, setting the stage for further strong performances as Sri Lanka’s leading athletes battle for national honours.

Sports

Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/5

Thilina Walpola

Charith Asalanka is currently playing for St Lucia Kings in the CPL (Cricinfo)

Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.

Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.

Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.

Asalanka returned to the leadership group three months after being deposed as ODI captain and six months after being sidelined from the T20I unit. He last played a T20I in February this year, but is currently part of St Lucia Kings’ line-up at CPL 2026. His returns have been mediocre, though: 93 runs at a strike rate of 124 from six innings.

The T20Is will be played on September 15 (Southampton), September 17 (Cardiff) and September 19 (Manchester), while the ODIs will take place on September 22 (Chester-le-Street), September 24 (Leeds) and September 27 (The Oval).

Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Lahiru Udara (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (capt), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka

(Cricinfo)

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Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/4

Priyan

Kusal Mendis hasn't played competitively since July 19 (Cricinfo)

Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.

Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England

(Cricinfo)