Sports

Rejected stone becomes corner stone

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/31

by Rex Clementine

Jesus’ teachings nearly 2000 years after his death still are highly relevant and we see living examples daily. This week we witnessed one such in sports when Prabath Jayasuriya spun Sri Lanka to a famous victory over Pakistan. Jesus had taught when a man rejects someone that necessarily doesn’t have to be the right decision. At times, ‘the rejected stone can go onto become the cornerstone.’

Last year Prabath had been exiled with questions cast over his fitness. At the age of 30 an international call looked unlikely for him. Then the Sri Lankan camp was hit by Covid and the selectors were left with Hobson’s choice but to recall him. How well he went onto silence his critics.

Those who initiated this strict fitness regime need to give the cricket loving public an apology. It didn’t serve much purpose and only forced a few players to retire from the game prematurely. Sadly, those who made the calls are in hiding, not able to face the public. The selectors have not addressed a media briefing in more than a year now. Their policies remain a mystery.

From being rejected, Prabath now finds himself as the center of attention. There are already talks about the attack being built around him. He’s come a long way having taken 29 wickets in three Tests.

Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood explained the relief when he saw Jayasuriya for the first time on the eve of a Test match. Sri Lanka had lost the first Test against Australia as the spinners were wayward. Prabath was a godsend.

‘I didn’t know a great deal about him before he came over. A few of the guys had played with him and against him. What I did want in the attack was control and they told me that Prabath would bring the best control we had and hence he came in,” Silverwood said.

“The biggest thing for me is that he has really contributed and shown that he can create pressure on the opposition batsmen, he gets balls in good areas and he’s got a lot of wickets. For me he is one whom you can turn to when the game is getting away from you. If you put him on, you know he can dry the runs up and also create opportunities. So from a dynamic point of view he’s been superb for us,” Silverwood added.

“An Opportunity was created through covid and it’s nice to see someone grabbing that opportunity with both hands.”

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Nissanka ton stuns Australia, puts Sri Lanka in Super Eights

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Pathum Nissanka celebrates his second T20I century [Cricinfo]

Sri Lanka survived an early onslaught to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eights, leaving Australia right at the exit door and hoping for a miracle.

The returning captain Mitchell Marsh and the returning-to-runs Travis Head were brutal in taking Australia to 104 in the first 50 legal deliveries, but some spectacular fielding and spin bowling helped Sri Lanka take 10 for 77 off the last 70 balls.

In front of a partying full house in Pallekele, Sri Lanka’s two most prolific batters, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, brought out both the axe and paper cuts to slice through the chase. Nissanka, who had earlier dropped Glenn Maxwell and then dismissed him with a stunner, went on to score an unbeaten hundred and take Sri Lanka home with two overs to spare.

In the absence of Matheesha Pathirana, who walked off with a calf injury in his first over, their spinners contributed six wickets to go with excellent closing from Dushmantha Chameera. Australia’s lead spinner Adam Zampa, among the best T20 spinners of all time, took no wicket and was lucky to go for only 41 in his four overs.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 184/2 in 18 overs [Pathum Nissanka 100*, Kusal Mendis 51, Pavan Rathnayake 2*; Marcus Stoinis 2-41] beat Australia 181/10 in 20 overs [Mitchell Marsh 54, Travis Head 56, Josh Inglis 27, Glenn Maxwell 22; Dushmantha Chameera 2-56, Maheesh Theekshana 1-37, Dushan Hemantha 3-37, Dunith Wellalage 1-33, Kamindu Mendis 1-19] by eight wickets

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

New Zealand eye Super Eight spot against Canada

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen are among the best dangerous openers in world cricket [Cricinfo]

A win against Canada in their first T20I against them on Tuesday will firm up New Zealand’s spot in the Super Eight. This result will also knock out Canada; South Africa have already qualified for the next round from Group D with three wins in as many games.

New Zealand have faced Canada just three times in international cricket so far – each time in ODI World Cups. Their most recent meeting coming in the 2011 edition in Mumbai. They have won all three games and are poised to make it 4-0 against Canada in World Cups, despite the absence of Lockie Ferguson. The fast bowler has returned home for the birth of his first child and is expected to link up with the side ahead of the Super Eight. In Ferguson’s absence, Kyle Jamieson, who wasn’t even in the main squad in the first place, is set to make his T20 World Cup bow.

As for Canada, they had their moments against South Africa and UAE but they have failed to convert those into wins. On Friday in Delhi, they had UAE at 66 for 4 in the 13th over in a chase of 151, but they left the door ajar for Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan to sneak home. Canada can’t afford such slip-ups against New Zealand – and then Afghanistan – if they are to notch up a win in this World Cup.

Kyle Jamieson doesn’t quite have Ferguson’s express pace, but can bang it away on a hard length and stifle the opposition batters. He also has some slower variations in his repertoire and his high-arm release could pose a big threat, especially to batters who are facing him for the first time.

Once known as “Vettori” in Canada’s club cricket circuit, Saad Bin Zafar will run into the team that was once captained by one of his heroes. The Canada left-arm spinner often attacks the stumps and keeps it tight, as his economy rate of 6.02 across 67 T20Is suggests. At 39, Saad knows he won’t be playing the game for long and will be eager to cause a few upsets on the big stage.

Jamieson is set to slot in for Ferguson unless New Zealand want to give veteran legspinner Ish Sodhi a game.

New Zealand (probable): Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (capt), Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy

Canada are likely to play the same XI that lost to South Africa and UAE.

Canada (probable): Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Pathirana under injury cloud as he leaves the field early

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Matheesha Pathirana walked off midway through his opening over (Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana left the field four balls into his first over, after collapsing to the ground clutching his left calf, and did not return to the field during Sri Lanka’s bowling innings against Australia. Having briefly received treatment from the Sri Lanka physiotherapist immediately after sustaining the injury, Pathirana hobbled off the field with assistance from support staff.

He then spent the majority of the innings being treated in the dressing room. Sri Lanka will likely send him off for scans as soon as the match finishes.

“Matheesha Pathirana experienced discomfort in his left leg calf while bowling during the match and was unable to continue,” a statement read. “He will not bowl further in this game. A scan will be conducted tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury.”

Pathirana had begun well against Australia, bowling two dot balls and giving away three runs (including a wide) in those first four deliveries. The last two balls of the over were delivered by Dasun Shanaka, who gave away a four and bowled a dot.

Pathirana is the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka’s attack, and a key part of their death-bowling plans for the tournament in particular. He is also the second Sri Lanka bowler to come under an injury cloud, with Wanindu Hasaranga already having been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury of his own.

After this game against Australa, Sri Lanka have another group match to play, against Zimbabwe. They have not earned qualification for the Super Eights yet.

(Cricinfo)