Sports

Sanath Jayasuriya; guiding with experience, inspiring with passion

Published

1 year ago

2024/09/29

Thilina Walpola

Sanath Jayasuriya, crafting future stars with a bold coaching style.

Rex Clementine in Galle

Let’s rewind to last year, a time when the national cricket team was stumbling like a toddler learning to walk. Pakistan swept us 2-0 in our own backyard, India handed us a record-breaking hammering in the ODIs, and to top it all off, we limped home ninth in the World Cup, getting kicked out of the Champions Trophy for good measure. It wasn’t just a fall from grace; it was more like we tumbled headfirst off a cliff. The decline was so obvious even the greats of the game couldn’t resist commenting that Sri Lankan cricket was running on fumes.

But hold on! Fast forward to this year, and it’s like someone hit the reset button. Almost the same team that was sinking faster than a stone in the ocean has risen like a phoenix, and what a comeback it’s been! A meticulous mix of planning, attitude adjustments, revamped training methods, and some smart selections have worked wonders.

Last year’s World Cup flops beat India in an ODI series after a drought of 27 long years. It’s not just a win, it’s like finding water in the desert! Then, they pulled off a Test match victory in England after a decade of trying and failing. And as we speak, halfway through the second Test against New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka’s poised to win their first series against the Kiwis in 15 years! Toss in the fact that they’re well-positioned in the World Test Championship, with a possible shot at the finals at Lord’s, and you’ve got a team that’s gone from zero to hero.

So, what’s the magic trick?

Enter Sanath Jayasuriya, the new head coach, and boy, has he been a game-changer. Sanath didn’t just show up; he rolled up his sleeves and got his hands dirty. Before him, we had consultant coaches who loved the power but weren’t so keen on the responsibility – a bit like giving someone the keys to a Rolls-Royce and watching them park it in the garage all day. But Sanath? He’s been hands-on, leaving no stone unturned.

Sure, he’s left the nitty-gritty – batting, bowling, fielding techniques – to the expert coaches. But when it comes to planning, decision-making, and managing the team, he’s the conductor of this cricket symphony. He’s like a velvet hammer: soft as silk when needed, but can hit hard like a sledgehammer when the situation calls for it. He’s mastered the balance of knowing when to offer a pat on the back and when to crack the whip.

And he’s brought in a unique coaching system tailored specifically to Sri Lanka. None of that over advanced Australian stuff where a David Warner can afford to take a day off before a big game. Sanath knows better – you let 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage take a day off, and that’s asking for trouble. We need what works for us, and Sanath knows this inside out.

Another stroke of genius? Sanath’s eye for talent when it comes to support staff. Take Upul Chandana, who was quietly making magic with the Under-19s as Fielding Coach. His talents were being wasted there while the national team’s fielding was falling apart. Sanath swooped in and made the switch, and boom – just like that, Sri Lanka’s fielding has turned a corner. On their recent tour of England, they took 40 catches and dropped only two – not bad for a team that couldn’t catch a cold just a year ago!

This turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Compare this to the World Cup horror show, where dropped catches were as common as tuk-tuks in Maligawatta. Back then, coaches were arrogant, ignoring the obvious problems. But now? Everything’s clicking into place.

And it’s not just the on-field performances. Chairman of Selectors, Upul Tharanga, deserves credit for his sharp eye, too. One of his first moves was to make Kamindu Mendis an all-format player – a bold call after Mendis had been sidelined for two years. It’s moves like this that show you’ve got selectors who know what they’re doing, and aren’t afraid to shake things up.

Take the decision to bench Ramesh Mendis for the second Test, even after he took six wickets in the first. Lesser selectors would’ve stuck with him, but these guys saw what needed fixing and acted. That’s the kind of bold thinking that’s driving this revival.

The result? The fans are back. The sponsors are back. But let’s not get carried away just yet – there’s still work to be done. The domestic structure is solid, but we need to keep building on it. The Under-19 and Sri Lanka ‘A’ teams are getting plenty of action, which is crucial. These investments might not pay off right away, but they’re planting the seeds for a brighter future.

Next on the to-do list? Improving fitness, injury prevention, and management. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that success in cricket isn’t a sprint – it’s a marathon. And this time, Sri Lanka is in it for the long haul.

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Tannane goal from own half sets Morocco on way to FIFA Arab Cup 2025 title

Published

10 mins ago

2025/12/19

Priyan

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, centre, hands the FIFA Arab Cup trophy to Morocco's Mohamed Hrimat, right, on the podium [Aljazeera]

Oussama Tannane’s wonder goal from inside his own half set Morocco on their way to their second FIFA Arab Cup title with a 3-2 win after extra time in the final against Jordan at the Qatar-hosted event.

A full house at Lusail Stadium in Doha on Thursday was quickly on their feet in the fourth minute when Qatar-based footballer Tannane drilled an effort from well over the halfway line – estimated at 59 metres – to catch out goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

The Jordan keeper desperately scrambled back to his line in an attempt to stop the shot and collided with the post, resulting in a lengthy four-minute stoppage before he was cleared to continue and play resumed.

It was only the start of a turbulent final that saw Jordan come back to claim the lead, for the match to be sent to extra time, with Jordanian hearts broken seconds away from their first FIFA Arab Cup title in normal time.

Morocco's Oussama Tannane scores their first goal past Jordan's Yazeed Abu Laila — *Oussama Tannane scores Morocco’s first goal past Jordan’s Yazeed Abulaila [Aljazeera]*

Jordan, who were defeated finalists at the 2025 AFC Asian Cup, pulled level on the night three minutes into the second period when Ali Oliwan pulled away from his marker to head home from close range after a well-worked corner.

Jordan then took the lead for the first time after Mahmoud Almardi’s shot hit the raised hand of Achraf El Mahdioui inside the box, allowing Oliwan to convert from the penalty spot for his second in the 68th minute.

The drama was far from over, however, as second-half substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah levelled in the 88th minute – tapping in on the goal line after a scramble from a corner.

It was Oliwan, though, who had the chance of glory with virtually the final kick of normal time when – put clean through on goal – he was unable to beat the keeper to seal the final for Jordan with what would also have been his hat-trick.

Where many may not have taken their seats for Tannane’s opener, the same may have been the case for the start of extra time as Mohannad Abutaha volleyed a spectacular left-footed effort into the top right corner from the left edge of the box.

Like Tannane’s, it was a strike worthy of winning any final, but VAR ruled out the goal for a controversial handball as the Jordanian controlled the ball before unleashing the effort.

Worse was to follow when Hamdallah tapped in his second time – and the winning goal – after Marwane Saadane’s bicycle kick from a set piece fell kindly into his path from close range.

Morocco previously lifted the Arab Cup in 2012, defeating Libya in the final staged in Saudi Arabia. The Atlas Lions succeed Algeria, who defeated their North African neighbours Tunisia in the final four years ago.

Earlier, Morocco dominated the first period and Tannane, who plays his club football for Umm Salal in the Qatar league, had a glorious opportunity to double the lead on the stroke of half time when Abulaila spilled a cross into his path, but the forward failed to make a clean connection with his left-footed follow up and Issam Smeir slid to clear off the line.

The Jordanian stopper had to be on his feet throughout the first period and produced his best save in the 17th minute when Karim El Berkaoui, after exchanging a one-two with Tannane, drove across the face of goal from the edge of the box, but Abulaila was equal to it, low to his right, to push the effort wide.

Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal when they achieved the feat at Qatar 2022, will now turn their attention to hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the squad will be further boosted by a number of their European-based stars who had to prioritise club over country during the Arab Cup.

The FIFA Arab Cup sold more than a million tickets for the 2025 event, doubling what was sold at the previous competition four years ago.

[Aljazeera]

Sports

Kaveethra bags eight wickets as Mahanama record innings win

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/19

Thilina Walpola

Venura Kaveethra

Venura Kaveethra completed a match bag of eight wickets as Mahanama registeted an innings and 62 runs victory over Lumbini in the Under 19 Division I tier A tournament match at Mattegoda on Thursday.

‎It was the first outright victory for Mahanama in the tournament.

‎After having declared their innings on the overnight score, Mahanama bowlers did well to restrict Lumbini to 103 runs as Kaveethra picked up four wickets.

‎Lumbini looked better in the second innings thanks to the resistance of late order batsmen Jayanitha Mendis (8 in 65 balls) and Binuka Ranhiru (12 in 89 balls) who made them last for more than 50 overs.

‎The day’s other highlight was the unbeaten century scored by Aron David for S. Thomas’. The Thomians were 269 for four wickets at stumps on day one of their match against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia.

Mahanama in innngs win at Mattegoda

Scores

‎Lumbini

63 all out in 25.2 overs (Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Geeth Sandaruwan 3/31, Thaviru Perera 2/07) and 103 all out in 54.4 overs (Kisandu Dulneth 23; Venura Kaveethra 4/17, Sithum Vihanga 3/05, Geeth Sandaruwan 2/36)

‎Mahanama

228 for 4 in 41 overs overnight declared (Sithum Vihanga 82, Kaushika Thilakarathne 60, Venura Kaveethra 39n.o., Sanul Weerarathne 24; Mihisara Weerasinghe 2/53)

No decision at DSS ground

Scores

DSS

234 for 7 overnight 283 for 9 in 80 overs (Mayuru Bandara 22, Janindu Ranasinghe 23, Shevan Menusha 68, Randisha Bandaranayake 41, Haamid Afdhal 53, Chithum Baddage 44n.o. ; Ranindu de Silva 2/35, Minage Ariyadasa 2/63, Tenush Nimsara 2/81)

‎Richmond 90 for 7 in 41 overs (Ravindu Randinu 21, Bevin Jayawardhana 24n.o.; Oshada Perera 4/33, Shanaal Binuksha 2/18)

by Reemus Fernando ✍️

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Conway 178* and Latham 137 grind West Indies to dust in Mount Maunganui

Published

16 hours ago

2025/12/18

Priyan

Devon Conway brought up his sixth Test century [Cricinfo]

The Bay of Plenty lived up to its name but only for New Zealand. Devon Conway and Tom Latham harvested a century each and by that time they were having so much fun they would barely let anybody else play.

West Indies could argue that was a bit rude. They were in Mount Maunganui looking for rich bounty as well. A first Test win on these shores for 30 years, which if secured would hand them a share of this series’ spoils. All of that cast them in the role of a protagonist at the start of the day. But as time wore on and records – both trivial and tumultuous – came to pass, Roston Chase and his men faded into the background.

Each of the five previous Test matches at this ground have yielded a wicket in its first session. This one didn’t. Kane Williamson, so used to an early start at the office, had to wait the longest he ever has to clock in. So restless had he grown that at the start of the final session, he was seen wearing all his gear barring the helmet practicing a rapid-fire series of leaves and blocks. There will be reels. Split-screens with Latham and Conway facing real cricket balls out in the middle and this guy just pretending to do so with a caption of who did it better. The answer is actually Terry Jarvis and Glenn Turner.

Latham had a big part in the history he helped make. Over 25 home Tests, dating all the way back to March 2012, New Zealand have only ever chosen to bowl after winning the toss. Here, he had a hunch about putting runs on the board. Outside of that one bold move, everything else he did was basic. Playing close to the body. Knowing exactly where his off stump was. Frustrating the bowlers to target his pads. Manufacturing easy put-aways. Latham’s 15th Test century – where he went past 6000 runs as an opener – was proof that fairy tales aren’t the only things that can come to life. Textbooks do too. It took all the way to 6.30pm for Latham to fall on 137. Test cricket was so close to having a fifth opening pair lasting the entire first day.

Conway played himself into form. Twenty-six of his last 39 innings were cut short at or below the 30-run mark, which isn’t ideal considering his role at the top of the order is to set the whole team up. Given he was walking out onto a pitch with an unusual amount of grass – 13mm, normally it’s around 7-10mm – there was cause for concern. He put them all to bed, weathering an initial period where West Indies were willing to give up only 11 runs in eight overs. He instigated the first period of New Zealand dominance, the six overs to morning drinks where they scored a-run-a-ball. He went on to bat for longer than he has ever done since his double-century on debut at Lord’s four years ago.

The only way any of this could have been worse for West Indies was if they had brought it all on themselves, and only the finest line separated that from what actually happened. Because they got what they wanted at the toss. First use of a surface that looked like it had been left in the care of a kindergartener with a green crayon. The bowlers, though, didn’t make the best use of it.

Their third seamer Anderson Phillip, started with a spell of 3-0-25-0, and as hard as he tried to improve – creating a rare wicket-taking opportunity when Latham nicked one behind to the keeper on 104 and was dropped – he still went to stumps with 14-2-71-0. It was symptomatic of a bowling attack that still produced jaffas – and might feel aggrieved none of them yielded any joy – but didn’t have it in them to back it up; to hit the good length spot consistently, test the batter’s discipline and search for vulnerability.

Indeed, at the start of the second session, New Zealand had a harder time not scoring boundaries, five of them coming their way in the space of 12 balls. A small spell of rain offered West Indies the chance to regroup and they appeared willing to take it, Jayden Seales adopting the method of local hero Neil Wagner and going short for a concerted period of time. Conway wore one on the left hand, needed medical attention, and at the start of the 52nd over, he was overheard on the stump mic asking the umpire about the time for tea. He was in need of reprieve. Seconds later, Chase lobbed up a long hop that he pulled away for four. West Indies kept undoing their own good work. Often immediately.

This was no batting paradise. Nor was it ever a fast bowler’s dream. Spinners took two-thirds of the wickets in the mostrecent first class game in Mount Maunganui. It is with that in mind that New Zealand brought Ajaz Patel into the XI and backed themselves to put up a big total.

Conway has led them there – batting through cramp, batting one-handed and eventually hitting that rarefied place where he was just batting on instinct, reacting perfectly even to things like extra and low bounce – but things could have been so different if West Indies had shown a little more discipline. Now their batters have to pick up the slack.

Brief scores: [Day 1 stumps]
New Zealand 334 for 1 in 90 overs (Tom Latham 137, Devon Conway, 178*; Kemar Roach 1-63) vs West Indies

[Cricinfo]