Sports

Sri Lanka’s no-show: A series to forget

Published

2 years ago

2025/02/11

by Rex Clementine

This has got to be one of the most spineless Test series Sri Lanka have played in their storied history stretching over four and a half decades. The Warne-Murali Trophy wasn’t just handed over – it was gift-wrapped, express-delivered, and presented with a bow to the Aussies. If you thought a lack of fight was only in politics, think again. Chamara Sampath is putting up more resistance in Parliament while Ravi Karunanayake showed more imagination in securing a National List seat for himself.

It was an utterly baffling performance. Just two months ago, Sri Lanka were in contention for the World Test Championship final. Now, they’ve slid to a sorry sixth place, courtesy of four consecutive defeats to South Africa and Australia.

What’s even more perplexing is the venue choice—Galle, the fortress where Sri Lanka have historically spun visiting teams into a web of misery. This time, however, they weren’t fit to hold a candle to the Aussies, let alone outplay them.

Credit where it’s due – the Australians did their homework. They knew exactly what was coming. Normally, when they tour, we roll out raging turners on match days while letting them practice on decent batting tracks. Not this time. The Aussies didn’t fall for the bait. Instead, they flew to Dubai a week early, fine-tuned their game on pitches turning square, and arrived in Sri Lanka with all the answers. When the series began, they were battle-ready. Sri Lanka? Clueless.

This was the fourth straight Test where Sri Lanka’s batting unit collapsed like a Jenga tower. Three failures in a row should have been enough to trigger a shake-up – new faces, fresh thinking. Against South Africa, you could argue they were still in the WTC race. But against Australia, they had no excuse. At least one, if not two, misfiring batters should have been benched.

Yet, the same old suspects kept walking back for single-digit scores. Across four innings, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, and Dimuth Karunaratne failed to register a single half-century. Oshada Fernando and Pathum Nissanka fared no better, between them failing to cross fifty even once.

Angelo Mathews did notch up a half-century, but it was a case of too little, too late. Given his experience, you expect more than just a token fifty to cement his place for the next series. He should be pulling off a Steve Smith – big hundreds, match-defining knocks. That’s what senior statesmen do.

The most embarrassing part? Watching Sri Lankan batters fumble their sweeps and reverse sweeps like schoolboys playing with tennis balls, while Usman Khawaja, Josh Inglis, and Alex Carey made the stroke their bread and butter.

Serious questions need to be asked about Dhananjaya de Silva’s leadership. Laid-back, lethargic, and far too casual – his captaincy was a recipe for disaster. His review decisions alone cost the team dearly. With a bit more thought, the story could have been very different.

His batting wasn’t any better. Casual dismissals have become his trademark, but when you’re captain, you’re expected to lead from the front – not giggle in the corner like a teenage girl in a classroom. The problem for the selectors is that there’s no clear heir apparent. Kusal Mendis with the captaincy? Surely not. Charith Asalanka? Maybe, but he’s hardly shown any interest for First Class cricket in recent years. .

Ramesh Mendis was dropped last year with a clear message – fix your control. When he was recalled, you’d expect he had ironed out his flaws. But if anything, his performances suggested nothing had changed. So why bring him back? Either the selectors misread his improvements, or they had no better options. Neither is a good look.

Then there’s the ultimate insult – Matthew Kuhnemann, a guy with just three Test caps before this series, walked into Galle and made Sri Lanka’s batters look like amateurs. A left-arm spinner with barely any international experience finished as the highest wicket-taker of the series, exposing just how dire the situation is.

This was more than just a bad series. It was a wake-up call. Sri Lanka didn’t just get their tactics wrong—they’ve got a batting unit that’s past its expiry date. If they don’t hit the reset button soon, the slide will only continue.

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;