Sports

The need to review the reviews

Published

5 years ago

2020/09/13

by Rex Clementine

Many things in our cricket have fallen apart; including common sense. Here’s a case in point. Jerome Jayaratne has been a career coach and his loyalty has been with Sri Lanka Cricket for over two decades. His thesis on coaching was recognized by the International Cricket Council and that’s the one that modern day coaches follow. For some strange reason, SLC opted to take him out of coaching and put him in administration. They wanted to accommodate a British national as head of the coaching department. It didn’t work out. Sanity prevailed and Jerome has returned to coaching.

That’s not the only area where we have lacked common sense. Our choice of reviews over the years have been appalling.

It is now up to the likes of Jerome and Head Coach Mickey Arthur to do a review on Sri Lanka’s recent use of reviews. Statistically, we would fare badly compared to most nations. It is common knowledge that Sri Lanka in recent times lost quite a few series due to poor fielding and below par fitness levels. Poor use of reviews too has contributed heavily towards this. Maybe, the Bangladesh series is an opportunity for us to correct this.

When Sri Lanka were whitewashed by England 3-0 at home in 2018 it was a bitter pill to swallow for most fans. Galle had been a strong fort for Sri Lankan cricket and for ages given the scorching heat there, the Englishmen barely lasted three days. But in 2018, they won in Galle and went onto complete an emphatic series win.

No doubt England played some terrific cricket but Sri Lanka committed hara-kiri with their poor use of reviews. Often, Sri Lanka would have exhausted both their reviews even before the team’s number one bowler – Rangana Herath had been introduced to the attack. The main culprit of poor use of reviews was Niroshan Dickwella.

The point was conveyed to the team management then but it was difficult to convince them. They seemed to be more hooked onto the idea that the bowlers were not creating any opportunities. No wonder they didn’t last long.

Now, Dickwella is one of the brightest talents around and there’s no doubt that he should play in all three formats of the game. But, he needs to watch his enthusiasm for reviews. Often, when urging the captain to go for a review, his immaturity and compulsive nature become too evident. Every appeal, according to Dickwella it seems, should result in the umpire raising the finger. He has forgotten the golden rule that reviews are there to rectify the glaring blunders.

It’s a catch 22 situation for Sri Lanka. Your wicketkeeper is in the best position to tell the captain whether to review or not. It appears often that Dickwella rather than weighing the merits and demerits of an appeal, goes with the gut feeling and urges the captain to consult the third umpire.

The captain had to be firm with Dickwella driving home the point how vital reviews were and the negative impact their improper use was having on the team.

It’s a pity because Sri Lanka was one of the countries that used reviews so well when it was introduced first. Playing against India when Decision Review System made it debut in 2008, Mahela Jayawardene had an amazing success rate compared to his counterpart Anil Kumble.

Given how poorly the Sri Lankans have reviewed in recent years, it is not a bad idea to give bowlers, captain and the keeper bit of training on the matter. It may sound bizarre but what else could you do when you have given away so much of advantage to the opposition due to poor reviews.

All News Advertisement

Sports

Sri Lanka Under 19s pull off two wickets win against Afghanistan

Published

18 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Under 19s scored back to back victories as Mahanama College batsman Chamika Heenatigala anchored the tail with an unbeaten half century to seal two wickets victory over Afghanistan U19s in their second group match of the Under 19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Monday.

‎Chasing 236 runs to win Sri Lanka U19s were eight wickets down for 217 runs in the 48th over but Heenatigala with Rasith Nimsara kept their cool to seal the victory with four balls to spare.

‎In their chase, Viran Chamuditha top scored with 62 runs and put on a first wicket stand of 55 runs with Dimantha Mahavithana (27).

‎While Kavija Gamage (34) and Dulnith Sigera (22) made vital contributions with the bat, Sethmika Senevirathne and Sigera took three wickets each.

‎It was Sri Lanka Youth team’s second consecutive win in the tournament after registering their first win against Nepal.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka’s all-round effort can not hold Vipers

Published

18 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sam Curran bagged two wickets before scoring an unbeaten fifty. (ILT20)

Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 29 and took two wickets but that could not hold Desert Vipers becoming the first team to seal a playoffs spot as they made it six wins out of six on Sunday (December 14) halfway through the league stage of the ILT20 2025-26.

‎Sam Curran produced an all-round effort as Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 166/4 with five wickets in hand and a ball to spare.

‎Asked to bat, Capitals lost Shayan Jahangir to Naseem Shah in the third over and were kept on a tight leash by the Vipers pacers in the powerplay, reaching 35/1. Gulbadin Naib and Leus du Plooy then added 39 at close to a run-a-ball before Noor Ahmad removed his Afghanistan teammate. Capitals were 68/2 at the halfway mark and in need of momentum through the second half of the innings.

‎Du Plooy injected some urgency with two fours off Lockie Ferguson in an over, followed by a six off Naseem Shah to bring up a 38-ball fifty. But Curran turned the innings again with a double-wicket over, dismissing du Plooy and Rovman Powell off successive deliveries. Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka, however, ensured a strong finish, striking six fours and three sixes in an unbroken 72-run stand off 40 balls.

‎Max Holden set the tone in the chase, accounting for six of the seven fours Vipers struck in the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman fell to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over but Vipers still reached 50 in six overs. Holden was dismissed for 34 by Haider Ali while attempting a slog sweep, and although Hasan Nawaz struck three sixes, he fell to Waqar Salamkheil to leave Vipers at 88/3 after 10 overs.

‎Dan Lawrence and Curran steadied the chase with a 32-run stand before Lawrence was dismissed by Shanaka for 20 in the 14th over. In the same over, Shimron Hetmyer struck a four and a six and was later reprieved by Shanaka. A couple of tight overs followed, but Vipers remained in control, needing 31 from the final four overs.

‎Curran took them closer with two fours off David Willey and a six off Muhammad Jawadullah. With three required in the final over, Hetmyer fell to Shanaka, but Curran finished the chase with a six off the fourth ball, completing a 33-ball fifty to cap a fine all-round performance.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49*; Sam Curran 2-17)

‎Desert Vipers

171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52*, Max Holden 34; Dasun Shanaka 2-19)

Sports

Akbar Brothers crowned MBSA A-Division champions

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/15

Priyan

Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead. Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)