Category Archives: cricket selections

September 3, 2025 · 1:29 am

Those Directing Sri Lanka Cricket TODAY ….

Michael Roberts

I realised that I had limited information about who held the reins of Sri Lanka cricket these days and That my knowledge was, at best, partial. In rendying this abysmal shortcoming, I am presenting  basic .details drawn  from the web. It seems that the cotreie of powerprokers associated with Shammie  Silva and Jayanatha Dharmadasa continue to command the board room; while Ashley de silva remains as CEO. This may not be a necessarily detrimental dimension ….. I simply do not know

It is  the Selection Committee and coaching staff [including physios] who really matter. Some of these details are also presented below. I invite commentary.

    Shammi Silvs spesking …with  Jayantha Dharmadasa on his right

 

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September 1, 2025 · 1:40 am

Sri Lanka win another Nailbiter against Zimbabwe

Preliminary Thoughts from Afar from Michael Roberts

 & Another pulsating tight finish! …. Good for cricket.

& Sri Lanka delivered 17 WIDES …. Seventeen -with Madushanka (5) and Chameera (4) the worst culprits

& Sikander Raza (a Pakistani Punjabi) once again revealed his cricketing  capacities – showing  that, at 39 years, Age is  not a barrier to continuing excellence

& Pathum Nissanka was solid as usual as opening bat and composed 122 runs at  89.7 s/r …. deservedly securing the Man-of-the-Match award.                                                                                        

Pathum Nissanka

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August 30, 2025 · 7:16 pm

A Pulsating Cricket Match capped with A Final Over Hat-Trick

Andrew Fidel Fernando in ESPNcricinfo, 29  August 2025, where the title reads “Madushanka seals thriller with last-over hat-trick”

Raza had valiantly revived Zimbabwe’s chase through the middle overs but he could not take them over the line ……. Sri Lanka 298 for 6 (Nissanka 76, Liyanage 70*, Kamindu 57, Ngarava 2-34) beat Zimbabwe 291 for 8 (Raza 92, Curran 70, Williams 57, Madushanka 4-62, Fernando 3-50) by seven runs

A spectacular Dilshan Madushanka hat-trick derailed a scintillating Zimbabwe chase in the final over, which Sikandar Raza had valiantly revived through the middle overs. Raza had brought Zimbabwe to the cusp of what would have been a famous victory. They needed ten off the last over, he himself was on strike and batting beautifully on 92 off 86 balls, and at the other end was Tony Munyonga, with whom he’d shared a 128-run stand.
 Dilshan Madushanka produced a final over hat trick

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August 30, 2025 · 1:50 am

Sri Lanka Snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat

First 50-Over ODI in Harare  is a Nailbiter

…  followed  by this Thuppahiyaaa on ball-by-ball script in ESPN ………………  With one MADUSHANKA producing  a hat trick in  Over no 50 to complement Asitha  Fernando’s superb over no 49

RESULT
1st ODI, Harare, August 29, 2025, Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka FlagSri Lanka
298/6
Zimbabwe FlagZimbabwe
(50 ov, T:299) 291/8

Sri Lanka won by 7 runs

end of over 502 runs • 3 wickets
ZIM: 291/8CRR: 5.82 
Tony Munyonga43 (52b 1×4)
Blessing Muzarabani1 (1b)
Dilshan Madushanka10-0-62-4
Asitha Fernando10-0-50-3
49.6

1
Madushanka to Munyonga, 1 run  …… length ball outside off, swung away high and over mid-off running back. The ball falls safe but it’s Sri Lanka that celebrate – they have snuck through by 7 runs!

PK: “This is the danger of not giving it some serious welly in the 45-49 overs.

49.5

•
Madushanka to Munyonga, no run

Wide yorker, misses and Sri Lanka are home free!

Boundary needed here, and nothing else.

Odinlass : “Hahahaha! My word! This is outrageous!”

49.4

Madushanka to Muzarabani, 1 run  ….. full outside off, swings this and connects well. Down to long-on. Munyonga of course not coming back for the second
49.3

W
Madushanka to Ngarava, OUT

Hattrick for Madushanka! Talk about your redemption arcs, a forgettable day is fast becoming one to be etched in stone! This was quick and straight and Ngarava had no choice but to swing at it. Too good for him though, far too good

Richard Ngarava b Madushanka 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Ashraf: “what have u done @Hayes???”
Akindu: “Madushanka YOU BEAUTY!!! clutch play to move the odds toward SL. “
Nuur: “…And that is the problem with one man shows. When that one man is gone, show is over”
49.2

W
Madushanka to Evans, OUT

Two in two! Full outside off, looks for the scoop but it can’t clear short fine who peddles back and holds on smartly! Harare is silenced.

Brad Evans c AM Fernando b Madushanka 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Alan: “Finally a jinx worked”

abhi : “Had to jinx him Hayes”

49.1

W
Madushanka to Raza, OUT

Oh my word, he’s crushed middle stump! Big gaps on the onside and Raza moves across looking to sweep this for four. But this a yorker on the base of middle stump. And quick. Raza has to trudge of desolately

Sikandar Raza b Madushanka 92 (87b 8×4 0x6) SR: 105.74

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August 24, 2025 · 8:12 pm

Face-to-Face: Sons of Lankan Cricketing Greats

Rex Clementine

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August 22, 2025 · 8:47 pm

Sri Lankan Squad for ODIs in Zimbabwe

ITEM  in Adadarena, 22 August 2025

The 16-member national cricket One-Day International squad for the tour of Zimbabwe has been announced. The team is scheduled to depart for Zimbabwe tomorrow (22).

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August 22, 2025 · 8:44 pm

Charith Asalanka at Cricket: Richmond College & Sri Lanka

The  WIKIPEDIA Entry on The  Man captaining Sri Lanka Today  in the ODI Field

Kariyawasam Indipalage Charith Asalanka (born 29 June 1997) is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who currently serves as the captain of the Sri Lanka national team in white-ball formats of T20I and ODI and is the 14th and current T20I captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team. An aggressive left-handed batsman and trusted batter in the number five middle-order batting position, who bowls part-time handy off spin. On pitches that favour spin, he has the potential to take useful wickets and contribute significantly as an all-rounder. Asalanka made his international debut for Sri Lanka in June 2021.

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August 17, 2025 · 12:26 am

Vale: Bob Simpson, Aussie Cricketer & Coach

Priyan, in The Island, 16 August 2025, where the title reads: “Former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson dies aged 89”

Pix shows Simpson with Sobers

Austalian cricket has lost a giant after former Test captain and the first full-time coach Bob Simpson  died in Sydney at the age of 89.

Simpson is one of the most influential figures in the history of Australian cricket. He played 62 Test matches between 1957 and 1978, averaging 46.81, and claimed 71 wickets while being known as one of the greatest slip fielders of his time. In first-class cricket, he amassed 21,029 runs and picked up 349 wickets with his legspin.

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August 10, 2025 · 6:55 pm

Bulawayo!@#! … One Feast. Two Massacres!

Firdose Moonda, in  ESPNcricinfo, August 2025 where  the headline reads “New Zealand script their biggest win after Foulkes and Co flatten Zimbabwe”

After New Zealand declared overnight, with a lead of 476, Zimbabwe were bowled out in 28.1 overs in an extended first session …………..  New Zealand 601 for 3 decl (Ravindra 165*, Conway 153, Nicholls 150*) beat Zimbabwe 125 (Taylor 44, Henry 5-40, Foulkes 4-38) and 117 (Welch 47*, Foulkes 5-37) by an innings and 359 runs

Zakary Foulkes picked up the best figures by a New Zealand player on Test debut as New Zealand recorded their biggest Test win. Their innings and 359 run victory over Zimbabwe emphasised the massive gulf between the two sides as Zimbabwe capitulated for their fourth-lowest score against New Zealand to suffer their heaviest defeat in the format.

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August 7, 2025 · 6:43 pm

Austalia A Squads for Indian Cricket Tour

Alex Malcolm in ESPNcricinfo, 07-Aug-2025 .. .https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sam-konstas-oliver-peake-nathan-mcsweeney-in-australia-a-squad-for-india-tour-1498270 …. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppaho

Ashes hopefuls Weatherald, Harris, Bancroft, Renshaw not included as the squad is a look towards the 2027 Test tour of India, with Connolly, Murphy and Rocchiccioli included as spinners

Sam Konstas drives one in the nets, Australia vs Sri Lanka, Galle, February 4, 2025

Sam Konstas has played five Tests so far  •  Getty Images

Sam Konstas‘ bid to retain his Test place this summer will begin in India as he was named in the 14-man Australia A squad that will play India A in two red-ball four-day matches in Lucknow in September, albeit the squad has been selected with an eye towards Australia’s 2027 Test tour rather than the upcoming Ashes.

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