Wdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiiiWdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiii Wdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiii Wdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiii Wdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiii Wdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiii Wdwdwdwdw dwddwdwwdwdwdwwdw wdwwwyjjukjukikik kkkikiii
Read More »
It all points out to an ICC Test Cricket Championship by the year 2013. Right now the ICC administration is going through the logistical possibilities of making this a reality and will come out with their findings by the end of 2010.
Prior to this the only other efforts in this direction was the Asian Test Championship which was held among India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and was conducted only twice. In 1998-99 Pakistan won the inaugural Championship and in 2001-02 Sri Lanka emerged as champions. It was originally planned that the tournament would be held every two years, alternatively with the Asia Cup.
 A new lease of life for Test cricket |
Way back in 1912 Triangular a Test Tournament, was held between Australia, England and South Africa. In 2006, the Asian Cricket Council canceled the Asian Test Championship due to the tightly packed international cricket tour schedule.
However the call for such a Test championship has been mooted since the arrival of the T-20 version of the game and the pundits of the game feared that Test cricket may become a victim of this development and die a natural death.
 |
Retiring off-sp
The 38-year-old Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker in tests and one-day internationals, dismissed India's Pragyan Ojha to reach the milestone in his final test match appearance.
PP Ojha c DPMD Jayawardene b Muralitharan 13
Murali's record feat also signalled the end of the tourists' innings as they were all out for 338, having resumed the final day on 181 for five.
Galle has been Muralitharan's favourite hunting ground, where he has taken 103 wickets in 14 matches with an average of 18.
Muralitharan made his Test debut in 1992 against Australia in Colombo and has since taken 22, 10-wicket hauls. He has taken five wickets in a Test innings on a record 67 occasions.
It took him 27 Tests to claim 100 wickets; the hundreds thereafter came in 15, 16, 14, 15, 14 and 12 Tests respectively.
Muralitharan has also taken 515 wickets in 337 one-day internationals, and a further 13 in Twenty20 internationals. .
"I don't believe in numbers — 800 is just a number everyone will forget once you retire," the veteran cricketer said in an earlier media interview.
His unorthodox bowling style and competitive spirit made him a nightmare for a generation of batsmen.
Part of the World Cup-winning side in 1996, he was instrumental in the run to the final 11 years later, and he played his part in some of the country's greatest sporting moments. - MSV-
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today hailed spin wizard M Muralitharan's latest achievement,
saying that "Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record".
"Murali has been an ornament in the world of cricket, overcoming the gravest of challenges, spinning his way to success for himself, his team and his country," the President added in his congratulatory message.
"I send my warmest congratulations to Muttiah Muralitharan, on his achieving his new record of 800 wickets in Test Cricket in 133 Tests, as he retires from this form of the game today, having contributed much to the victory of Sri Lanka in his final Test. "
"Murali, to all of us who enjoy the game of cricket, through the past 18 years, has played a great innings both for his own glory and Sri Lanka’s pride.
"In all this time, Murali has been an ornament in the world of cricket, overcoming the gravest of challenges, spinning his way to success for himself, his team and his country.
"He has won the admiration of all who loved Cricket, and earned well deserved plaudits for his continued success in all forms of the game.
"Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over, and the most discerning of critics and commentators, too. The records he has notched in Test Cricket and ODIs will be eagerly chased by many a bowler in the years to come, though it will be a difficult task. .
"Even in retirement from Test Cricket, we look forward to the contribution that Murali will continue to make in the field of sports and leadership, especially the example he will set to the youth of Sri Lanka, in keeping alive the true spirit of competition and sportsmanship. .
"I wish Murali every success in the years ahead," President Rajapaksa said.
Government spokesman and Media Minister Kehelliya meanwhile said Sri Lanka "hopes that Muralitharan's world record total of 800 Test wickets will never be beaten".
The minister made the remarks at his weekly post-cabinet press meeting.
"He is a true hero of the nation who brought the pride to the country in the international arena through his performance in the spheres of Test Cricket," said Mr Rambukwella.
Read More »
saying that "Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record"."Murali has been an ornament in the world of cricket, overcoming the gravest of challenges, spinning his way to success for himself, his team and his country," the President added in his congratulatory message.
"I send my warmest congratulations to Muttiah Muralitharan, on his achieving his new record of 800 wickets in Test Cricket in 133 Tests, as he retires from this form of the game today, having contributed much to the victory of Sri Lanka in his final Test. "
"Murali, to all of us who enjoy the game of cricket, through the past 18 years, has played a great innings both for his own glory and Sri Lanka’s pride.
"In all this time, Murali has been an ornament in the world of cricket, overcoming the gravest of challenges, spinning his way to success for himself, his team and his country.
"He has won the admiration of all who loved Cricket, and earned well deserved plaudits for his continued success in all forms of the game.
"Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over, and the most discerning of critics and commentators, too. The records he has notched in Test Cricket and ODIs will be eagerly chased by many a bowler in the years to come, though it will be a difficult task. .
"Even in retirement from Test Cricket, we look forward to the contribution that Murali will continue to make in the field of sports and leadership, especially the example he will set to the youth of Sri Lanka, in keeping alive the true spirit of competition and sportsmanship. .
"I wish Murali every success in the years ahead," President Rajapaksa said.
Government spokesman and Media Minister Kehelliya meanwhile said Sri Lanka "hopes that Muralitharan's world record total of 800 Test wickets will never be beaten".
The minister made the remarks at his weekly post-cabinet press meeting.
"He is a true hero of the nation who brought the pride to the country in the international arena through his performance in the spheres of Test Cricket," said Mr Rambukwella.
Australia's self confessed "cricket tragic" John Winston Howard has once again been taught the lesson that he should have learnt a long time ago. The last general election had him voted out of office as the majority of Aussie's had had enough of his arroance. Now, seven of the ten full member nations of the ICC have dealt another blow that should finally take his mug off the front pages of all newspapers.
John Howard had every opportunity to apologise to Murali at the Tsunami Cricket Match played in Melbourne in 2005 - instead he chose to ask that the new kid on the block Michael Clarke- be brought up to the President's box to speak to the then Primate Minister.
Murali went on to write his name in the book of legends when he broke every spinning record. John Howard was thrown out of office and now has been thrown out in his attempt to become the Chairman of the ICC. To blame it on Robert Mugabe is like blaming Saddam Hussein for the weapons of mass destruction that have still to be found.
CHARLTON HESTON in INDEPENDENT 21st July 1999 said "The most important thing a man can learn - the importance of three little words: "I was wrong". These words will get you much further than "I love you".
Quintus de Zylva Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation of Victoria.
 |
| Sanga once again proved why they have rated him as No. 1 - Pic by Ranjith Perera |
MAS Holdings Kandurata skipper Kumar Sangakkara put in another superlative batting display when he cracked an 84 ball knock of 96, with six boundaries and two sixes. This score helped Sangakkara to guide his side to an easy 192 run win over E-Wis Basnahira North at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Sangakkara was supported by two fine knocks. In the first he was associated with opener Tharanga Paranavithana with whom he added a valuable 118 run partnership for the third wicket. The other was an unbeaten 60 by Chamara Kapugedera who shared a 80 run stand for the fourth wicket. This helped Kanduarata to reach a formidable 296 for 5.
Basnahira North having won their two previous games was no where close to their old form. They lost their first four wickets for 40 runs in the ninth over. These included batsmen who cracked half tons in the previous game - Avishka Gunawadena, Ruwin Peiris and Shanuka Dissanayake - with the last two going for ducks.
In the early stages skipper Sangakkara only used his pacies Akalanka Ganegama, Kaushalya Weeraratne and Thilina Thushara. This trio obliged the skipper to obtain the much needed breakthrough.
Muttiah Muralitharan was brought in only after 24 overs with Basnahira North struggling at 92 for 9. Ultimately it was Muralitharan who finished off the innings. Murali dismissed Dhammika Prasad and Basnahira North were bundled out for 104 in 26.3 overs.
MAS Holdings Kandurata 296 for 5 in 50 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 96, Tharanga Paranavithana 75, Sajith Fernando 18, Chamara Kapugedera 60 n.o.)
E-Wis Basnahira North 104 in 26.3 overs (Dhanuka Pathirana 20, Gayan Wijekoon 19; Thilina Thushara 3 for 18, Kaushalya Weeraratne 2 for 19, Akalanka Ganegama 2 for 35)
Ruhuna crash again
Hirdaramani Ruhuna succumbed to their second defeat of the inter-provincial limited over cricket tournament when they were beaten by 39 runs by Lanka Bell Wayamba in a rain shortened encounter at the Welagedera Stadium in Kurunegala yesterday.
No play was possible in the morning session due to heavy rain. When the green light was given after the lunch session, the match was curtailed to 22 overs.
Wayamba sent in to bat first lost two quick wickets. They were however propped up by a third wicket partnership of 56 runs between Mahela Udawatte and Jehan Mubarak. This helped them to make an imposing 143 for 5 in their 22 overs. Mubarak was the top scorer with a 47 ball knock of 47 which included four boundaries.
Ruhuna sans skipper Sanath Jayasuriya in their run chase, struggled as pacies Farveez Maharoof, Ishara Amarasinghe and Ajantha Mendis broke the back bone of the top order batting to send them reeling at 60 for 5 at the half way stage. The batting was a repeat of their first game with none of the batsmen being able to make any useful contribution. Spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi put the finishing touches to end the Ruhuna innings for 104. Lokuarachchi ended with figures of 4 for 24 while Maharoof took 3 for 19.
Lanka Bell Wayamba 143 in 22 overs (Mahela Udawatte 26, Jehan Mubarak 47 n.o., Farveez Maharoof 23 n.o.; Sachitra Senanayake 2 for 28)
Hirdaramani Ruhuna 104 in 20.4 overs (Anil Ridigammanagedera 26, Kosala Kulasekera 20, Gihan de Silva 15; Kaushal Lokuarachchi 4 for 24, Farveez Maharoof 3 for 19)