Sports

Sri Lankans Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera have been included in the ICC ODI team of 2021.

The team recognises 11 outstanding individuals who have impressed one and all – be it with the bat, the ball or their all-round exploits in a calendar year.

Other members of the team are Paul Stirling (Ireland), Janneman Malan (South Africa), Babar Azam (c) and Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan), Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) and Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) and Simi Singh (Ireland)

In its citation for Hasaranga, the ICC says

“A vital contributor with both the bat and the ball – Wanindu Hasaranga continued to establish himself as the superstar of the Sri Lankan team in the shorter formats of the game in 2021. He scored 356 runs at an average of 27.38 with three half-centuries in 14 matches. Hasaranga was also a constant menace with the ball, picking up 12 wickets at a miserly economy of 4.56.”

For Chameera, the citation goes as

“Impressing one and all with his pace, Chameera was on fire in the year 2021. Playing 14 matches, he scalped 20 wickets at an average of 29.30 with one five-wicket haul. Managing to maintain his fitness, Chameera reaped the rewards in what turned out to be a fruitful year for him.”

Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva is one of the four nominees for the 2021 ICC Men's T20I Player of the Year award.

The others are another all-rounder and two wicket-keeper batters:

Mohammad Rizwan – Pakistan

1326 runs in 29 matches at an average of 73.66 with one century; 24 dismissals.

Mitchell Marsh – Australia

627 runs in 27 matches at 36.88; 8 wickets at 18.37.

Jos Buttler – England

589 runs in 14 matches at 65.44 with one century; 13 dismissals

Of Wanindu, the citation says,

Wanindu Hasaranga – Sri Lanka

36 wickets in 20 matches at 11.63; 196 runs with one half-century

The year that was

It was a breakthrough year for Wanindu Hasaranga, who established himself as one of the best spinners in the shortest format while also being a player who could contribute with the bat. A consistent performer throughout the year, Hasaranga's star shone the brightest during the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman.

He ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps and also played some handy knocks with the bat, like his 71 against Ireland. He was a constant menace for the opposition as Sri Lanka impressed one and all during the tournament with their young and energetic side.

Still only 24, Hasaranga is expected to become a cornerstone of Sri Lankan cricket, especially in the shortest formats of the game.

Memorable performance

In a pressure encounter in Sharjah against South Africa, Hasaranga almost single-handedly helped his side claw back into the contest with his brilliance with the ball. Claiming a memorable hat-trick, he took the big scalps of Aiden Markram (19) and Temba Bavuma (46) before dismissing Dwaine Pretorius to complete his hat-trick.

Hasaranga would end up with figures of 3/20 in his four-over spell, and it was only the power-hitting of David Miller at the death that got the Proteas over the line.

The Jaffna Kings who topped the group phase of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021, went on to win the title as they beat the Galle Gladiators in the final by 23 runs.

The Kings were also the defending champions coming into the tournament but went down to the Gladiators on three occasions before the final in this years’ edition.

The Jaffna Kings stuck by what has worked well for them throughout the tournament as skipper Thisara Perera won the toss and elected to bat first on a belter of a pitch at the Sooriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota.

The explosive opening duo of Avishka Fernando and Rahmanullah Gurbaz got them off to a flier once again as they put on 56 inside the power-play for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed for 35.

Fernando(63) followed up his century in the previous game with another half century while useful cameos from from Shoaib Malik(23 off 11) and Thisara Perera (17* off 9) made sure the Kings went past the 200-run mark in consecutive games.

Mohammad Amir, Nuwan Thushara and Samit Patel were the only wicket takers for the Gladiators, picking up a wicket each.

Danushka Gunathilaka got the Gladiators to a whirlwind start as he took the attack to the Kings’ bowlers including Maheesh Theekshana who has been the standout bowler for them through the tournament. Gunathilaka hit 54 off just 21 balls in a knock that included seven fours and three towering sixes.

It was Wanindu Hasaranga’s introduction that brought the Gunathilaka special to an end, while he picked up Ben Dunk off the following delivery to drag the Kings back into the contest.

The Gladiators kept up with the required run rate but a couple of unnecessary run outs pegged them back as they were reduced to 133/6 in 14 overs.

They never really got back from those blows and were eventually restricted to 178/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Kusal Mendis was the second top scorer with 39 runs while none of the other batters made any significant contributions.

Hasaranga picked up two wickets, held on to a couple of very good catches and also was involved in the run out of Mohommed Hafeez.

Hasaranga together with his brother Chathuranga de Silva (2/15) helped the Kings win quite comfortably in the end. Malik also bowled three crucial overs conceding just twelve runs.

Samit Patel and Maheesh Theekshana ended as the joint highest wicket takers in the tournament with 16 wickets apiece while Kusal Mendis finished the tournament as the highest run scorer with 327 runs.

(The Island)

Mahela Jayawardene has been appointed consultant coach of the Sri Lanka men's senior team, as well as the men's Under-19 team and the Sri Lanka A team for a period of one year, starting 01 January 2022.

A Sri Lanka Cricket press statement said that the former captain "will be in charge of the overall cricketing element of the national teams" and also provide "strategic support" for players and the management teams at SLC's high-performance centre.

"This is an exciting opportunity to work with the national cricketers and coaches in our various development squads, including the U19 and A teams, to help us do justice to the enormous cricketing talent and potential in Sri Lanka," Jayawardene said in the statement.

"I am very passionate about Sri Lankan cricket and believe that with a coordinated and focused team effort, taking a holistic approach working across all age groups, we can achieve consistent success in the future.”

"My main role will be supporting our team of national coaches and support staff in terms of our preparation and strategic-thinking during the coming year."

The appointment came about following consultations between the SLC's executive committee and technical advisory committee.

Jayawardene had earlier been a part of the Sri Lanka men's senior team as a consultant for the first round of the T20 World Cup, played in the UAE and Oman in October-November this year.

At the time, he had also been signed on as a consultant and mentor for the Under-19 team, which has been preparing for the World Cup in the Caribbean next year.

"Mahela's contributions during the first round of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup became invaluable for the overall performances of our team in the concluded event," Ashley de Silva, SLC CEO, said in the statement.

(expncricinfo.com)

Sri Lanka won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today (09).

The 22-year-old Srimali Samarakoon came first in the women’s 45 kg weight class.

The Commonwealth championships is being held along with the World Weightlifting Championships 2021.

It is the most important qualifying event for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

With their 187-run win against the West Indies today (25), Sri Lanka has climbed to the top of the World Test Championship points table.

The ICC shared a photo of the WTC points table as it stands currently, with the caption, "Sri Lanka on top. The ICC #WTC23 points table after the first #SLvWI Test."

The Lankans leapfrogged India, despite having only one win under their belt as compared to India's two, which came on the unfinished tour of England.

That is because of their higher percentage of points, which is 100 percent as they have won the only Test they have played so far in this cycle.

India have won two Tests, lost one and drawn one, which puts their PCT at 54.17, Pakistan are third as they have a PCT of 50, having won one and lost one of the two matches they have played.

Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene, former South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock and ex England batter Janette Brittin will be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame before the T20 World Cup final gets underway here on Sunday.

The three cricketers will be formally inducted by fellow ICC Hall of Famer, Sir Clive Lloyd, before the much-anticipated final between New Zealand and Australia starts at the Dubai International Stadium.

The ICC Hall of Fame recognises the achievements of the legends of the game from cricket’s long and illustrious history. 106 players have been inducted since its launch in 2009, with Brittin, Jayawardene and Pollock as the latest inductees.

Brittin, who died in 2017, was a mainstay of the England Test team for 19 years and paved the way for women’s cricket between 1979 and 1998.

Jayawardene retired as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest ever players, a key member of the team that won the T20 World Cup in 2014 and reached four other major ICC finals.

Pollock was one of the finest bowling all-rounders the game has ever seen and was the first player to achieve the 3,000 run and 300 wicket double in both Test and ODI cricket.

Jayawardene follows Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan into the Hall of Fame.

“It’s a very special honour to follow in the footsteps of legends Sanga and Murali from Sri Lanka and so many other great cricketers of the past.

“I am very grateful for the recognition and would like to enjoy and share the moment with all those that have helped me on my journey, including my family, friends, coaches, team-mates and, most importantly, Sri Lanka cricket fans who passionately supported and inspired me during my career,” he said.

Pollock added: “It’s an amazing honour to be included in the Hall of Fame alongside the very illustrious company that has already been inducted.

“It’s a real cherry on the top or maybe even a book end of what has been a thoroughly enjoyable cricketing experience and I’d like to thank my teammates who played such a massive part along the journey.”