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CB Ratnayake retained Somachandra de Silva and Nishantha Ranatunga as chairman and secretary respectively while appointing three new members to the committee

Sa'adi Thawfeeq02-Jun-2010Sports Minister CB Ratnayake, despite accusing Sri Lanka Cricket as the third most corrupt institution in the country and slamming the board’s interim committee, retained Somachandra de Silva and Nishantha Ranatunga as chairman and secretary respectively while appointing three new members to the committee on Wednesday.Former cricketer and Sri Lanka rugby player Asanga Seneviratne, lawyer Kalinga Indratissa and Sports Ministry representative Prabath Fonseka are the three new members appointed. They replace Pramodya Wickramasinghe, A. Gunaratne Weerasinghe, Lalith Wickremasinghe and Ranil Abeynaike. Sujeewa Rajapakse continues as treasurer of the six-member interim committee.Ratnayake, who appointed Aravinda de Silva as the head of a new selection panel, in a media conference on Monday, had promised to revamp the way the game is administered, even if it meant replacing the incumbent members. Ratnayake had said he had a problem with the way the interim committee had handled finances and contributed to wastage of resources.

The West Indies captain said to move up the rankings from ninth to third in a year was “tremendous work”

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2024West Indies’ T20 World Cup 2024 campaign came to an end with defeat to South Africa in Antigua on Sunday, but their captain Rovman Powell was full of praise for the progress they made as a team in the year leading up to the competition.”I think when you look on a large scale, we haven’t won the World Cup. We aren’t in the semi-finals. [But] I think the cricket we have played in the last 12 months or so is commendable,” Powell said in the post-match presentation ceremony. “Credit has to be given to the team. If you can take a year to move from number 9 to number 3 in the world, that’s tremendous work.”Related

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“We haven’t won the World Cup, but there was a lot of improvement. There’s a lot of buzz around the Caribbean again about West Indies cricket. We have done some very good things over the last 12 months.”Now is where the work starts. It’s for us to continue to work as a group, still be tight, and hopefully, just hopefully, we can continue to climb the rankings and make the Caribbean people proud,” Powell said.Powell also acknowledged the support they received on and off the field during a home World Cup, and said that it is a sign of the team headed in the right direction.”That has been fantastic. For all the venues that we have played, for all the social media likes and stuff that people have given us, we as a team really appreciate it,” he said.”It’s good to see that some buzz is back in the Caribbean for cricket, because we know how long that has died down. Now people are rallying around the West Indies as they do. Now, when we hear the anthem play, as players we feel something. I think that is heading in the right direction.”West Indies fans show their support in North Sound•Associated Press

Powell: ‘A batting performance we will try and forget’

After being put in to bat in a virtual knockout game by South Africa, West Indies unravelled against spin in Antigua. They could only make 135, but they then had South Africa at 15 for 2 after two overs when rain set in. With the target revised to 124 in 17 overs, West Indies kept chipping away, especially with Roston Chase dismissing David Miller and the set Tristan Stubbs in consecutive overs.But in the end, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada sealed a three-wicket win for South Africa, with five balls to spare.”I think credit has to be given to the boys. I think they fight to the very end,” Powell said.”As a batting group, this is one batting performance we’ll try our best to forget. I think we didn’t bat well in the middle overs especially,” he said. “I think obviously you see both teams bat on the wicket. Obviously it wasn’t an easy wicket, especially to get started.”I think [in] the middle overs, we lost wickets in clusters. The first time in this competition we have lost wickets in clusters. That always breaks the back of a batting team.””I think it was a commendable bowling effort. 130 [135] at the halfway mark, we said we’re just going to give it our all,” Powell said. “Whatever happens, happens. Credit has to be given to the guys at the halfway mark. They believed, even though it was only 135.”

Blair Tickner, Matt Henry and Tim Southee shared nine wickets for the hosts

Madushka Balasuriya12-Mar-2023Angelo Mathews’ 14th Test century pried open the door to an unlikely World Test Championship final berth for Sri Lanka, one that had seemingly been firmly shut the previous day. The game though is nevertheless finely poised, with New Zealand needing a very gettable 257 runs on the final day, and Sri Lanka requiring nine wickets. However, the visitors’ biggest obstacle might be the rain that is forecast for Monday morning.But that both teams are still in with a shot of winning this Test is a credit to the fight shown by both sets of players. At the start of play, Sri Lanka were on the back foot, with Mathews being kept company by nightwatcher Prabath Jayasuriya, who fell within the first half hour of play, with Blair Tickner having got all four wickets to fall until then. New Zealand, meanwhile, had to cope with the news that Neil Wagner would not be able to take the field for the remainder of the first Test after he failed a late fitness test on the back injury he suffered on day three.But otherwise, neither side gave an inch away, with Mathews sharing partnerships of 105 and 60 with Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, respectively, in the process dragging Sri Lanka back into position of relative strength in the face of relentless probing from New Zealand’s seamers.Tim Southee and Matt Henry – the latter nursing an injury that required stitches on his bowling hand – peppered the corridor outside off, while Tickner and the tireless Daryll Mitchell, who was called in for an extended spell owing to the absence of Wagner, particularly tested Chandimal – and even Mathews – with a packed leg-side field and an avalanche of short deliveries from around the wicket.Sri Lanka though continued to slog, and it would take until shortly after the tea interval for Mathews to finally fall. Another length ball outside off, shaping away, examining Mathews’ patience, which for once would fail him, saw him nick one through to the wicketkeeper. His 115 came off 235 balls, but by the time he fell, Sri Lanka’s lead had grown to 233.And as it turned out, Mathews’ wicket sparked a collapse for Sri Lanka, who lost 4 for 42 to fold for 302. However, de Silva remained unbeaten on 47, adding 22 for the eighth wicket with Kasun Rajitha, while accumulating crucial runs for his side, as Sri Lanka ensured New Zealand were left with a challenging chase nevertheless.And when the hosts came out to bat, the Sri Lankan bowlers did their part, utilising the early swing as well as some variable bounce on offer to trouble both Tom Latham and Devon Conway. The latter even fell before the close of play, chipping a return catch to Rajitha after one reared up off a good length. Latham and Kane Williamson held fort till the close, content to see proceedings through to the end of play.

The batter did not field in Canberra and both teams have an eye on the upcoming World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2022Australia may take a cautious approach with Beth Mooney in the second ODI but they are in no mood to let up on England despite the Ashes having been retained.For those involved in the 2017-18 series there are memories of how England were able to fight back to level the contest at 8-8, something Australia are determined not to let happen again.”We didn’t finish off as well as we would’ve liked,” Rachael Haynes said of 2017. “We played some good cricket but we just opened the door and it felt like we allowed them to finish pretty strongly, I guess walk away feeling like they drew the series. From our point of view we want to make sure that we win.”However, they are unlikely to take a risk with a key player as the departure date for the World Cup approaches. Mooney, who has returned to action remarkably quickly after a fractured jaw, did not field in Canberra due to some quad tightness after her 73 had anchored Australia to what proved a match-winning 205 on a tricky surface.Related

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The squad departs for New Zealand two days after the Ashes concludes, and will undergo 10 days hard quarantine which adds to the complexity for anyone who is carrying an injury into the tournament.”I wouldn’t be surprised if our staff took a little bit of a conservative approach with Moons just given how crucial she is to our line-up,” Haynes said. “I don’t think they’ve selected the team yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if she was rested just to make sure she’s raring to go with what’s ahead.”If Mooney does sit out it could open the door for a return for either Annabel Sutherland or Nicola Carey unless they call in someone from outside the Ashes squad.Although both teams have insisted their focus has remained firmly on the Ashes, Haynes would not be surprised if a few different combinations are tried out. The two teams face each other in their opening World Cup match on March 5.”It’s sort of a bit of a tricky time because you want to make sure you’re peaking at the right moment,” Haynes said. “You don’t want to peak too early and then all of a sudden you get to a World Cup and run out of gas.”It might even be interesting to see how both teams approach these last couple of games. Whether there’s a bit of cat and mouse in terms of how they mix up their attacks or lineups in general in teams. It could be something that each opposition does.”After the first ODI, England captain Heather Knight conceded her team had not seized the chances that had come their way but they are determined to leave their mark on the series.”We feel like we’ve played some good cricket on this tour so far but it’s about getting over the line and we haven’t quite been able to do that which is frustrating,” Anya Shrubsole said. “There’s still a chance to level up the Ashes if we win the next two games…It’s not what we came to do, we came to win the Ashes but there’s still a huge amount to play for in this series and with the World Cup around the corner.”After the England A portion of the tour concluded in Canberra, Lauren Bell, Georgia Elwiss, Eve Jones and Emma Lamb have stayed with the England squad for the final two ODIs. The World Cup squad will be announced on February 9.

Sophia Dunkley and Katie George added to T20 World Cup squad

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2020Georgia Elwiss has been ruled out of England women’s five T20Is against West Indies due to a back injury, with Sophia Dunkley and Katie George included in a 16-strong squad for the series.Head coach Lisa Keightley has largely stuck with the squad knocked out of this year’s T20 World Cup thanks to a semi-final washout against India, with Elwiss the only member of that group not selected. Allrounder Bryony Smith and left-arm spinner Linsey Smith are both on standby.Some 24 women’s players had gone into the biosecure bubble at Derby ahead of the series, and the seven not selected will be available for the final round of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures and the final (if their teams qualify). Those seven players are Lauren Bell, Alice Davidson-Richards, Kirstie Gordon, Emma Lamb, Bryony Smith, Linsey Smith and Issy Wong.West Indies arrived in the UK on August 31, and both teams have been playing intra-squad warm-up matches in Derby over the past two weeks. The series starts on September 21.”It’s been a challenging summer for everyone and we are privileged to be in a position to play an international series, and to get the chance to showcase the women’s game,” Keightley said.”We have worked hard since the group came back together in preparation for this series and we’re in a great place going in to the Vitality T20Is against West Indies.”England squad to play West Indies: Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Katie George, Sarah Glenn, Heather Knight (captain), Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.

Notts batsman will begin county comeback as England team-mates begin their one-off ODI against Ireland in Dublin

ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2019Alex Hales has been given a clear warning about his future as he prepares to make his return to action for Nottinghamshire against Durham in Grantham on Friday, following the 21-day drugs ban that led to his axing from the England World Cup squad.Fitness permitting, Hales – who was said to be “devastated” after being stood down from England’s 15-man preliminary squad for the World Cup – will begin his comeback in the Royal London Cup at the same time that his former team-mates begin their one-off ODI against Ireland in Dublin.He will do so with an unequivocal warning from his county ringing in his ears, after the club said in a statement that his actions, which include two failed tests for recreational drugs as well as his role in the fracas outside a Bristol nightclub in September 20117, “have, at times, fallen way short of the behaviours the club expects from any of its staff”.Hales, who is on a white-ball-only contract at Nottinghamshire after making himself unavailable for four-day cricket last season, has missed the entirety of the club’s Royal London campaign to date. He is out of contract at the club at the end of the season, making the remaining two group matches, as well as the knock-out phases for which the club is well placed to progress, especially crucial to the rebuilding of his career.”The recent events in relation to Alex Hales have been difficult for everyone involved with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club,” said the club on its website. “Alex’s off-field actions have, at times, fallen way short of the behaviours the club expects from any of its staff.”Hales attended an England squad get-together in Cardiff over the weekend, but was removed from the squad on Monday morning, reportedly with the blessing of the team hierarchy, who believe his behavioural issues, and his lack of repentance, are an unwelcome distraction on the eve of the team’s biggest challenge.And, having met with Nottinghamshire’s management to assess his readiness for a comeback, Hales would appear now to have recognised that the situation he is in is one of his own making, having initially accused the ECB of reneging on a commitment to back him in spite of his ban.”Following his withdrawal from all England squads this week, we have met with Alex to express our concerns and to re-iterate that such actions cannot continue,” said the club.”The meeting was open, honest and constructive and a way forward was agreed between both parties. Alex has expressed a great deal of regret and contrition for his actions and he has ultimately paid a heavy price.”He accepts that the position he finds himself in is of his own making. He knows he has a long road back to redeem himself in the eyes of many people, but that now has to be his aim.”After much deliberation, we believe it’s in the best interests of all concerned for him to get back to playing cricket for Nottinghamshire as quickly as possible.”With his suspension now served, he is available for selection for all white-ball cricket for the remainder of the 2019 season, starting with the fixture against Durham on Friday.”As Alex’s County Club, we will work with him, the PCA and the ECB to look after his welfare and to ensure he receives the support and guidance he needs to work through this experience and to prevent any re-occurrences.”

Atapattu will take over the captaincy from Inoka Ranaweera for the upcoming home ODIs against Pakistan

Madushka Balasuriya 19-Mar-2018Chamari Atapattu, fresh from her excursion in the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia, will take over the captaincy from Inoka Ranaweera for Sri Lanka in the upcoming home series against Pakistan. Nipuni Hansika was named vice-captain.All eyes will be on 17-year old Kavisha Dilhari, who was discovered through an island-wide talent hunt. Dilhari was recently described by Sri Lanka’s high performance manager Simon Willis – who was a part of the talent search team – as a “very competitive beast,” having been playing cricket domestically since she was 15 years of age.”She came to some trials I was at and showed great potential. She showed great maturity for someone her age. Even in match situations she’s a very competitive beast,” he told ESPNcricinfo.”Hence, why we’ve given her the opportunity here. We believe she’s someone we need to back and give the experience and play alongside fantastic players like her captain. And learn from her.”Dilhari is among four changes to the squad from the one that toured the West Indies late last year, with Chamari Polgampola, Sugandika Kumari and Inoshi Fernando the other additions. Making way are Chandima Gunaratne, Hansima Karunaratne, Yashoda Mendis, and Udeshika Prabodhani.Sri Lanka will play three ODIs and three T20Is. All three ODIs will take place in Dambulla on March 20, 22, and 24, and will count for the ICC Women’s Championship. The T20 series will shift the action to Colombo with the first match taking place at the SSC on the 28th, the second at the NCC on 30th, and the final game back at the SSC on the 31st.Sri Lanka and Pakistan have played three matches each in the current cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship. Sri Lanka are placed at the bottom – the only team without a win yet – while Pakistan are sixth with one win to their name.Sri Lanka ODI squad: Chamari Atapattu (captain), Prasadani Weerakkody, Dilani Manodara, Nipuni Hansika, Hasini Perera, Rebecca Vandort, Chamari Polgampola, Shashikala Siriwardena, Ama Kanchana, Achini Kulasooriya, Sripali Weerakkody, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando, Kavishka Dilhani

Hashim Amla said he has not noticed any change in approach from the South Africa coaching staff since the news that positions will have to be reapplied for

Firdose Moonda31-Jan-2017News that South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo will have to reapply for his job if he hopes to continue in the role after the team’s tour of England in August resulted in “a few sad hours in the changeroom” according to ODI captain AB de Villiers but fellow senior figure Hashim Amla said he has not noticed any change in approach from the coaching staff.Domingo has a support staff of five: assistant Adi Birrell, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, batting coach Neil McKenzie, spin consultant Claude Henderson and fitness trainer Greg King, whose deals are tied to his and as a result, they will also face contract renegotiation later this year, but none of them have appeared distracted.”It hasn’t affected the coaches too much. They still seem extremely motivated, which is brilliant. They have been professional in everything they have done,” Amla said ahead of the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Durban. “Don’t forget it’s still six or seven months away, which is a long time. In between that, we have so many different challenges to keep our focus on.”Chief among those is the Champions Trophy, which will doubtless have some bearing on whether Domingo wants to stay on and whether Cricket South Africa’s board will be keen on keeping him. If South Africa win the competition, it is almost a given Domingo will be in demand, especially as he is already the man who has achieved the most with the team at a major tournament.He was the first coach to oversee a South African victory in a 50-over World Cup knockout match, when they beat Sri Lanka in the quarter-final in 2015, and even though Domingo has not had the same success at World T20s with the 2019 World Cup looming, a strong showing at the Champions Trophy could stand him in good stead for a new two-year term.But the trophy drought has proved a nemesis for so many and no-one has yet come up with the answer to break the hoodoo. Like his predecessors, Domingo’s plans are focused on meticulous preparation – South Africa are regularly the team who have played the most matches in the months leading up to a major tournament – and so far, they seem to be working.”If you look at the build-up we have had as a team, winning the last series [against Australia] as convincingly as we did and being 1-0 up here, it’s building very well,” Amla said. “The coaches and the captains have tried to put the structures in place for us to succeed and it’s really pleasing that everything is working really well.”Amla has been part of all this before though, and knows that even the best laid plans can be derailed on the day, when pressure takes hold. In South Africa’s case, the major tournament bug has most often bitten their batsmen, who have botched modest chases – think Dhaka 2011. Then, South Africa’s line-up contained at least some inexperience. This time, it is unlikely to have any with all of the top six senior figures and all of them in decent nick.”The batting line up looks really solid. Quinny is one of the best, Faf has been in very good form, AB is a legend, JP is batting well, everybody has been contributing,” Amla said.However, even with things go as well as they could, South Africa have every reason to be cautious and not to get ahead of themselves. “Nobody is under the illusion that everything is hunky-dory and things are just going to keep going up and up. There will be some challenges inbetween here and the Champions Trophy and if that comes, we’ve got to be patient with it go through it,” Amla said.The waiting game is something Amla was forced to become well-versed in over the last few months when he went through a rare lean patch in the lead up to his 100th Test. Amla went 13 Test innings without a century before bringing up three figures in his milestone match to end speculation that the end was nigh. He has since topped up on that with a 57 in the first ODI and is feeling like his old self, with no intention of slowing down.”Sometimes you go through those patches. If I can think back, there are other players, much better players, Tendulkar, those guys, they have been through similar. That’s the nature of the game,” he said. “I take it as it comes. I try not to plan too far ahead. Whether its 100 Tests or 50 Tests, the fact that I am playing international cricket is what motivates me. I enjoy batting and I enjoy playing for the country. I feel very fresh. I still feel 18.”

A record century partnership between Moises Henriques and Michael Lumb engineered Sydney Sixers’ successful run chase to inflict Melbourne Renegades’ first loss of the BBL at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

The Report by Tristan Lavalette23-Dec-2015
ScorecardMichael Lumb’s onslaught set the base for Sydney Sixers’ highest ever successful run chase•Getty Images

A record century partnership between Moises Henriques and Michael Lumb engineered Sydney Sixers’ successful run chase to inflict Melbourne Renegades’ first loss of the BBL at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.Chasing a daunting total of 173 on a two-paced pitch conjuring inconsistent bounce, Sixers’ chances of victory looked forlorn when they lost dangerous duo of Brad Haddin (caught behind for a golden duck) and Nic Maddison (17) early to slump to 2 for 21 in the 4th over. But Sixers captain Henriques (62 off 38 balls) and English import Lumb (63 from 35 balls) combined for a 101-run partnership off 57 balls to drastically alter the match’s complexion. It was the highest third-wicket partnership in Sixers history.Henriques’ dismissal with just 20 runs needed triggered a Sixers collapse, as they lost 4 for 12 in a dramatic 12 balls to be delicately positioned at 7 for 165 with two overs remaining. But Trent Lawford and Sean Abbott calmly guided the Sixers to victory with seven balls to spare in the team’s highest ever successful run chase.Renegades paceman Nathan Rimmington tried valiantly and finished with 4 for 26. But the match-winners proved to be Lumb and Henriques, who scored a staggering 50 runs from three overs in the middle overs to turn the game on its head. Lumb looked especially menacing throughout, hitting five sixes in his innings, including three off one Xavier Doherty over.Henriques played the anchor role during the partnership but shifted gears when Lumb was dismissed. He struck the ball cleanly and seemed likely to guide his team to victory before throwing his wicket away with a heave.The successful chase was what Henriques envisioned when he won the toss and elected to bowl. No Renegades batsman made a half-century but an even spread ensured they mustered an imposing 4 for 172 amid somewhat favourable bowling conditions. Tom Beaton and Dwayne Bravo provided the late fireworks in a devastating 40-ball 78 run partnership, blasting 68 runs off the final five overs to regain the initiative after Sixers dominated the middle overs through tight and disciplined bowling.Beaton was particularly impressive in his late cameo of 41 from 23 balls, which included two sixes. Bravo started slowly and struggled with his timing before finding his rhythm towards the end, punctuated by a huge six over midwicket off Sixers paceman Doug Bollinger in the last over of the innings.It was a highly impressive comeback after the Renegades had earlier slumped to 4 for 94 in the 14th over when Matthew Wade was bowled playing on to a Sean Abbott delivery. Renegades lost 3 for 20 in the middle overs after starting briskly as dynamic West Indian opener Chris Gayle threatened to produce a trademark assault. Looking uncertain against hostile bowling from Bollinger, Gayle started slowly scoring just six from 11 balls and was lucky to survive a skied miscued pull shot that somehow landed between two fielders.Renowned for his brutish batting, Gayle was content nudging the ball around for singles early in his innings before bludgeoning pacemen Sean Abbott for consecutive towering sixes in the eighth over, with the latter smashing into the second tier over long-on.Gayle dominated a 56-run second-wicket partnership with Cameron White (15), and seemed intent on a big score that alluded him in the Renegades’ opening match against the Heat. Despite teasing, Gayle could not produce a substantial score falling for a 33-ball 46 in Johan Botha’s first over, the 11th of the innings.Left-armer Steve O’Keefe, who has played Test cricket for Australia, was not used, while Botha only bowled two overs. The Sixers missed Nathan Lyon, who returned to the Test squad fresh from his five-wicket haul against Hurricanes in the last game, but were still able to produce a thrilling victory.