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| Friday, 18 July 2003 |
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Lanka to play Tests in Darwin and Cairns by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Test minnows Bangladesh are not the only country slotted to play Test matches at Australian outback cricket venues Darwin and Cairns. Come July 2004, Sri Lanka are also due to play two Tests in the northern parts of Australia, which brings us to the question whether Cricket Australia (formerly Australian Cricket Board) is treating Sri Lanka just as much on the same lines as Bangladesh by not asking us to play in any one of their other five major Test playing venues like Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth. As long as the venues have been given the okay by the International Cricket Council (ICC) no objections can be raised by touring teams over venues decided by the host Board, unless it is for a very valid reason. Clearly, ICC approval must have been given to host the two Tests between Australia and Bangladesh at Darwin and Cairns, which during this month will receive their baptism as Test cricket's newest venues. Sri Lanka will have no say in these matters but to grin and bear it. On previous tours to Australia, Sri Lanka played at Perth in 1987-88, Brisbane and Hobart in 1989-90 and at Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide in 1995-96. BCCSL Secretary Mohan de Silva said that the tour has more or less been confirmed by the previous administration and there were only a few technical details that needed to be finalized as the dates have been moved back from June to July 2004. De Silva said that it was only in the northern part cricket could be played during this time of the year because it was winter elsewhere in Australia. "With the ICC's tight Test championships program and the fact that it is compulsory for each country to play the other on a home and away basis, Australia has no alternative but to extend their cricket season into their winter which is quite unusual," said De Silva. Former Australian opening batsman John Dyson who takes over as the Sri Lanka cricket team's national coach from September 1, will have a crowded Test program in his 20-month contract which ends on April 30, 2005. Dyson who has admitted that nothing would please him more than to see Sri Lanka beat Australia in a Test, gets his first opportunity at the country he represented as a right-handed opener in 30 Tests, when Australia make a two-Test tour to Sri Lanka in March 2004, after which Sri Lanka will return the visit in July the same year. Dyson's first task will be to prepare our cricketers to take on the Englishmen in November-December this year for three Tests and three one-day internationals at home. The following is Sri Lanka's Test program during Dyson's 20-month contract: 2003 Nov-Dec: Tour by England (3 Tests) 2004 March: Tour by Australia (2 Tests) 2004 April: Tour to Zimbabwe (3 Tests) 2004 July: Tour to Australia (2 Tests) 2004 Aug-Sep: Tour by South Africa (3 Tests) 2004-05 Dec-Jan: Tour to New Zealand (3 Tests) 2005 Feb: Tour to Bangladesh (2 Tests) 2005 Mar-April: Tour to Pakistan (3 Tests) In addition, there will be one-day internationals also included in some of the Test tours and Sri Lanka will also figure in one-day tournaments as and when they are finalised during Dyson's contract period. |
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