SLC and ECB agree to have junior tours on reciprocal basis
Chris DHAMBARAGE
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
have successfully negotiated to exchange junior tours on a reciprocal
basis starting with the Under 19 series in July.
This was following negotiations between Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket D.
Somachandra de Silva and Jack Clark President of the England and Wales
Cricket Board during the recent ICC meeting in Dubai.
De Silva stated that the Sri Lanka Under 19 team will tour England
from July 21 to August 13 for a two test series, two Twenty20 matches
and five youth one day internationals.
In response the England Under 19 side will visit Sri Lanka in January
next year as preparations for the 2012 ICC Youth World Cup. De Silva
noted that this will be followed by several other tours to England by
the Sri Lanka Under 19 and other junior teams.
SLC Chairman stressed the importance of this tour as most of the
English players will be selected from their respective counties. As a
result Sri Lanka will face stiff opposition during this series which
could be a vital factor for their future prospects.
De Silva said that initially a total of one hundred players were
picked by the national youth selectors and thereafter the squad was
pruned down to 21 following a series of trial matches held in Colombo
under the supervision of coach Naveed Navaz. Chairman SLC further noted
that the selection process was done in a proper manner and is confident
that the best 15 players will be picked for the final tour squad.
De Silva also stressed the importance of the Sri Lanka A teams tour
to Australia which will be the first of this nature where they will play
two, four-day unofficial test matches and four one day matches. The tour
will start with the first 4 day unofficial test match against Australia
A at the Alan Border Field in Brisbane followed by the second 4 day
unofficial test match from June 25 to 28 at the Riverway Stadium in
Townsville.
The two teams will then play a four match one day series commencing
on July 2 at Townsville. The second and the third one day matches will
be played on July 4 and 7 respectively at the same venue. The fourth and
final one day match is scheduled for July 10 at Brisbane.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Under 19 team will start a gruelling tour to
England from July 21 to August 5 for a two match Youth Test series, two
Twenty20 matches and five one day youth internationals.
The two youth test matches will be worked off at Northampton and
Scarborough which will be followed by the two Twenty20 games at
Chester-le-Street.
The Sri Lanka A itinerary:
June 18-21: Sri Lanka A v Australia A at Alan Border Field,
Brisbane.
June 25-28: Sri Lanka A v Australia A at Riverway Stadium,
Townsville.
July 2: Sri Lanka A v Australia A (1st one day) at Townsville.
July 4: Sri Lanka A v Australia A (2nd one day) at Townsville.
July 7: Sri Lanka A v Australia A (3rd one day) at Townsville.
July 10: Sri Lanka A v Australia A (4th one day) at Brisbane.
The under 19 itinerary:
July 21-24: 1st Youth Test - England v Sri Lanka at County Ground,
Northampton.
July 27-July 30: 2nd Youth Test - England v Sri Lanka at North Marine
Road Ground, Scarborough.
August 2: 1st T20I - England v Sri Lanka at Riverside Ground,
Chester-le-Street.
August 3: 2nd T20I - England v Sri Lanka at Riverside Ground,
Chester-le-Street.
August 7: 1st Youth ODI - England v Sri Lanka at FP Fenners Ground,
Cambridge.
August 9: 2nd Youth ODI - England v Sri Lanka at Arundel Castle
Cricket Club Ground.
August 10: 3rd Youth ODI - England v Sri Lanka at Arundel Castle
Cricket Club Ground.
August 12: 4th Youth ODI - England v Sri Lanka at St Lawrence Ground,
Canterbury.
August 13: 5th Youth ODI - England v Sri Lanka at St Lawrence Ground,
Canterbury.
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