Refreshing inclusions to cricket squad

The inclusion of two players who had been benched but with renewed promise signals the refreshing approach that the new Cricket Selectors intend to take as the Sri Lankans prepare for the practice games against Middlesex and the England Lions before the First Test against England begins on May 24 in Cardiff.

The players recalled to play for Sri Lanka are Farveez Mahroof and Kaushal Silva. Mahroof is now playing in the colours of Lancashire and showed that he has not lost touch by making a century in the first game he played for his county.

On Mahroof and it is a pity that he had been lost to the game for so long. When he first made it to the national team and kept performing, it looked as though he would be a permanent fixture in the team.

But an unfortunate injury saw him out of the team and the man who replaced him Angelo Mathews grabbed the opportunity with both hands as the saying goes and has cemented his place in the national team.

Mathew’s injury

With Mathews unable to make it due to an injury he sustained in the 2011 World Cup game against New Zealand, the selectors have kept faith in another all rounder in Thissara Perera who has been performing.

Mahroof is still young and now that he recovered from his injuries and if he keeps performing in the county scene, it would be difficult for the selectors not to have him in the frame with Sri Lanka having a busy schedule after the England tour.

Kaushal Silva was at one time tipped to don gloves and turn out into being a top batsman. But with Prasanna Jayawardena doing a competent job behind the stumps, Silva went off the selectors radar.

IPL compromise

As for the IPL: Sri Lanka Cricket and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have come to an amicable settlement and though some disgruntled critics are firing at the two Boards, the full Sri Lanka team will be available for selection when Sri Lanka play the second practice game in Derbyshire.

Quite cold

Indications are that it could be quite cold in the first half of the English summer. But to reiterate, being professionals the cricketers should be able to acclamatize, find their touch and face the Brits with determination.

England led by left handed opening batsman Andrew Strauss, although they did not have a good run in the 2011 World Cup, will be exuding confidence against Sri Lanka after a resounding Ashes victory over traditional rivals Australia.

Their main destroyer of opposing attacks Kevin Pietersen who was missed in the World Cup has recovered from a hernia operation and is now fighting fit to put the Lankan attack to the sword.

On the previous tour Sri Lanka led by the clever thinking Mahela Jayawardena, did creditably to hold the Englishmen to a one-all in a Three Test series.

Brits white washed

And then in the five-match one day series that followed Sri Lankas white washed the Brits by five matches to nil which rewrote history. So when the series begins, the Brit lions will be waiting for their turn to overcome the Lankans.

But the Lankans can spring a surprise if they believe in themselves and play to ability. And with a new captain in Tillekeratne Dilshan to show the way for an aggressive and yet calculated strategy a good series is in store.

On this tour former captains Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara will have to play with great responsibility. Along with Dilshan, they are the most experienced and will have to guide the youngsters.

Sri Lanka will be sans Muttiah Muralitheran who has always induced fear into all opponents and steered Sri Lanka to many a memorable victory with his difficult to counter vicious off spin and a well disguised doosra.

Seam and swing

This time round the selectors have picked some fine seam and swing bowlers in Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Welagedera, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep. For spin they have Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis.

English conditions generally favour seam and swing and if the above named seamers can strike a good line and length and move the ball disconcertingly, should trouble the English batsmen who will be on familiar territory.

Fletcher unwelcome

It came as a surprise when it was announced that former Zimbabwean batsman and former England coach Duncan Fletcher has been picked to replace former South African opener Gary Kirsten as coach of India. Kirsten who coached the Indians to in the 2011 World Cup, could not be coaxed to remain in the job and the Indian Board who were shopping for a competent coach who could give continuity to their cricket, picked on Fletcher.

Fletcher’s entry has not gone down well with two former Indian captains Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar and indications are that Fletcher will run into a bit of turbulence and will not have an enjoyable stint like did Kirsten.

Dev and Gavaskar are plunking for local coaches in Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh, favoring them and querying as to why they were not considered.

It is likely that several other former Indian cricketers could join Dev and Gavaskar and push for local coaches and take the Indian Board to task for not considering Prasad and Singh.

Blatter will not have it on a platter

The coming election to elect the President of FIFA will be a fiercely contested battle between the incumbent Sepp Blatter and President of the Asian Football Confederation Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Blatter has been in the seat three times and is seeking a fourth term.

Hammam on the other hand seems to think that Blatter has had enough and that there has to be a change. Blatter and Hammam are both exuding confidence and are confident going into the election which is to be held on June 1. Both have made it known as to what they will do to improve the lot of the players, the game and future World Cups.

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