Playing in England is a learning experience
England the home of cricket is a country that every young cricketer
will yearn to play. One cannot talk or say he has enjoyed his cricketing
career if he hasn’t played in Old Blighty.
One thing that is certain in England is its fickle weather, the
biting cold that chills your bones and the howling winds. For a young
player, especially from the sub continent, it could be an unforgettable,
yet make or break beginning.
However it is a learning experience and a stint in England playing in
the leagues or the county scene is a must for any young cricketer. Sri
Lanka’s young cricketers now in England must certainly be frustrated,
unable to play much cricket and watching the rain drops keep falling and
very little cricket to play.
In England especially, a cricketer has to be heavily padded up.
Thermal wear, long johns, more than one sweater are musts. With all
these wear, it sure must be discomforting to any cricketer.
Young cricketers on tour are Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne,
Dinesh Chandimal, Thissara Perera, Chanaka Welegedera, Suraj Randiv,
Suranga Lakmal and Fareez Maharoof and it surely is a learning
experience.
They are the ones who will have to take Lanka’s fortunes in the game
forward.
Sri Lanka Cricket will do well to form a good rapport with the
England Cricket Board and the Test and County Cricket Board and look for
openings to get our youngsters to play more league and county cricket
here.
The young cricketers on tour in England are
THARANGA PRANAVITANA - Sri Lanka’s opening batsman cemented his pace
with two Test centuries against India in 2010. Batted for 275 minutes in
the first innings at Cardiff scoring 66 runs from 191 balls, before
confirming his potential with 65 and 44 at Lord’s in the Second Test.
Assured of a bright future.
LAHIRU THIRIMANNE is Rated the best young batsman in Sri Lanka. He is
oozing with talent. His first full season brought him 709 runs at an
average of 59.08. He is a left hander and is a nerveless finisher. With
his elevation to Test cricket he is expected to go places.
DINESH CHANDIMAl A talented wicketkeeper batsman he is ex in line to
take over from either Kumar Sangakkara or Prasanna Jayawardena. He has
still to make a Test appearance. He has a 100 to his name in One-day
Internationals against India. He scored 112 for Sri Lanka under 19
against England. Has scintillating 244 against South Africa. Given the
breaks he should go places.
Thissara Perera One of the best young all rounders in the country.
However he has excelled as a one-day bowler with 32 wickets in 20
appearances. His is a hard hitting batsman with a likeness to go over
the boundary as his belligerent knock in the World Cup final against
India proves.
CHANAKA WELEGDERA A steady left arm opening bowler who could move the
ball both ways, could be troublesome if he settles into an early length.
An ankle injury kept him out of the game. But he is now into full
fitness as his 5 wickets at Lord’s in the Second Test proves. He is
highly talented and needs to be guided.
SURAJ RANDIV Started his career as a fast bowler and then switched to
bowling of spin. With his height he is able to obtain spin and bounce
and trouble batsmen. In Three Tests he has taken 14 wickets. He has 9
wickets against India. Needs consistency.
SURANGA LAKMAL Made his Test debut the West India in 2010 in the home
series. Has the distinction of dismissing West Indies destroyer Chris
Gayle first ball in the Test at the R.Prmadasa Stadium. At Lord’s in the
Second Test he had the wickets of Jonathon Trott and Kevin Pietersen and
trapped Eoin Morgan in front. Coach Chmpaka Ramanayke is working hard to
ensure his fitness and stamina match his impressive pace and bounce.
FARVEEZ MAHAROOF Was one of the most talented all rounders. A fine
medium pacer and big hitting batsman suddenly dipped in form and lost
his place due to injury. Angelo Mathews who replaced him cemented his
place in both forms of the game for the country and kept Maharoof out.
Recalled to the team here in England he failed to justify his recall.
Dr.Cyril Ernest a Black Belt
My former team mate when I captained St.Benedict’s College in 1960,
Ernest 70 now a leading Cardiologist in the US has been awarded a Black
Belt in Taek Won Do. He opened batting for SBC with Ranjit Fernando and
was a quick scoring right hander and a tantalizing off spinner and
brilliant fielder.
He later played for the University, Adastrians and went on to sport
Sri Lanka colours.
Libyans refused tickets
Libyan dignitaries wanting to witness the 2012 Olympic Games in
London will not be granted tickets to do so. Colonel Gadaffi’s eldest
son Muhammad had requested up to 1,000 tickets as head of his country’s
Olympic Committee.
Although the British Government cannot decide on which country to
grant or not grant tickets, it is understood that Prime Minister David
Cameroon had put pressure on the IOC through the London Olympic
Committee of the Olympic Games to avoid a diplomatic crisis.
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