Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Nasser discusses the difficulties that face England ahead of the 1st test in Kandy. He goes on to state that Sri Lanka is a tougher place to tour than Australia.
"Give me the choice of a tour to Australia or Sri Lanka and I would take Australia every day of the week." says Nasser. None of this however has anything to do with the opposition (SL).
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Friday, November 30, 2007
Touring Sri Lanka is tougher than Australia | Hussein
Matthew Hoggard video diary: arriving in Sri Lanka
Times Online: Matthew Hoggard, England all-rounder, animal lover and technical wizard gives us a warts-and-all look behind the scenes as the tour of Sri Lanka gets underway.
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In the first episode, he struggles to cope with jetlag, enjoys the view of a building site outside his bedroom, turns the tables on a Sky Sports reporter and gets up close and personal with a Male Body Toucher.
Koertzen is Not Having a 'Bad Hair Day'
Cricinfo: Rudi Koertzen has flown to India to stand in the second India-Pakistan Test in Kolkata after Billy Bowden, who was due to officiate, was taken ill.
The Cape Argus reported that Koertzen, who was scheduled to umpire the opening Sri Lanka-England Test in Kandy, had been switched by the ICC at short notice as he was the only elite official who could make the trip at such short notice.
Aleem Dar, who was not eligible to stand in Kolkata, is en route to Sri Lanka where he will replace Koertzen.
There had been suggestions in Australia that Koertzen was being punished for his well-publicised error in giving Kumar Sangakkara out in the Hobart Test, but an ICC spokesman made clear this was not the case. "If we replaced every umpire who made a mistake, there would be no umpires left," he said. "It's the same with players. Everyone makes mistakes. His replacement is more to do with the workload of umpires and some rescheduling."
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Sanath Jayasuriya signals end of Sri Lankan era
Times Online:The Test that started in Kandy this morning is not only all about who wins or loses, not even whether or when Muttiah Muralitharan will again surpass Shane Warne’s world Test bowling record. The impending retirement of Chaminda Vaas and, more of a surprise, the intention of Sanath Jayasuriya to make this his final Test match makes this the end of an era for Sri Lankan cricket, not to mention the start of a new phase in England’s development.
“Era” would be putting it too strongly for the touring team because Michael Vaughan remains as the essential link between the coaching regimes of Duncan Fletcher and Peter Moores; but with Andy Flower and Ottis Gibson working together for the first time on a Test tour as Moores’s assistants, a new fitness trainer, too, and some young players trying to set the base for long careers in the team after the enforced break-up of the class of 2005, it is an important match for all concerned.
For Jayasuriya it is more than important. Having told friends that he intends the match to be his last, he is planning to announce his farewell at the end of this game. With Vaas playing his 100th Test here but being pressed by two younger fast left-arm bowlers and Muralitharan starting to suffer from the aches of advancing years – he has had operations on his right shoulder and right bicep in the past two years – the experienced core of the team is crumbling, with no obvious replacements of equal class.
Jayasuriya’s Test career seemed to have ended early in 2006, when he announced his retirement knowing that he was about to be left out of the first-class leg of Sri Lanka’s tour to England. A change of selection committee prompted a change of mind. He was hurried back into the team for the Trent Bridge Test, which Sri Lanka won to level the series, thanks mainly to Muralitharan’s 11 wickets. Since then, however, he has managed only one Test fifty while continuing to butcher attacks, notably England’s for 152 off 99 balls at Headingley Carnegie last year, in one-day cricket.
For a limited-overs cricketer of such exalted renown – he is credited with the attacking policy that won Sri Lanka the World Cup in 1996 – he has been a mightily effective Test player, too. Depending on his fortune in Kandy, he will retire after 110 Tests with an average around 40 and with 14 hundreds, of which many have been momentous.
English bowlers who took part in the astonishing one-off Test at the Oval in 1998 will never forget the savage square-cutting and off-side carving, mixed with punches off his legs, that brought him 213 from only 278 balls, buying the time for Muralitharan to win the match.
His 340 against India at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is the seventh highest of all Test innings. He made 199 in the same series at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground and he has had scores of 188 in Kandy and 253 in Faisalabad against Pakistan.
England know well, too, how effective his left-arm orthodox spin can be. He needed three more wickets for 100 in Tests at the start of this game, so Muralitharan may not have it all his own way.
It remains to be seen whether Vaas will immediately follow his long-time comrade in arms into retirement, but he, too, has been a fading force, despite being only 33, five years younger than Jayasuriya. Vaas’s past nine Tests have brought him only 19 wickets, expanding the overall average for his 320 to 29.
Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara remain, all impressive and intelligent characters who will lead the transition period, but Jayawardena called after the second of the two Test defeats in Australia two weeks ago for a stronger domestic competition with fewer teams to distil the talent that is emerging in large quantities from all areas of this small but extraordinarily diverse country.
England’s place as the No 2-ranked Test nation, albeit 32 points behind Australia, is threatened if they lose this series. India, South Africa or Sri Lanka could overtake them by the end of the year. India have dominated the series against Pakistan that is continuing in Calcutta and if they win this and the remaining match they would finish on 112 points, one more than England’s present tally. Six points separate England in second and Sri Lanka in fifth at the moment but, if results favour them, South Africa could sneak into second spot before their Test series against West Indies, which starts in Port Elizabeth on Boxing Day.
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[Video] Amazing run chases | Sri Lanka Vs New Zealand | Napier | 2006
Part 1/2
Part 2/2
Cricinfo:Sanath Jayasuriya put on a brutal batting display, crashing 111 off 82 deliveries, to set up Sri Lanka's emphatic seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first match of a five-game series at Napier. New Zealand's testing target of 286, boosted by Ross Taylor's outstanding maiden century, posed little threat to Sri Lanka who cruised home with 10 overs to spare.
Scorecard
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[Video] Micheal Vandort 100 Vs England | Edgbaston | 2006
Scorecard(Courtesy Cricinfo)
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One more year for Vaas
One more year for Vaas - Cricinfo: On the eve of his 100th Test appearance for Sri Lanka, Chaminda Vaas says he will play one more year before quitting international cricket.
"I give myself one more year in Test cricket and in that time I hope to take 350 wickets before I quit," Vaas said. He will become the third Sri Lankan, after Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, to play 100 Tests and is by far their most successful fast bowler, but said he will not unnecessarily try to prolong his career.
"I will not wait for people to start saying that I am too old to play and be left out of the side. I don't want to become a laughing stock.
"I am proud and honoured to serve my country for so long and I am eager to perform in my 100th Test," he said. "I want to make it a special one by bowling my country to victory.
"Every game I've played was important to me. That's why I have played nearly 100 Tests and taken 320 wickets. I trust myself and motivate myself. I have put a lot of faith and trust in God.
Because of his strength I find myself playing in 100 Tests for my country. I value the support given to me by my parents and my loving wife."
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"I will not wait for people to start saying that I am too old to play and be left out of the side. I don't want to become a laughing stock." - Vaas
The comment above is a clear sign that our SLC has failed us. Vaas, who is without a doubt one of Lanka's cricketing greats has to fear being called old and has to fear being omitted.
These are realistic scenarios within our cricket today, its not a recent occurence either. Cricket in our part of the world is governed by individuals who think with their hearts not their head.
"There are also young fast bowlers like Chanaka Welagedera and Sajeewa de Silva," he said. "You've got to be patient with them and give them more time to develop."
- Vaas.
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Matthew Maynard: England can tame Murali - Times Online
Matthew Maynard: England can tame Murali - Times Online: "Matthew Maynard, the former England assistant coach, has backed Michael Vaughan's side to overcome the threat of spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and triumph in Sri Lanka.
Muralitharan needs just five more wickets to overhaul Shane Warne's world Test bowling record of 708. But Maynard, who worked alongside Duncan Fletcher from September 2004 until May 2007, has backed England's batsmen to come out on top in the three-match Test series.
'Sri Lanka are a different prospect with Muralitharan back in their side - but England definitely have the capabilities to counter him,' Maynard said."
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After reading John Buchanan's view on how Australia countered Murali, I don't think it is completely impossible for England to take a page from the Aussie handbook.
Murali's performance in Australia is testimony that even the great Murali is all but a mere mortal.
The Australian's realised the key to success against Sri Lanka is a plan that revolved around keeping the middle order away from Murali.
I have stated in the past Murali is not naturally attacking or aggressive and he hates confrontation. This is a psychological block that needs addressing even this late in his career.
Ranatunga was an aggressive skipper who read the game well and many of murali's successes came with a swarm of close in fielders to assist him. Even an LBW decision was induced because the batsman was in two minds to play forward and give the close in men catches.
In Australia Murali bowled a 10 over spell with no slip. Where does the Doosra fall in to that equation?
"It is a testimony to the Australian batting lineup that numbers 8 -11 did not bat, and Adam Gilchrist had only one brief appearance (it should be noted his keeping maintained its incredibly high standards of returns with 10 catches taken in the 2 games).
It also showed the lack of penetration of Sri Lanka's new ball bowlers. They arrived here heralded as one of the better bowling attacks in world cricket, but did not deliver. Murali was forced to bowl with defensive fields for the majority of his overs, although I think he still should have had at least two close-in catchers for his bowling as he creates chances and uncertainty where no one else can." - Buchanan.
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Tharanga out in the cold
Tharanga out in the cold: Sri Lanka have omitted Upul Tharanga from their team for the first Test against England starting in Kandy on Saturday.
Opening batsman Tharanga performed well for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board President's XI in their two warm-up matches against the tourists.
However, his scores of 112 and 86 were not enough to bring him a return to international cricket.
Although Sri Lanka have not finalised their XI for the three-match series opener, captain Mahela Jayawardene confirmed the batting personnel.
"He had a very lean period, then scored some useful runs in the last few games which is great for him but he will have to be a bit more patient," Jayawardene said.
Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya will revert to the top of the order, having batted at five in the recent Test series in Australia, while Jehan Mubarak has been recalled.
The only selection decision for Sri Lanka to make is whether to include Dilhara Fernando in a three-pronged pace attack or include leg-spinner Malinga Bandara.
While Muttiah Muralitharan targets the five wickets he needs to overhaul Shane Warne's 708 career tally, Chaminda Vaas will be earning his 100th Test cap.
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Two ways to look at this, in my mind atleast. Did Lanka sacrifice a batsman for Vaas' 100th Test match? Or are they looking at Jehan [Video] as a more suitable prospect to replace Jayasuriya?
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Arjuna to be appointed Chairman of Cricket Board?
Arjuna to be appointed Chairman of Cricket Board?
According to sources in Sports Ministry there is a move to appoint Arjuna Ranatunga the next Chairman of Cricket Board. These sources say President Mahinda Rajapakse would gazette the relevant appointment soon.
The talk in the political circles is that the move to appoint Arjuna as the Chairman of the Cricket Board is to prevent him from voting against the government at the third reading of the budget. Before the second reading of the budget Arjuna had told the BBC that he would vote against the budget. He had also told that he expected to join former President Chandrika Bandaranayke Kumaratunga in her politics
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Thursday, November 29, 2007
Pietersen: Murali is the real spin king, not Warne
Pietersen: Murali is the real spin king, not Warne: While the world of cricket is bitterly divided between those who will toast Muttiah Muralitharan's impending world record and those who will once more dismiss him as a fraud, Kevin Pietersen knows which side he is on.
The England batsman is a pretty good judge of a bowler and he put his friendship with Shane Warne on hold yesterday to state that the Sri Lankan is a more threatening opponent than the Australian master spinner.
Murali needs five more wickets to pass the great Australian's Test haul of 708 and the coronation will happen sooner rather than later. In fact, if the script writers are on the ball, the 35-year-old spinner will hit the top of the all-time bowling charts during the series opener against England which starts tomorrow at the Asgiriya Stadium. It is his favourite ground and it is in his home town. It all adds up.
What awaits the man with the helicopter wrist when the big moment comes? Sure, there will be cacophonous acclaim from the stands, celebrations in the streets of Kandy and jubilation throughout this cricket-crazy island. But around the globe, his epic achievement will be greeted by champagne and vitriol.
For many, Warne is the rightful No 1. For all the controversies which have plagued his career, the brash blond is widely regarded as the pure bowler, while Murali is condemned as the freak who has bent the rules.
Yet, in Pietersen's eyes there is no debate. He brushed aside any lingering doubts about the legality of the local hero's action to salute him as a champion and a legend.
Asked to compare him to Warne, he added: 'I think the difference between the two is that Muralitharan spins the ball both ways and is a bit harder to pick. I find Shane a lot easier to pick.
'I find Muralitharan a much harder challenge because he now spins the ball both ways with a pretty similar action. If you look at his delivery stride his feet don't change position, whereas with other bowlers their feet change. It's just his wrist and it's hard to pick that up.
'They are both assassins. They have both got more than 700 Test wickets, they are both champions, they are both geniuses.'
The records will show that Pietersen is right. It is Muralitharan who has the superior average, economy rate, strike rate and bestbowling figures. The son of a Kandy confectioner has been assisted by far easier pickings than Warne against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, but he has destroyed almost all the best batting line-ups in the world for the past 15 years.
Yet, there has always been a stain on his good name. Whispers about the bent-arm action surfaced soon after his debut and matters came to a head in Australia in 1995 when umpire Darrell Hair called him for throwing. The same thing happened in the subsequent oneday series and on Sri Lanka's tour Down Under in 1998-99.
Muralitharan fought to clear his name and was subjected to an array of biomechanical studies in Australia, England and Hong Kong.
Each time, it led to the ICC declaring his action was legal. But the emergence of the deadly 'doosra' reignited the debate in 2004 when he was reported by match referee Chris Broad.
This time, there was a comprehensive study of bowlers' actions around the world which revealed Muralitharan was by no means the only international player operating with a bent arm. So the laws were tweaked and the spinner was cleared again.
While the critics will never be truly silenced, Sri Lanka's talisman has gained scientific proof that he is no cheat. It may not look convincing to the naked eye but his bowling is acceptable within the revised guidelines so every wicket he takes is legitimate.
Whether the game at large likes it or not, he is going to set a Test record that may never be broken.
It would be fitting for Muralitharan to reach the landmark in the hill-country where he grew up. It is also feasible, as he has taken 108 Test wickets at the Asgiriya Stadium, to prove that he thrives among his own people.
Muralitharan said yesterday: 'It would be a very special moment because I played all my cricket here in my younger days, it is my home town and it has to be my favourite ground. So it would be nice to take the five wickets here.'
Although he cites the three-Test series against Australia at home in 2004 as his best sustained period of bowling, Muralitharan took more wickets last year (90) than in any year before, suggesting the old dog is still learning new tricks. As Pietersen suggested, the mastery of the well-disguised doosra has been the secret to his longevity.
As long as the wickets keep tumbling and the injuries are kept in check, he may just see if he can push towards the magical four-figure wicket mark.
Asked what would be a realistic target, Muralitharan said: 'Maybe 800 or 900, maybe not.
'If I am going to get to 1,000 I would have to play for another four or five years. I am 35 now so that would mean playing until I am 40.
Realistically, that is not possible but you never know. If the next three years went as well as last year it could happen.'
That scenario may not please the sceptics and purists, and it certainly will not be music to the ears of the world's batsmen.
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10 Things You Didn't Know About Sri Lanka
10 Things You Didn't Know About Sri Lanka - :With England waltzing around the island, it's time we all got better acquainted with some of Sri Lanka's lesser-known facts...
1) The island is supposedly a hotbed for alien activities, which have been investigated by professor Chandana Jayaratne of the University of Colombo. Don't believe us? Check out this page full of reports...
2) When a person shakes their head from side to side in Sri Lanka with a slight wiggle, he is actually saying "yes".
3) English historian James Emerson Tennent theorized Galle, a southern city in Sri Lanka, was the ancient seaport of Tarshish from which King Solomon is said to have drawn ivory, peacocks and other valuables.
4) "The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence", a pudding offered by a hotel in Sri Lanka, became the world's most expensive dessert in September 2007. With an asking price $14,500, the dessert is a gold leaf Italian cassata flavored with Irish cream, served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a champagne sabayon enlighten (no, we don't know what this involves either). It is decorated with a chocolate carving of a fisherman clinging to a stilt, an age old local fishing practice, and an 80 carat aquamarine stone. Shockingly, no one has actually ordered the dessert yet. Cowards.
5) Despite cricket being the most popular game on the island, the national sport of Sri Lanka is actually volleyball.
6) Geoffrey Dobbs is the man credited with taking elephant polo to Sri Lanka, which now hosts an annual tournament. The elephants are brought from all over Sri Lanka and are specifically trained for the game, which was originally played using a soccer ball. Normal polo balls were only employed after the elephants trod on too many footballs, puncturing them in the process.
7) The island plays home to the Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus), a chipmunk-sized nocturnal animal that feeds on bird eggs, insects, lizards, fruits and leaves. A "shy and intelligent" primate, the Slender Loris is an endangered species.
8) The early Sri Lankans, dating back from the 5th century BC, were great masters of managing water. One king supposedly said that no drop of water flowing to the ocean shall go unused, so they built giant reservoirs that were used to irrigate fields, manage drinking water, etc.
9) Sri Lanka exports 9 million kilograms of tea to Japan alone every single year, but tea is not the country's biggest export. That particular honour goes to textiles and apparel, while spices, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, coconut products, rubber manufactures and fish also feature highly.
10) As 80% of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, animals are given freedom to move as they wish. It is normal to see dogs, cows, water buffaloes and monkeys on the side of the road or even in the middle of it, while England already know about the snakes.
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[Video] Lasith Malinga 5/68 Vs New Zealand | Wellington | December 2006
Scorecard
"Toe crushing yorkers and rising short balls, all at close to 150 KM/H. Malinga was lethal during this test match."
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Murali masterplan | Sky Sports Blogs
"The spectre of Muttiah Muralitharan looms larger by the day for England's batsmen ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins in Kandy on 1st December.
England know that if they are to win the series they will have to conquer the little magician who needs just five wickets to overtake Shane Warne as the leading wicket-taker in the history of the game."
"There has been much talk this week of executing plans against him. Ian Bell has never played a Test against Sri Lanka and has been at pains to find his best method or "plan" to combat the off-spinner. Merlin, the bowling machine which replicates the variations of the world's best spin bowlers, has been working over-time."
Recommended Viewing
Merlin the bowling machine
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Where to watch Sri Lanka Vs England | Investec Test Series 2007/08
Online
Willow TV - $49.99US 3 Test Matches
Cricket ON TV - $40.00US for entire series or $20 per test match
Cable/Sattelite
US
DirecTV
Canada
Rogers
Shaw
Bell ExpressVu
Telus TV
UK
Sky sports 2
Australia
Fox sports 2
India\Pakistan\Sri Lanka\Bangladesh\Middle East\Hong Kong\Japan\Maldives
Ten sports
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