Pakistan v New Zealand: Babar Azam breaks 16-year Pakistan record for most runs in calendar year Source : bbc First Test, National Stadium, Karachi (day one): Pakistan 317-5: Babar 161*, Sarfaraz 86 New Zealand: Yet to bat Scorecard Pakistan captain Babar Azam broke a 16 year record as he became his country’s highest run scorer in a calendar year. He was 161 not out at the end of the first day of the two-Test series with New Zealand in Karachi to take his 2022 tally to 2,485 runs across all formats. In doing so, the 28-year-old surpassed Mohammad Yousuf’s 2,435 in 2006. Babar, who helped his side to 317-5 in their first innings against the Kiwis, also has the most runs in Tests this year with 1,170 runs in nine matches. New Zealand failed to take two chances to dismiss the Pakistan skipper, with Daryl Mitchell spilling a catch at first slip ...
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Blog Archives
What’s Happening to Cricket?- By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando Everyone in Sri Lanka, from children to grown-ups, know about cricket. Though volleyball is known as Sri Lanka’s national game, cricket took its place due to its popularity. There was a time when even Kussi Ammas were engrossed in the game whenever cricket matches appeared on TV screens. When players such as Duleep Mendis, Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama, Bandula Warnapura, Sanath Jayasuriya, Brenden Kuruppu or Arjuna Ranatunge batted, crowds were enthusiastic. The game’s enthusiasm peaked when Arjuna Ranatunge won the world cup in 1996. Cricket is a pitch and tosses game, where one team wins today and the rivals win tomorrow. The rule book says that players must act on numerous regulations and disciplinary codes vested upon the umpires, captains, and the Governing bodies. The game needs to be played according to the game’s rules and within the spirit of the game. ...
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STEVE SMITH ECLIPSES SANGAKKARA’S RECORD OF FASTEST TO 8000 TEST RUNS BY REACHING THE MILESTONE IN THE 151st INNINGS- by Sunil Thenabadu Source:info-rain.com Steve Smith breaks Sangakkara’s record Steve Smith’s legacy as a Test great continues to grow. When Australia’s number four reached seven in the second innings of the third Test against Pakistan, Smith became the fastest man to 8,000 runs, reaching the milestone in his 151st innings. Smith eclipsed Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, who reached the mark in his 152nd innings. ...
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Sri Lanka geared up for 300th Test match-by Rex Clementine Source:Island The Mohali Test that gets underway later this week will be a landmark one for Sri Lankan cricket as this is the nation’s 300th Test match. Since gaining Test status 40 years ago, Sri Lanka have gone onto achieve many unique feats over the years. The World Record for most wickets in Test cricket is owned by Muttiah Muralitharan, whose 800 wickets has been untouched for over a decade and it is expected to stand for quite a long time to come. The nation also has produced many fine batsmen. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, both of whom have scored more than 10,000 Test runs, are two outstanding players produced by the island. Incidentally, Sri Lanka’s 300th Test match coincides with Indian captain Virat Kohli’s 100th Test as well. Unfortunately, the game will be played behind closed doors ...
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Sri Lanka on the up again in world cricket – by Trevine Rodrigo Sri Lanka and the rest of the world have dawned on the realization that the Island nation are no quitters. Written off, and supposedly resigned to a clean sweep again, and against a sub par Australian line-up, the Lankans showed spirit and grit to reverse the tide leaving with a unlikely win in the final game throwing Win-Wiz and all betting agencies into turmoil. What is most pleasing is that the cricketing world is seeing a resurgence of Sri Lanka cricket which has deteriorated to a point of concern recently. Yes, they beat an unconcerned Australia who had already clinched the series and more, but from a Sri Lankan perspective, it was a small step towards getting back to the pedestal of world cricket where they were not so long ago. Dasun Shanaka is a revelation to ...
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Sri Lanka in search of acquiring Justin Langer’s services as head coach Justin Langer had stepped down as Australia’s head coach earlier this month. Source:crictracker.com Former Test opener Justin Langer shockingly stepped down as the Australian cricket team’s head coach earlier this month after it was reportedly decided that he would be given an extension till the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Down Under later this year where Australia would be defending their title. After his resignation, Langer did go on to mention that senior players and a couple of staff members were not convinced with having him as a result of which he decided to step down from the position. Now, it has been reported that Sri Lanka are looking forward to hiring the ex-opening batter as their next head coach with Sri Lankan cricket legend Aravinda de Silva who is also is a member of the country’s cricket technical advisory ...
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Dimuth on the verge of several batting milestones – by Sunil Thenabadu (sports editor – eLanka) Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne will equal the World Record for most consecutive fifties in Test match cricket if he scores a half-century in the first innings of the second Test against West Indies in Galle starting Monday. Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne has hit a purple stripe this year and the 147 he scored against West Indies in the first Test in Galle this week was his fourth hundred in 2021. The 33-year-old came up with an similarly solid 83 in the second innings as Sri Lanka won by 187 runs with a session to spare. His feats have seen him accruing 854 runs this year in Test cricket at an average of 77. Only Joe Root and Rohit Sharma have scored more runs in 2021 although they have played more games ...
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Sri Lanka’s pace trio provokes former South African former paceman Dale Steyn – By Sunil Thenabadu (Sports editor – eLanka) South African had produced a number of quality pace bowlers in the past decades. Dale Steyn a former South African paceman retired from International cricket recently who had been one of the unkindest of them all who comes steaming in to fear all opening batsman is now an integral part of the commentary team. Dale Steyn was the number one ranked ICC bowler for extended periods had won the hearts of cricket fans all over the world for his belligerence whenever he bowls with sheer intent. Dale Steyn commentates for all South African matches in the ongoing ICC T 20 WC been held in the UAE.Steyn had been nervous during the encounter between as for both Sri Lanka and South Africa two points were vital to remain for a ...
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Angelo retorts, signals fitness, verifies ten quick pushups flexing his biceps – By Sunil Thenabadu(Sports editor – elanka) Upon reaching his fighting rearguard ninth Test hundred on the fourth day in the first Test in Basin Reserve, Wellington, Angelo Mathews was probably in alternative excavation at the verdict to expel him from the shorter formats performed 10 quick pushups followed by flexing his biceps in the direction of the dressing room. This act was undoubtedly specifically for the coach Chandika Hathurusingha – who with the members of the ex-selection committees were responsible for the hasty decision to drop him. This action of Angelo was no doubt was looked on by the head coach from the pavilion. This was to convince to him that he had no fitness and running between the wicket’s issues anymore. Angelo let his emotions exhibit for the second time after he let his “bat to do the talking”. Mathews was axed as ODI captain then dropped from Sri Lanka’s shorter format teams entirely based on what Hathurusingha and the former selector’s opinion, who had only said later were on fitness grounds. Accusing Angelo of having had several injury layoffs over the past two years, with his hamstrings ...
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Kumar Sangakkara’s Future Foretold in February 2002 By Sunil Thenabadu (This was the first article of the writer published in a english newspaper under the caption “Have your Say” in February 2002 foretelling the future of legendary Kumar Sangakkara) There is absolutely no doubt that with consistent performances, the young, talented and dynamic wicket keeper batsman, Kumar Sangakkara has cemented a permanent place in both Sri Lanka’s test and one day teams. His past performances have been praised, hailed and acclaimed by international commentators viz Tony Greig, Ravi Shastri, Martin Crow, Ramiz Raja, Barry Richards, Navjot Sidhu, and Bruce Yardley. He possesses correct technique, ideal temperament, aggressive instinct and exquisite timing with strokes all around the wicket. Bruce Yardley, a former Sri Lankan coach and a past Australian cricketer when commentating has said repeatedly he loves to see Kumar Sangakkara bat. He says he is all the time exciting, trying to pile ...
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