Cricket

Sri Lanka's Test squad for their upcoming tour of South Africa has undergone a significant shake-up, with left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya and offspinner Nishan Peiris earning recalls. The duo replaces Ramesh Mendis, who misses out despite claiming six wickets in his only Test appearance this year.Embuldeniya, who last played a Test in 2020, and Peiris, who made his debut against New Zealand in September, will bolster Sri Lanka's spin attack alongside Prabath Jayasuriya. The move reflects the team's expectation of spin-friendly conditions in Durban and Gqeberha, where the matches will be played.The batting and seam-bowling departments remain largely unchanged. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, and allrounder Milan Rathnayake make up the fast-bowling contingent. Top-order batter Oshada Fernando returns to the squad, while Nishan Madushka, who has impressed in ODIs, misses out.Embuldeniya and Oshada's selection is partly based on their strong performances in South Africa in 2019. Embuldeniya took six wickets at an average of 23.83, while Oshada scored a crucial 75 not out in the fourth innings to help Sri Lanka secure a victory.Despite their past performances, neither player has been particularly impressive in domestic cricket recently. However, Embuldeniya had a decent outing in the four-day National Super League.Several Test specialists, including Kusal Mendis, Asitha, Kamindu Mendis, and Pathum Nissanka, have already arrived in Durban for a pre-series training camp. They have been withdrawn from the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand to allow them extra time to prepare for the Tests.The first Test is scheduled to begin on November 27 in Kingsmead, Durban. Both Sri Lanka and South Africa have a chance to finish in the top two of the World Test Championship table.

Sri Lanka's cricket board has announced that star batsman Kusal Mendis and three other key players will be rested for the third and final one-day international (ODI) against New Zealand on Tuesday. The decision comes after Sri Lanka secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Mendis, who has been in scintillating form, scoring 143 in the rain-shortened first ODI and an unbeaten 74 in the second, will be given a break to recover and prepare for the upcoming Test series in South Africa. Joining him on the sidelines will be Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, and Pathum Nissanka."The decision was taken by the selectors to give the above players adequate time to recover and prepare for the upcoming Test series in South Africa," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.In their place, top-order batsmen Nuwanidu Fernando and Lahiru Udara, as well as fast bowler Eshan Malinga, have been added to the squad. Fernando and Udara will be looking to make their ODI debuts, while Malinga, a veteran of 226 ODIs, will be aiming to add to his tally of 338 wickets in the format.Sri Lanka will be aiming to complete a clean sweep of the series in the final ODI at Pallekele. The hosts have been in impressive form, with Mendis leading the way with his batting exploits. However, New Zealand will be determined to avoid a whitewash and will be looking to their experienced players, such as captain Kane Williamson and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, to step up.The Test series against South Africa is scheduled to begin on March 31, and Sri Lanka will be keen to give their key players a chance to rest and recharge before the challenge of facing the Proteas.

Neil McKenzie, a former South African batter, has been appointed as the consultant coach for the Sri Lankan cricket team ahead of their crucial two-match Test series against South Africa, commencing on November 27. McKenzie's appointment is a strategic move by Sri Lanka Cricket to gain valuable insights into the South African conditions and enhance their chances of success in the upcoming series.McKenzie, who played 58 Test matches for South Africa between 2000 and 2009, amassed over 3,253 runs, including five centuries and 16 fifties. His experience as an opening batsman, particularly his record-breaking 415-run partnership with Graeme Smith against Bangladesh in 2008, will be invaluable to the Sri Lankan team.Since retiring from international cricket, McKenzie has gained extensive coaching experience in various roles. He served as South Africa's batting consultant during the ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies last year and was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore setup in the Indian Premier League as a batting coach earlier this year.Sri Lanka's decision to appoint McKenzie as a consultant coach is part of their strategy to improve their performance in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Currently placed third in the points table, Sri Lanka is in contention for a spot in next year's WTC Final. The two-match Test series against South Africa will be their final away series in the current cycle, and a positive result could significantly boost their chances of qualifying for the final.McKenzie's appointment has been welcomed by Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley De Silva, who believes his insights into the South African conditions will be crucial for the team's success. "McKenzie will bring in vital, in-depth insights about the South African conditions to help Sri Lankan players adapt to the challenge," De Silva said.The first Test match between Sri Lanka and South Africa will be played at Kingsmead in Durban from November 27, followed by the second Test at St. George's Oval in Port Elizabeth.

Sri Lanka's spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the second T20I on Sunday. Hasaranga, who has been Sri Lanka's most successful bowler in the T20I series, will be replaced by Dushan Hemantha, another legspin-bowling allrounder.Hasaranga's absence is a significant blow to Sri Lanka, as he has been in excellent form in recent matches. In the first T20I, he took 2 for 20 and scored an important 22 off 23 balls. In the second T20I, he took 4 for 17, including the wickets of New Zealand's top three batsmen.Sri Lanka already had another legspinner in the squad in Jeffrey Vandersay, but Hasaranga's absence will leave a big hole in the team's bowling attack. Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage are the other frontline spinners in the squad.Hasaranga becomes the second player to be ruled out of the series due to injuries sustained in the second T20I. New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also unavailable due to a calf injury.The ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand begins on Wednesday, with the first match to be played in Dambulla. The remaining two games will be played in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka's men's cricket team, led by Charith Asalanka, is aiming to recapture the glory days of the 2007-2014 era, when the team reached five World Cup finals and won the 2014 T20 title. After a string of limited overs series wins against India and West Indies, Asalanka believes the team has the potential to climb back into the top three of the ICC rankings."Our goal is to climb to the top three in the rankings," said Asalanka. "If we've consistently been winning, when we go to the ICC tournaments, we won't get exposed."Sri Lanka's recent resurgence has been built on the back of strong performances from new players such as Janith Liyanage and Nishan Madushka. Asalanka believes that the team's bench strength is improving, which will help them compete with the best teams in the world."We're hoping to play our best XI all the time," said Asalanka. "That's how our bench strength improves as well, because they then know how well you have to play to get a spot in that XI. And the players in the XI also fight for their own places."Sri Lanka's next challenge will be a series against New Zealand, which begins with a T20I on August 29. Asalanka is confident that his team can continue their winning ways and move up the ICC rankings."We are hoping to come back to that level," said Asalanka. "It's important to play really well from tour to tour."

Sri Lanka has announced its squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, with Kusal Perera and Mohamed Shiraz making notable inclusions.Perera, who has been out of the ODI team for nearly a year, has earned a recall based on his impressive performance in the recent T20I series against West Indies, where he scored an unbeaten 55. Shiraz, a 29-year-old seamer, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, taking 84 wickets at an average of 18.75 in List A matches. However, he has only bowled four overs in international cricket so far.The T20I squad remains unchanged from the one that faced West Indies, with all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe retaining his place. Dinesh Chandimal, who has not played international white-ball cricket since 2022, has also been included in the T20I squad after impressing in domestic competitions.Sri Lanka's batting lineup remains largely unchanged, with Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Charith Asalanka expected to form the core of the top order. In T20Is, Bhanuka Rajapaksa provides a power-hitting option in the middle order, while Janith Liyanage offers a more accumulative approach in ODIs, along with his seam bowling abilities.The spin department features the regular duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, with Jeffrey Vandersay and Dunith Wellalage also included in both squads. However, there are some changes in the seam-bowling department. Slingers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara are only in the T20I squad, while left-armer Dilshan Madushanka and Shiraz are ODI bowlers who do not make the T20 outfit. Asitha Fernando is the only seamer to be included in both squads.The series against New Zealand will begin on November 9, with four matches (three T20Is and one ODI) to be played in Dambulla and the remaining two ODIs in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka is poised to make history by hosting its inaugural men's T10 competition from December 12 to 22, marking a significant milestone in the country's cricketing landscape. This tournament, organized in partnership with T Ten Global Sports, will feature six franchises, one more than the Lanka Premier League, Sri Lanka's premier T20 competition.The tournament's draft is scheduled for November 10, with overseas players expected to participate. The draft will also include emerging players from Zimbabwe and the West Indies, where T Ten Global Sports operates similar ventures.Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, stating, "I am confident that the first ever draft of the Lanka T10 Super League is going to set the platform for an exciting and entertaining tournament, which will add color to the Sri Lankan cricketing calendar and bring in a new experience to our players and fans, alike."The T10 tournament is strategically placed in the cricketing calendar, coinciding with an 11-day window between the conclusion of the second Test in South Africa and the commencement of a white-ball series in New Zealand. This timing ensures the availability of Sri Lanka's top men's players, including stars like Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana.The tournament is expected to attract significant attention from fans and media alike, providing a platform for emerging players to showcase their skills and for established stars to further enhance their reputations. With its fast-paced and action-packed format, the Lanka T10 Super League promises to deliver an unforgettable cricketing experience for all involved.

Sri Lanka's resurgence in limited-overs cricket has given captain Charith Asalanka a "good headache" as he faces a wealth of batting talent vying for spots in the top order. The team's recent 2-1 ODI series victory over the West Indies marked their third consecutive white-ball series triumph, following wins against the Windies in T20Is and India in ODIs.Nishan Madushka's impressive form has been a revelation for Sri Lanka. The opener scored 38 and 69 in the two ODIs he played, replacing the injured Pathum Nissanka. Nissanka returned to the side in the final ODI and struck a half-century.With Madushka, Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, and Kusal Perera all in solid form, there is intense competition for the top three batting positions. Asalanka believes this will make it difficult for the team management to select the squad for upcoming matches."I'm very happy about Nishan Madushka's form. If we have a player in that kind of form on the bench, that's a big win for us. Now when we go into a selection meeting, we've got good headaches. The selectors, coach, and I have a tough time choosing a team," Asalanka said.The captain also praised the National Super League (NSL) for helping him regain his form. "In the last series, against India, I wasn't in form. But I played the NSL tournament and got an excellent result out of that. We've got to thank the board for holding the NSL. It's a tournament that has a competitive level of cricket," he said.Sri Lanka will next face New Zealand in two T20Is and three ODIs, starting on November 9 in Dambulla. After that, the team will travel to South Africa for two Tests from November 27.

Sri Lanka's dominance continued as they secured a resounding five-wicket victory in the rain-affected first ODI against the West Indies in Pallekele. Captain Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka played pivotal roles with impressive half-centuries.Chasing a revised target of 232 in 37 overs, Sri Lanka faced an early setback, losing three wickets for 45 runs. However, Asalanka's arrival at the crease sparked a remarkable turnaround. He forged a formidable partnership with Madushka, amassing 137 runs for the fourth wicket at a rapid pace.Both Asalanka and Madushka reached their half-centuries in just 44 balls, showcasing their exceptional batting prowess. Madushka, who has previously played 10 Test matches, seized the opportunity to replace injured opener Pathum Nissanka, the leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2024."I am glad that he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands," Asalanka said. "It is good to have healthy competition in the side."The West Indies had posted a respectable 183 for four in 38.3 overs before rain interrupted their innings. However, their spinners struggled to grip the wet ball, giving Sri Lanka an advantage."We were really tested by the conditions," West Indies skipper Shai Hope said. "Particularly for the spinners, the wet ball was quite challenging."Gudakesh Motie eventually broke the Asalanka-Madushka partnership, with Brandon King taking a sharp catch at slip. But by then, Sri Lanka had gained a significant advantage.Madushka departed for 69 off 54 balls, while Asalanka fell for a brilliant 77 off 71 balls, both victims of Motie's bowling. Despite Motie's three wickets, the challenging conditions hindered his impact.Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage guided Sri Lanka to victory with ease.Earlier, the West Indies faced challenges against Sri Lanka's spinners. However, Sherfane Rutherford's career-best 74 not out, supported by Roston Chase, helped the visitors recover with an unbroken 85-run partnership for the fifth wicket.Sri Lanka's victory gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. They had previously come from behind to win the T20 series 2-1, marking their first series win over the West Indies in the shortest format.