Cricket

Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva believes that his team-mates deserve more opportunities to play in county cricket in England. He believes that this would be particularly beneficial for the batters, who would gain valuable experience in English conditions.Counties have been allowed to field two overseas players in their XI in each format since 2021. However, Sri Lankan players have largely been overlooked, in part due to their touring commitments. Vishwa Fernando is the only member of the 18-man touring party to feature in the Championship this year, playing three matches for Yorkshire.Dinesh Chandimal has also expressed his desire to play county cricket, but has been unsuccessful in securing a contract. "The last few years, I wanted to get a county deal," said Chandimal, who has scored 15 Test hundreds. "I didn't get it so far. If I can do well in this series, hopefully I will be picked by one of the counties. It is my dream to play a season of county cricket."De Silva believes that playing in the Championship would be beneficial for Sri Lanka's batters. "Playing in these conditions will be better for the batsmen," he said. "We are only getting the chance while we're touring here. But if the batsmen can play county [cricket], it'll be nice for them."Sri Lanka have a three-month gap in their international schedule after the Champions Trophy, which could allow their Test players to feature in the early stages of the county season. However, Wanindu Hasaranga, who is not part of the Test squad, has been denied No-Objection Certificates by SLC to play in the Hundred.De Silva said that Sri Lanka have prepared well for the second Test at Lord's and will make two changes, with Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Kumara replacing Kusal Mendis and Vishwa Fernando. "Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment," said De Silva. "He has a good mindset and he has a good technique."He also played down the absence of Mark Wood, suggesting that Chris Woakes had been harder to face. "The speed is not troubling me, but the line and length," said De Silva. "The opening bowler, he bowls in one area for 20 to 30 balls and that's the problem we have: with the swinging ball, not the pace… if the plans work here, we'll get on top."

Kamindu Mendis' remarkable batting average of 92.16 in Test cricket, the second-highest among players with over 500 runs, is a testament to his unwavering focus on the fundamentals. The Sri Lankan batsman, who made his debut two years ago, credits his success to a simple mantra: "Do basic things, and try to keep calm."Despite making a promising debut with a half-century, Mendis had to wait for his next opportunity. However, he seized it with both hands, scoring twin centuries against Bangladesh earlier this year. "I knew the batting was packed, but I tried to do as best as I could in the chance that I had," he said.Mendis' absence from the team during his two-year hiatus was not a setback but an opportunity for growth. "Even though I didn't get to play, I was in the squad and travelling with the team, pretty much every tour," he said. "Going on so many tours with experienced players on those tours also helped me play well in my first few innings."In the recent Test against England in Manchester, Mendis' first-innings dismissal for 12 was followed by a second-innings century. He forged crucial partnerships with Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, who played through a finger injury. "I had a lot of support from the others when I went to bat, both Angie aiya and Chandi aiya," he said. "Their experience really helped me."Mendis' batting philosophy is simple: "I do basic things, and try to keep calm in the middle." He dismisses questions about his impressive average, emphasizing his commitment to contributing to the team's success. "That's really my only goal: to give as much to my team as possible, whether on the batting front, bowling front, or via fielding."For Mendis, playing a Test at Lord's is a dream come true. "From when I was little, I had a dream to play a Test at Lord's," he said. "It's not just my dream, I think every player has that target. I've been able to get there. If we can win this match, it'll be even more valuable to us."

England emerged victorious in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, securing a five-wicket triumph on Saturday. The hosts chased down a modest target of 205 runs, thanks to a composed 64-run stand between Joe Root and Jamie Smith.Root played the anchor role, reaching his half-century off 108 deliveries. England's chase got off to a shaky start with the early dismissals of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. Dan Lawrence was trapped lbw by Milan Rathnayake, leaving England in a precarious position at 119-4.Smith, who scored his maiden Test century in the first innings, provided stability alongside Root. The duo patiently navigated a challenging period, going an hour without finding the boundary. England regained control before Asitha Fernando dismissed Smith for 39.Root remained unbeaten on 62, hitting only his second four off the final ball to seal England's victory. Earlier, Sri Lanka resumed the day at 204-6, with Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal adding 117 runs for the seventh wicket. Kamindu scored his third Test century, showcasing his consistent form.However, England capitalized on the new ball after lunch, with Gus Atkinson dismissing Kamindu. Matthew Potts removed Chandimal, who battled through pain after injuring his thumb. Sri Lanka's innings concluded on 326, adding just 19 runs for the last three wickets.The second Test of the three-match series will commence at Lord's on Thursday. England will look to extend their lead, while Sri Lanka will aim to level the series.

Joe Root's gritty half-century guided England to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. Root, known for his free-flowing batting, adopted a more cautious approach, channeling his "inner Nasser Hussain" to anchor England's chase of 164 on a challenging wicket.Despite the slow outfield and low bounce, Root remained composed, accumulating runs patiently and forming crucial partnerships with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. His 62 not out from 128 balls proved invaluable as England overcame a spirited Sri Lankan bowling attack led by Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya.Root acknowledged the difficulty of the conditions, noting that the wicket was "as close to Sri Lankan conditions" as England offers. He also praised the adaptability of his team, emphasizing that "sometimes it's good to win ugly."The victory marked the first of Ollie Pope's captaincy career. Despite his struggles with the bat, Root commended Pope's leadership, particularly his tactical decisions during Sri Lanka's fourth-morning partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal.Root also lauded Jamie Smith, who followed up his first-innings century with a crucial 39 in the second innings. Smith's all-round performance, including his exceptional glovework, earned him the player of the match award.Root believes Smith's composure and maturity have contributed to his success. He praised the environment created within the England team, which allows young players to thrive.Despite the departure from their usual "Bazball" approach, Root remains confident in the team's principles. He hopes to see a return to their more aggressive style in the remaining two Tests of the series.

Mark Wood's injury has cast a shadow over England's Test series against Sri Lanka, with the paceman likely to miss the second Test and potentially the remainder of the series.Wood suffered a right thigh muscle injury late on day three of the first Test in Manchester, forcing him to leave the field after bowling just 11 overs. An ECB statement on Saturday confirmed that Wood would not take the field on day four, and he subsequently underwent a scan to determine the extent of the damage.England are hopeful that the injury is a strain rather than a tear, but it seems certain that Wood will miss the upcoming Test match at Lord's, which begins this Thursday. Given his unique standing as the fastest bowler in the world, England may be reluctant to risk Wood for the final Test at the Kia Oval, which gets underway on September 6.Olly Stone, the spare fast bowler in the squad, is likely to replace Wood in the XI. In terms of squad reinforcements, Sam Curran could come into the reckoning. The allrounder is currently playing for Surrey against Lancashire at the Kia Oval and took 1 for 21 in the first innings. Picking Curran would allow England to operate with the allrounder they are lacking after captain Ben Stokes was ruled out of the rest of the summer with a torn hamstring.The loss of Wood was apparent as stand-in captain Ollie Pope oversaw a wicket-less start to day four. Sri Lanka batted past drinks and through to a rain interruption shortly before lunch without losing a wicket, as Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal extended the lead to 153.

Ben Stokes' Doppelganger Makes a Grand Re-Appearance at England vs Sri Lanka TestThe ongoing England vs Sri Lanka first Test in Manchester witnessed a delightful spectacle on Friday as Ben Stokes' doppelganger made a grand re-appearance, much to the amusement of the England skipper and the crowd.In his latest guise, Stokes' doppelganger showcased his Test jersey during the second session on Day 3, leaving the Old Trafford crowd in awe. The Stokes look-alike first gained prominence during the second Test between England and West Indies in Nottingham last month.Upon being spotted and displayed on the giant screen, Stokes was seen giving a thumbs-up to his doppelganger. The doppelganger then revealed his Test jersey, emblazoned with 'no.55 and Stokesy,' eliciting cheers and smiles from all corners of the stadium.The re-emergence of Stokes' doppelganger brought a touch of lightheartedness to an otherwise somber occasion. The England captain was recently ruled out for the rest of the season due to a torn hamstring. The 33-year-old all-rounder sustained the injury while batting for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred on Sunday.Vice-captain Ollie Pope has taken over as Test skipper for the three-match series against Sri Lanka. Despite his absence, Stokes' doppelganger ensured that his presence was felt at Old Trafford, providing a moment of joy and camaraderie amidst the competitive atmosphere.

Sri Lanka's rising star Harshitha Samarawickrama has been signed by Trinbago Knight Riders as a replacement for injured Australian captain Meg Lanning in the upcoming Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) 2024.Samarawickrama, a left-handed top-order batter, has been in impressive form for Sri Lanka, earning the Player of the Final award in their maiden Women's Asia Cup title win in 2024. She has also scored back-to-back fifties in the T20I series against Ireland and became the third Sri Lankan woman to hit an ODI century.With 1463 runs in 65 T20Is at a strike rate of 99.72, Samarawickrama is a valuable addition to the Knight Riders squad. She joins Shikha Pandey, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Jess Jonassen as the other overseas players for the team.Lanning, who recently led London Spirit to victory in the Hundred, was forced to withdraw from the WCPL due to an injury. She had a lean run of scores in the Hundred, with 170 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 125.The Knight Riders will begin their WCPL 2024 campaign against Barbados Royals in Tarouba on Thursday. With Samarawickrama's inclusion, they will be hoping to make a strong start to the tournament and challenge for the title.

England's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has been announced, with several notable changes. Fast bowler Matthew Potts has been recalled to the team, while Ollie Pope will take over as captain in the absence of Ben Stokes.Stokes, who has been a key figure in England's recent resurgence under coach Brendon McCullum, is set to miss the entire series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Hundred. His absence will be a significant blow to the team, as he has been a driving force behind their aggressive "Bazball" approach.Pope, who has only captained Surrey in one first-class match, will now lead the side. The 25-year-old is a talented batsman who has been in good form for England in recent months. However, he will have a tough task on his hands, as Sri Lanka are a dangerous team, especially in their own conditions.Potts, who has impressed for Durham in the County Championship this season, has been recalled to the Test squad for the first time since making his debut against Australia in 2022. The 24-year-old is a promising young bowler who could add some much-needed pace to England's attack.Other players who have been given a chance to prove themselves in Stokes's absence include batter Harry Brook and all-rounder Jamie Overton. Brook has been in excellent form for Yorkshire in the County Championship, while Overton has impressed for Somerset.England will be hoping to start the series well at Old Trafford, where they have a good record. However, Sri Lanka will be no pushovers, and they will be looking to make a statement against a weakened England side.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team ended their tour of Ireland on a high note, securing an eight-wicket victory in the third and final ODI in Belfast. The win was set up by a dominant bowling performance led by Achini Kulasuriya, who claimed three wickets in the opening overs.Ireland, who had already clinched the series 2-0, were sent into bat after Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss. Kulasuriya struck with the first two balls of the innings, dismissing Sarah Forbes and Amy Hunter for ducks. Orla Prendergast, the Ireland captain, also fell cheaply to Kulasuriya, leaving the hosts reeling at 10 for 3.Inoshi Priyadharshani and Amy Kanchana chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Ireland were reduced to 28 for 5 in the 15th over. A fightback was led by Leah Paul and Arlene Kelly, who added 36 runs between them. However, Paul was eventually dismissed by Sachini Nisansala for 19, and a flurry of wickets followed.Canning became Athapaththu's first wicket, Kelly the second, and between them Athapaththu and Nisansala finished the innings off. Priyadharshini returned remarkable figures of 10-5-7-1, the second-most miserly ODI spell by a Sri Lanka woman cricketer.In reply, Sri Lanka's openers Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne put on a 32-run stand. Athapaththu then combined with Harshitha Samarawickrama for a 62-run partnership, taking Sri Lanka to 94 with 32 overs remaining.Athapaththu's 48 came off 49 balls and included ten fours. Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 48, hitting seven fours of her own. Kavisha Dilhari contributed 10 not out as Sri Lanka reached their target in 23.1 overs.The win was a consolation for Sri Lanka, who had lost the first two ODIs and the two-match T20I series 1-1.