David Warner needs thicker skin, says Mark Waugh

Peter Lalor in The Australian 21 May 2013

DAVID Warner will tomorrow face charges of breaching Cricket Australia’s code of behaviour after engaging in a very public Twitter spat with a journalist.  The Test opening batsman will appear via video conference before a commissioner as he is on a flying visit to Australia. Warner is on his way home from a stint with the Delhi Daredevils but flies out soon after to play for Australia in the Champions Trophy.

Sachitra shines for KKR

Siddarth Ravindran, in ESPNcricinfo

Surprise package: At the time of the auction, Sachithra Senanayake was just another of the many spinners trying to establish themselves in the Sri Lankan side. It took virtually everyone by surprise when he was bought for a hefty $625,000 but he showed he was worth the money by emerging as Knight Riders’ second-best bowler, constantly tricking batsmen with his variations. He played only half the matches this season, as Narine had already cornered one overseas spot, and playing two specialist imported spinners would hamper a squad needing cover in several other departments.

Thilan Samaraweera thrives on county cricket

Tim Wigmore, in ESPNcricinfo

 Thilan Samaraweera may have played for 12 years for Sri Lanka but his first season in county cricket, where he is fulfilling “one of my dreams”, is bringing its own challenges. Samaraweera’s enthusiasm, after fielding for Worcestershire, is in stark contrast to Manchester’s rain, wind and unrelenting chill, which are enough to make anyone question the sanity of organising first-class cricket at Old Trafford in April. “You get tougher and tougher when you field in this cold weather,” he said. “It’s not easy. You get tougher and tougher living away from home.”

CMJ honoured by the vast turnout for his memorial service at St. Paul’s Cathedral

Courtesy of The Nation, … http://www.nation.lk/edition/sport-online/item/17998-cmj’s-spirit-of-cricket-awards-launched.html

 Pic from AFP

It’s the start of what we all hope will be a really exciting international cricketing summer on Test Match Special with the New Zealand tour, the ICC Champions Trophy and of course the Ashes. Four years ago, England had to beat Australia in the last Test of the summer to wrestle back the urn. At the microphone as Mike Hussey was dismissed by Graeme Swann that day was Christopher Martin-Jenkins. His words – “It’s all over. England have regained the Ashes… on a golden evening at The Oval” – perfectly described the magic of that moment.
 As Jonathan Agnew summed up during his eulogy for Christopher at St Paul’s Cathedral last month, commentators live for moments like that “but without CMJ, they’ll never sound quite the same again.” There is a rather bittersweet feeling in the TMS commentary box at Lord’s this week. We are buoyed by what lies ahead this summer, but saddened that this is our first home series without our much-loved and much-missed colleague.

Batting vs Selecting Players: Sanath quizzed on Power Plays

Courtesy of The Nation, 18 May 2013, where thte title is “Power hitting depends on how hard you practise”

You can’t miss the irony if you have followed the drama surrounding the Sri Lankan cricketers playing in the Indian T20 league. On one hand, you had the politicians asking Sri Lankan cricketers to stay away from Tamil Nadu and on the other you have the Sri Lankan government rolling out the red for Indian tourists. What’s more the gentleman Sri Lankan tourism authorities have roped in to sell their country as a hot tourist destination is Sanath Jayasuriya, the man who like the Spinach-munching Popeye had left Indian bowlers black and blue in his playing days. Jayasuriya has smoothly fitted into the role of a Member of Parliament, his country’s brand ambassador and more importantly the chairman of the selection committee, apart from still turning out in professional T20 leagues. Still early into the job as a selector, the 43-year-old is already exhibiting qualities of a seasoned statesman. For starters, he’s making an earnest effort to bring cricketers from the war-affected north-east into main stream cricket.Jayasuriya spoke to TOI on the sidelines of ‘Get Sri Lankan’ed’, an event organised to attract more Indian tourists to his country.

Q: There are talks that cricket is something which can provide a healing touch to those in the war-affected northern part of your country?
That is the way it should be. As a chairman of selectors I have to close the gap. We have to build the bridge. There are quite a few young players coming up. Angelo Perera is really good potential coming up. People from northern area (Jaffna) need to come to our areas to play. I want them to come and enjoy the facilities. Sri Lanka Cricket is doing its bit by appointing coaches at different levels and we are monitoring the talent there closely. Recently I was in Jaffna to watch few games and players. We have picked three players from that area. They will be featuring in a domestic triangular tournament. We have drafted them in the squad to give them a feel of international cricket so that they can learn quickly. It sends a good positive message to people of those areas so that we have more talent coming through from there.

Cricketing Scenes Australian

ALEX KOUNTOURIS physiotherapist extraordinary & one of the mentors for SL cricketers in 1996 et seq… http://www.espncricinfo.com/usa/content/player/49508.html AND http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Kontouris-physiotherapist-cricket

A Rare Photograph and a Rare Vote: Lanka’s best batsman has been SATHA

 SATHA and the SARAs … with essential in hand

A poll conducted by ‘The Island’ website http://www.island.lk asking ‘who was Sri Lanka’s greatest batsman in the pre-Test era’ ended yesterday. Almost 5,000 readers took part in the poll and pre-Test era great Mahadevan Sathasivam was the overwhelming choice as the greatest batsman with 47.26% of our readers voting for him. Former captain Anura Tennekoon came second totaling 23.99% votes followed by Michael Tissera 14.12%, C.I. Gunasekara 9.62% and David Heyn 5.01%.

Our new poll, ‘What’s Sri Lanka’s best overseas Test win?’ is now open. Log onto http://www.island.lk to cast your vote. The options are 1. 1995 Napier, 2. 1995 Faisalabad, 3. 1998 London Oval, 4. 2000 Rawalpindi, 5. 2006 Trent Bridge.