Percy, Percy …. That Man Pissu Percy

Percy in Many Iconic Moments

When Gamini Dissamayake returned to the island after securing Sri Lanka’s entry into the top tier of cricket under the ICC in mid 1981 a reception party had been arranged at the Katunayake airport with some young cricketers also on parade. It is typical of Percy’ Abeysekera that he was there –with his standard symbol, the Sri Lankan flag …. It is with sadness that I note that the young cricketer on the extreme right is Sujeewa Kamalasuriya of Ananda and Adelaide who was swamped to death by the tsunami at Unawatuna on 26th December 2004.tsunami.

Harry Solomons: Cricketing Stalwart Beyond the Ordinary

Harry Solomons is a planters’ son and was educated at St. Aloysius College, Galle where he and his brother Mark were boarders. His love affair with cricket began then as he, as a little fellow, used to walk about with a bat. He was nicknamed Hassett because of this fact and due to a certain facial resemblance. No one knew then that Harry would end up in Hassett’s land and even meet The Don.

After he migrated, he set up the Kingsgrove Sports Centre in Sydney. This is a worldwide famous and has been a centre of activity for many visiting teams as well as the fraternity in Sydney. Harry and his mates have supported many charities everywhere — notably in Sri Lanka …….. and of course in Hikkaduwa and Galle. Just ask Kushil Gunasekera of FOG..So it can be saaid that Harry has more than fulfilled the Aloysian school motto; CERTA VIRILITER …. “strive valiantly.”

Moreover, Harry still wields a bat: he plays Oldies cricket as enthusiastically {albeit a little more gingerly) as he did at, and for, St Aloysius. Cheers, Mate.

The Axing of Mathews: A Key Factor divulged

Andrew Fidel Fernando in ESPNcricinfo, 26 September 2018, with this title  “Angelo Mathews’ poor running in focus after axe from ODI squad”

Poor running between the wickets, and a particular propensity to run his partners out is among the main reasons Angelo Mathews has been left out of Sri Lanka’s ODI squad. Sri Lanka chief selector Graeme Labrooy told ESPNcricinfo that Mathews had been “sluggish” between the wickets during the Asia Cup, but coach Chandika Hathurusingha went further, detailing the number of times he felt Mathews had been involved in run-out dismissals. He also said that Mathews had a tendency not just to participate in run-outs, but to particularly run the opposite batsman out.

No Stone Unturned. Burns, Hope and Stone in England Squad for Sri Lanka

Item in Daily Mirror, 21 September 2018

Surrey opener Rory Burns has been rewarded for his fine county form with a place in the England squad for this winter’s Test series in Sri Lanka with Kent’s Joe Denly also included. There is also a first Test call-up for fast bowler Olly Stone, two days after his maiden international call when he was named in the ODI squad.

Angelo Mathews Quite Furious

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, September 2018, where the title is “Mathews ticked off at being made ‘scapegoat’ for SL Asia Cup exit”

Angelo Mathews has expressed strong resentment at being made a “scapegoat for the dismal performances … at the Asia Cup”, after he was sacked as captain on Sunday. In a letter to SLC, he has even floated the idea of retiring from ODI and T20 cricket.

Panic Stations and Chaos in Sri Lankan Cricket Selections: Angelo Sacked

Champika Fernando, in Daily Mirror, 24 September 2018, where the title reads –– “Sacked Mathews feels ‘betrayed and let down’

Angelo Mathews feels he has been ‘betrayed and let down’ after he was asked to resign from the captaincy taking full responsibility for the Asia Cup debacle.Mathews who tendered his resignation last night from the captaincy says he is even willing to retire from limited over cricket if the selectors and the coach believe he is unfit to play ODI and T20 cricket.

Rex Clementine demands Wholesale Change in ODI Cricket Selections

Rex Clementine, in Island, 19 September 2018, where the title is  “World’s most boring cricket team”

A proud cricketing nation has been brought to its knees twice inside three days here in the Arabian desert as Sri Lanka crashed out of the Asia Cup in such an embarrassing way. Defeat to Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi Monday night was perhaps the lowest point in the history of Sri Lankan cricket. It remains to be seen whether it is a point of no return?

The current side has no depth in batting, their bowling is toothless while fielding remains the worst in the world. Less said about the team’s running between the wickets the better.

Attempts to exclude Our 1996 Cricketing Heroes

N Krishnamurthy, in Cricket Age, 21 September 2018. with this headline “Ravin Wickramaratne Instructs Rupavahini To Avoid 1996 World Cup Heroes For ICC Trophy Events”

During Thilanga Sumathipala’s disastrous two years regime at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), one of his particular associates,  Ravin Wickramaratne, was the most controversial administrators, as his involvement was exposed in domestic match fixing and countless overseas tours as assistant secretary of the board. Now, Sumathipala has perished, but Ravin is still flying high, though in different field. Few days ago, the country’s President Maithripala Sirisena had ‘mysteriously’ appointed him as his representative at Rupavahini Corporation to look after his ‘interests’.

Immediately, Ravin has started manipulating things!

SL Selectors undermine Progress of Young Spinner Mahesh Theekshana

Rohit Pawar in CricketAge, 19 September 2018, where the title runs “SL Selectors Perfect Plan To Destroy Another ‘Ajantha Mendis”

For more than one and half year now, Sri Lanka Chief selector Graeme Labrooy is doing his best in destroying not only the progress of the national team by messing with everything, but he is also pushing back and demoralizing youth cricketers big time!

As he has no time to properly watch the international matches due to his other dozen of ‘professional commitments’, he has given the responsibility of looking after the U19 cricket to his fellow selector Gamini Wickramsinghe. The sad thing is, he is equally incompetent!

Sri Lanka Crash-land at Dubai in Woeful Effort

ONE: Andrew Fidel Fernando:: “Mushfiqur stars in 137-run rout of Sri Lanka,” 16 September 2018, at ESPNcricinfo

Mushfiqur Rahim‘s sublime 144 hauled Bangladesh kicking and screaming to 261, then a fired-up Mashrafe Mortaza set in motion a Sri Lanka collapse, and the first match of the Asia Cup soon turned into a thrashing – Bangladesh claiming victory by 137 runs, after Sri Lanka crashed to 69 for 7, then 124 all out.

Mushfiqur Rahim celebrates after reaching his sixth ODI century ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images