Tag: cricket

Sri Lanka national cricket team

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By Sanjeev Reddy

The Sri Lanka national cricket team is one of the most prominent teams in international cricket, known for its rich history, talented players, and passionate fan base. Representing the island nation of Sri Lanka, the team competes in all formats of the game—Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 (T20) cricket—under the governance of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the official cricket board.

Historical Background

Cricket was introduced to Sri Lanka during British colonial rule in the 19th century. However, it wasn’t until 1981 that Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which allowed them to participate in Test matches and officially compete on the international stage. Prior to this, they had played cricket at a non-Test level, gaining experience and making their mark in regional tournaments.

Sri Lanka’s rise to prominence in international cricket was relatively swift. In 1982, they played their first-ever Test match against England. Despite being a young team, they gradually developed a reputation for being competitive and skillful. Their breakthrough came in the 1990s, a decade that would see Sri Lanka transform into a cricketing powerhouse.

1996 ICC Cricket World Cup Victory

The defining moment in Sri Lankan cricket history came in 1996, when they won the ICC Cricket World Cup. Under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka defied expectations to win the tournament, defeating some of the most established teams in the world. Their victory in the final against Australia was a testament to the team’s tactical acumen and fighting spirit. Players like Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, and Chaminda Vaas became household names, while the team’s aggressive style of play, especially in the early overs, revolutionized the one-day game.

The 1996 World Cup victory not only brought glory to the team but also had a lasting impact on cricket in Sri Lanka, inspiring generations of cricketers and elevating the status of the sport to a national passion.

Key Achievements and Tournaments

  1. World Cup Participation: After their historic win in 1996, Sri Lanka has consistently been competitive in subsequent World Cups. They reached the finals in 2007 and 2011, narrowly missing out on lifting the trophy again. Both times, they were runners-up to Australia (2007) and India (2011).
  2. ICC T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka has also had significant success in the T20 format. They were runners-up in the 2009 and 2012 T20 World Cups but finally clinched the title in 2014, defeating India in the final. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were key figures in this triumph, leading a new era of Sri Lankan cricket.
  3. Asia Cup: The Sri Lankan team has a proud record in the Asia Cup, a regional tournament featuring the top Asian teams. They have won the tournament multiple times, their most recent victory coming in 2014. Their consistent performance in the Asia Cup underscores their dominance in the region.

Formats and Playing Style

Sri Lanka has shown versatility across all three formats of the game:

  • Test Cricket: Sri Lanka has produced some of the finest Test cricketers, including Muttiah Muralitharan, who holds the record for the most Test wickets in cricket history. Their Test performances have seen highs, such as series wins against top-tier teams like India, Australia, and England. Batters like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Tillakaratne Dilshan have contributed heavily to the team’s success in Test cricket.
  • ODIs: Known for their aggressive approach in ODIs, Sri Lanka has been a pioneer in attacking batting in the first 15 overs, thanks to players like Sanath Jayasuriya. They were trendsetters in the ’90s and continue to be a formidable side in limited-overs cricket.
  • T20 Cricket: Sri Lanka’s adaptability in T20 cricket is well-known. They are known for being able to strike a balance between attacking cricket and strategic bowling, with players like Lasith Malinga, one of the greatest death bowlers in T20 history, leading the charge.

Iconic Players

Over the years, Sri Lanka has produced some of the most iconic cricketers in the world. These players have not only set records but have also redefined the way the game is played.

  • Muttiah Muralitharan: Widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, Muralitharan holds the record for the most wickets in both Test and ODI cricket. His unique bowling action and ability to turn the ball on any surface made him a nightmare for batsmen around the world.
  • Kumar Sangakkara: A stylish left-handed batsman, Sangakkara is one of the highest run-scorers in international cricket. He was known for his elegant stroke play and consistency across all formats.
  • Mahela Jayawardene: Another batting maestro, Jayawardene was a key figure in Sri Lanka’s middle order. His calm demeanor and tactical nous helped him lead the team to several memorable victories.
  • Sanath Jayasuriya: Jayasuriya revolutionized one-day cricket with his explosive batting at the top of the order. He was also a handy left-arm spinner, contributing significantly with the ball.
  • Lasith Malinga: Known for his slingy bowling action and deadly yorkers, Malinga is regarded as one of the best limited-overs bowlers of all time, particularly excelling in the T20 format.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While Sri Lanka has a glorious history, the team has faced challenges in recent years, including a transition phase where many of their legendary players retired. This has led to a period of rebuilding, with new talents like Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Pathum Nissanka emerging.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been working hard to nurture young talent through domestic tournaments and development programs. With the right combination of experience and youth, the team aims to regain its place among the top cricketing nations.

Fan Base and Culture

Cricket in Sri Lanka is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life. The passionate fan base, vibrant cricket culture, and unwavering support from the public have always driven the team to greater heights. Stadiums like the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and Galle International Stadium are iconic venues that have witnessed some of the greatest moments in Sri Lankan cricket.

Conclusion

The Sri Lanka national cricket team has a storied legacy that is marked by triumphs, iconic players, and an enduring passion for the sport. From their remarkable World Cup win in 1996 to their consistent performances across all formats, Sri Lanka continues to be a force in international cricket, blending experience with fresh talent as they strive for future success.

England vs India 2nd test match preview

England and India will be locking horns on Thursday in 2nd test match of the series in an iconic venue of lords. Both teams are coming here after a disappointing draw in Nottingham, but the good news is that weather is expected to be clear during the next 5 days of the test match but you never know and cannot exactly predict the weather of England.it should be a fascinating test match between two quality teams.

Both , India and England are having some injury issues before going to the test match. Stuart Broad is already out from an injury and he is even ruled out for the entire test series against India. while in Indian team , shardul thakur may also miss the second test due to an injury.

First test match of the series was a very good test match although India dominated the major part of it. Jasprit Bumrah was back in the form with an impressive figures of 9 – 110 .For England , their captain joe root was a big positive , Root made runs in both innings including a wonderful hundred in second test match with the help of which England made a comeback in the test match, interesting ending of the test match was sure but rain came at the last day when India was needing 157 runs with 9 wickets in hand but unfortunately we were not able to get a result, thanks to rain. India were favourites to win that match.

Team news

England

England have some serious issues to solve before the start of test match . Stuart broad is already out because of injury, even James Anderson is set to miss second test match due to a tight quad. This will be a huge blow for the home side as they both are most experienced test bowlers of England team. Mark Wood is set to come back into the team. Moen Ali has been recalled for the second test match and it is very likely that he will play the second test as a lone spinner.

India

India has only one problem that Shardul Thakur is expected to miss the second test due to strain in hamstring. It will be interesting to see who will come in place of Thakur , it could be spinner R Ashwin if India wants to play 2 spinners but recent matches in lords, pitch is helping fast bowlers rather than spinners. And the second option is to play a fast bowler in Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav , but it will weaken batting in lower order. Except this , India is much balanced and confident than England. openers are making runs , bowlers are taking wickets though middle order is a problem , but we except them to perform better in lords.

Weather forecast and pitch condition :-

The first test match was affected due to rain but the weather in 2nd test match is good and whole 5 days of cricket is expected although there is little bit rain On Sunday. The lord ‘s pitch should be a very good pitch , offering a good contest between bat and ball. little bit of grass is expected to be there in pitch. last time India played in lords they were bundled out for just 107 in first Innings.it should be a mouth watering contest in lords . (source : cricbuzz)

Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev(Full Name:Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj), regarded as the greatest Indian all-rounder and one of the best all-rounders in the history of cricket, was born on 6th of January, 1959 in Chandigarh, India. He represented India and Haryana at national and state level respectively. He also played for Northamptonshire and Worcestershire during his career. He is known for being the only cricketer to have scored more than 5000 runs and picked over four hundred wickets. His greatest achievement was leading an underdog Indian to glory in the 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup.  

Kapil Dev entered the scene of professional cricket with his debut for his state team Haryana in first-class cricket. His debut match was against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy in 1975-76. He impressed by picking 6 wickets for 39 runs in this match. He started bowling as a spinner in this match and later switched to fast medium bowling. He batted right-arm and bowled right-arm fast medium pace. He was a middle-order batsman with tremendous power and was known for power hitting. His ability to bowl and bat fast racked to the national team. He made his debut for the Indian national cricket team during the 1978-79 series against Pakistan. In his debut appearance, he picked seven wickets in the series. He was nicknamed as ‘Haryana Hurricane’.

Kapil Dev was the sixth child in his family. His parents were Ram Lal Nikhanj and Raj Kumari Lajwanti, who had moved from Rawalpindi to Chandigarh during the Partition. His father ran a construction and timber business. Right from a young age he was interested in games than academics. He gained attention at a higher level when he was just thirteen years old. He asked to fill up a spot in one of Chandigarh sector teams. His performances led to repeated call ups. This attracted selectors from the state level and was picked in the state team. At his time, he was the only true fast bowler India possessed. Throughout his career, he played with aggression and matchless passion. He was filled with energy and self reliant even when he was young. Kapil Dev regards his father as his role model and idolised G. R. Vishwanath when growing up. G. R. Vishwanath was a match winner in those days and is regarded as one of the greatest Indian batsmen. The Indian team never lost a match whenever Vishwanath scored a century. 

There were many highlights during his career: leading the Indian to victory in 1983 World Cup, his match saving knock of 175 not out including 22 boundaries against Zimbabwe, becoming the youngest player to score two thousand runs and pick two hundred wickets. At the end of his international test career, he boasted a record 434 wickets including 23 five-fors (which was later broken by Courtney Walsh) and 5000 runs with the bat. In one day internationals, he managed to score 3783 runs and pick 253 wickets which consisted of one hundred and one five wicket haul. His first class record is equally impressive with the numbers of 10,800 runs including sixteen centuries and 815 wickets. He was declared as the Indian cricketer of the century by Wisden magazine in 2002. Since his retirement, he has been involved in cricket administration and broadcasting roles.

References:

Cricbuzz

A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha – Book Review

Ramachandra Guha is an Indian Historian and a columnist. His notable works include India After Gandhi and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World. He has been awarded with several accolades for his achievements in the field of history. He has experiences of teaching at Yale University, the Indian Institute of Science and the University of California at Berkeley. He was also the Indo – American Community chair professor in 1997 and 1998. 

A Corner of a Foreign Field is a fascinating fusion of Indian history and Indian cricket.The book is divided into four chapters titled Race, Caste, Religion and Nation respectively. The first three chapter greatly benefit from thorough research and the skill of a great historian. The last chapter contains more of the authors feeling and opinion. Nevertheless, the book does not suffer from the personal feeling of the author. Throughout the book, the reader can experience the author’s love for the game. 

Palwankar Baloo

A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport is a book about, one feels, the life of cricket in India so far. It is not just a history of the sport, but also a as much objective document of the sport as is possible. Cricket in India, as it is often said, is more than a sport. It evokes strong feelings from the audience and it won’t be an exaggeration to say that the team carries the burden of expectations of a billion people. Every on and off the field happening related to cricket is closely watched and excites opinions from all. This book views the unique sport through the lenses of race, religion, caste and nation. It speaks about the beginnings of cricket in India, how people reacted to this sport, its growth, impact and reception, BCCI, politics and much more. The book also gives insights into lives of people connected to the sport in one way or the other. The tales of cricketers like C. K Nayudu, Vijay Merchant, Palwankar Baloo and his brothers, Vijay Hazare makes it an interesting experience. It is astonishing how the game reflects the society at that point of time and the impacts each have had on one another throughout their history. It portrays the socio-cultural, political, economical aspects of the society by placing cricket at its centre. The book reflects the feelings of both an enthusiastic admirer of the sport and a historian keen on the socio-political happenings. The tales about cricketers are also good character sketches of the person. Not surprising, the story of Palwankar Baloo and his family is at the heart of this book as this originally began as a book about the life of Baloo. The book draws information heavily from newspapers of the day and the author uses this information beautifully to breathe life into the stories. The responses of various presses to the sport make for an interesting read. The knowledge of the author is seamless woven into the narrative. The writing of this book makes it an engaging experience even for a person not acquainted with the sport. Even for a fan of cricket, the book has much to offer and provide a great experience. It provides a whole lot new information and perspective even to a devoted follower of the sport.