Pakistan openers reply strongly on another see-saw day

Just like Day 1, the second day of the Karachi Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan had its fair share of twists and turns. Sri Lanka took a healthy first innings lead of 80 to edge ahead. However, Pakistan finished the day strongly at 57 for no loss, in arrears by just 23.

Lahiru Kumara four-for puts Sri Lanka ahead on 13-wicket day

A flat surface had been expected at Karachi. Instead the first day delivered 13 wickets, eight of them in a manic final session, as Pakistan first nosedived to 191 all out, losing their last six for 24 runs, before Sri Lanka limped their way to 64 for 3 at the close.

Ireland’s Sri Lanka tour put off

Ireland national team’s tour of Sri Lanka for an one-off Test has been postponed, Sri Lanka Cricket announced yesterday.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka gear up for Karachi Test with hope for better weather

After the truncated first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, expectations are high ahead of the second Test, with forecasts pointing to improved weather conditions in Karachi from Thursday, 19 December.

Hamstrung Rajitha out of Karachi Test

Sri Lanka pacer Kasun Rajitha has been ruled out of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi starting on Thursday (December 19). The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring sprain on the final day of the rain-marred Rawalpindi Test.

CRICKET IN 2019: Stokes and Smith shine in eventful year

Ben Stokes starred as England won the World Cup for the first time before producing one of the most memorable innings in Ashes history as Australia’s Steve Smith enjoyed a successful return to the international stage after the ’sandpaper’ ball-tampering scandal.

Bowlers, Labuschagne fire Australia to easy win

In the second innings of the 1993 Auckland Test between Australia and New Zealand, the latter needed a spark of inspiration to script a win and level the Test series 1-1. Martin Crowe, the then New Zealand captain, took inspiration from the side’s impressive show in the 1992 World Cup by opening the bowling with Dipak Patel. On a track that offered some assistance for spinners, Patel spun a web around Australia’s batsmen to clean them up for 285

Abid, Babar raise tons as teams share points

Test cricket’s return to Pakistan kicked off on a drab note, with the Rawalpindi match ending in a draw after more than three days of action was lost to inclement weather. Nonetheless, the crowd had enough to cheer on the sun-bathed, but inconsequential, final day where two of their own - Abid Ali and Babar Azam - raised contrasting centuries after Sri Lanka’s early declaration following Dhananjaya de Silva’s sixth Test hundred. While Abid create

Fourth day’s play called off in historic Pakistan Test

Overnight rain and poor light continued to mar Pakistan’s first home Test in a decade on Saturday, with officials calling the fourth day off before play had begun.

Labuschagne stars as Australia all out for 416 against New Zealand

Marnus Labuschagne’s 143 set Australia up for a challenging total of 416 as they were all out on the stroke of tea against New Zealand in the day-night first Test on Friday.

Rain forces suspension of play in historic Pakistan Test

Pakistan’s first home Test in a decade was affected by bad weather Friday, with rain and an already sodden pitch forcing officials to suspend play on the third day of the contest against Sri Lanka.

De Silva steadies Sri Lanka on weather-hit day

Dhananjaya de Silva remained unbeaten after completing his half-century as Sri Lanka reached 263 for six on the weather-hit second day of the opening test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Sixes galore as India clinch T20 series win over Windies

Skipper Virat Kohli led the sixes charge with seven hits over the fence to set up India’s series-clinching 67-run win over the West Indies in the third Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

South Africa appoint Smith acting director of cricket

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa have named Graeme Smith as acting director of cricket for a three-month period, which covers England’s tour of the country starting later this month, before he takes up a commentary role at the Indian Premier League.

Naseem leads fightback as Pakistan host first test in a decade

LAHORE (Reuters) - Pakistan’s teenage fast bowler Naseem Shah led the hosts’ recovery against Sri Lanka on a riveting opening day as test cricket returned to the country on Wednesday for the first time since a militant attack in 2009.

All eyes on Rawalpindi for historic return of Test cricket to Pakistan

Sri Lanka’s return to Pakistan, 10 years after an attack on their team bus, carries significance beyond the results of the two-Test series. Another 120 points in the ICC Test Championship are on offer for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These are points Pakistan can urgently use, following Australia’s series sweep over them in November-December. Sri Lanka ended up sharing points during the home series against New Zealand.

South African cricketers refuse to deal with board

South Africa’s cricket crisis continued on Monday when the South African Cricketers’ Association repeated its call for Cricket South Africa’s board to resign - and said it would refuse to negotiate with any members of the board.

THE HEAT IS ON

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) this week completely overhauled its coaching structure, bringing in key individuals to drive the country’s ambitious plan to top the world across formats.

Sri Lanka overhauls cricket coaching team with Arthur appointment

Sri Lanka’s cricket board Thursday announced a major revamp of the national team after their poor showing at the recent World Cup, confirming South African Mickey Arthur’s appointment as head coach. Sri Lanka Cricket’s secretary Mohan de Silva said the country had been without a proper coach since the early World Cup exit.

13th South Asian Games: Sri Lanka men and women hijack poor souls

Despite playing almost 300 kilometres apart the Sri Lanka Men’s Under-23 side and the Women’s team recorded identical, commanding, yet smashing victories in the Cricket Competition of the 13th South Asian Games yesterday.

Honours for Malinga, Athapaththu in 2019 SLC awards

Chamari Athapaththu won big at the Sri Lanka Annual Cricket Awards 2019 on Tuesday, 3 December, picking up four of the seven awards for women.

Mickey Arthur joins SLC after Ramprakash, Farbrace snub

Sri Lanka Cricket’s ‘hire and fire’ policy of coaching staff seems to have taught them a bitter lesson. After two frontline candidates for head coach–to replace Chandika Hathurusingha–asked for more time to decide, the Board had no option but to hire Mickey Arthur for the national team.

Hathurusingha faults SLC over handling of ball-tampering issue

Suspended Head Cricket Coach Chandika Hathurusingha has strongly criticised Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) handling of the ball-tampering incident in 2018 in the West Indies where he along with captain Dinesh Chandimal and manager Asanka Gurusinha were given the maximum possible punishment under existing laws.

Warner hits 335, Smith shatters record as Pakistan suffer

An irrepressible David Warner smashed an unbeaten 335 on Saturday while Steve Smith became the fastest man to 7,000 Test runs as Australia put Pakistan to the sword before declaring on day two of the second Test in Adelaide.

Kasun Rajitha picks for Pakistan Tests

Sri Lanka has picked a full strength 16-man squad for the two match as series against Pakistan next month as the national test team undertakes a historic tour to the landlocked country--ten years after their fellow cricketers were ambushed by armed gunmen. Many of them including skipper Dimuth Karunaratne refused to travel in September for the limited over-leg citing security concerns but have returned to the side for the Test series.

Wagner five-for as New Zealand thrash England in first Test

A fiery five-wicket burst from Neil Wagner sealed a comprehensive innings and 65 runs victory for New Zealand over England late on the final day of the first Test in Mount Maunganui on Monday. It put New Zealand in an unbeatable position in the two-Test series and extended their home streak to a remarkable seven series without defeat.

Fighting for Justice

India’s Kohli hopes day-night Test is ’one-off’

Skipper Virat Kohli said Thursday he welcomed the “buzz” around India’s grand day-night Test debut but said pink-ball matches should not become a regular occurrence. India begin their pink-ball journey against Bangladesh on Friday in Kolkata, with the first four days sold out, contrasting with daytime Tests in India when crowds are often sparse.

Australia skittle Pakistan to seize control at the Gabba

Australia seized the advantage on the opening day of the first Test when they bowled Pakistan out for 240 just before stumps at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.

SLC and SLT join hands to construct a new cricket ground

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) signed an MOU recently to build a cricket ground on a 36 acre land, which belongs to the SLT Campus in Padukka.