Silva ready to gamble on pace in 2nd Test vs Bangladesh
ANI
Colombo
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva is betting on pace to do the job against Bangladesh in the second game of the two-match series ahead of their 11-month Test hiatus in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
In the past couple of years, Silva has insisted on infusing pacers at home, which offers them an opportunity to prepare the quicks for overseas assignments. In the second Test against Bangladesh, Silva is considering putting three in the final XI, considering the benign nature of SSC.
'We've got 12 in the squad, and we've got options, because our weather is changing from time to time as well. We were hoping to go with three seamers, but it's hard to tell exactly - the pitch also looks flat,' Silva said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
Sri Lanka's theory of lining up with more pacers could possibly stem from how Bangladesh batters against their quicks compared to the spinners.
The top three seamers, including Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, and Kasun Rajitha, scalped 29 wickets between them, occupying first, second and third spots on the series wicket-takers list.
'Not just in the last series in Bangladesh, even in the previous one, it was pace that got a lot of wickets. We talked a lot about how the seamers got about 70 per cent of their wickets. But it's not easy to play seamers on these pitches, but we're trying to play three. Let's see what the pitch is like tomorrow morning,' Dhananjaya said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Stop clock for Tests, no ball change after use of saliva: ICC approves new changes to playing conditions
ANI New Delhi The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved several changes to playing conditions recently for men's international cricket, including the Boundary Law and one-ball rule in ODIs from the 35th over. While some of these rules have already come into force during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27, the rules for white-ball formats will come in effect from July 2 onwards. ESPNCricinfo looks at the notable changes introduced across three formats, having reviewed the playing conditions shared by the world cricket governing body with its member bodies recently. Introduction of Stop Clock in Tests A year after the introduction of the rule in limited-overs cricket, the ICC has decided to bring it in red-ball cricket, where slow-over-rates have been a massive problem for years. As per the rule, the fielding side is supposed to start an over within 60 seconds of the last one ending. Two warnings will be given on failure to do so, and another failure would result in a five-run penalty on the bowling team. The warnings will be reset to zero after each block worth 80 overs. The rule has come into effect during the ongoing 2025-27 WTC cycle. No mandatory ball change on deliberate usage of saliva While the saliva ban continues in international cricket since COVID-19, the mandatory ball change by umpires in case of saliva being found on the ball is no longer compulsory. This change is made to prevent teams from changing the balls by deliberately applying saliva to them. Going forward, the condition of the ball will help in deciding if the ball is to be changed or not. If it appears too wet or these is more shine. This decision has been completely left to the umpires. If the ball starts doing things after umpires saying that application of saliva has not changed its condition, it would not be replaced. The batting team would, however, be given five penalty runs. DRS protocol for secondary review after an out decision Imagine a situation when a batter has been given out caught behind, and he demands a review. The UltraEdge shows the ball brushing the pads without any contact with the bat. With the catch ruled out, the TV umpire checks for second dismissal mode via ball tracking, whether he is lbw or not. So far, the protocol was, once the batter was given 'not out caught', the default decision for the second mode of dismissal, lbw, would be not out. This means, if the ball tracking led to an 'umpire's call' verdict, the batter would remain not out. But in now's updated rule, when the ball tracking is displayed, the original decision label on it would be reading 'out' and if the review yields an umpire call, the batter would be ruled out. Combined reviews, decisions will be chronological If in case, there is a player review and an umpire review for separate modes of dismissal on the same ball, 'the incidents shall be addressed in chronological order'. Earlier, the TV umpire used to assess the umpire reviews before moving on to the review asked for by a player. Now, the revised playing condition reads, 'If the conclusion from the first incident is that a batter is dismissed, then the ball would be deemed to have become dead at that point, rendering investigation of the second incident unnecessary'. So now, if there is an appeal for lbw and run out, the TV umpire would first take up the lbw review since it occurred first. In case batter is out, then the ball would be declared dead and review for run out would not be done. Fairness of catch to be reviewed for no-ball As per Wisden, the TV umpire will check for the fairness of a catch even after a no-ball from the bowler. Earlier, if no ball was signalled by the third umpire, the fairness of the catch was not checked. But now, it will be. If the catch is fair, the batting team will get one extra run for a no-ball, and if it is unfair, the batting team will get the runs taken by the batters. Deliberate short run In case a batter has been caught taking a short run, five runs are shaved off the batting team's total. Now, as per updated rules, if one of the batters does not make their ground deliberately for the sake of stealing an extra run, the umpires would ask the fielding team to decide which batter they want to be on strike. The five-run penalty will continue. 'A deliberate short run is an attempt for batters to appear to run more than one run, while at least one batter deliberately does not make good their ground at one end,' Rule 18.5.1 of the playing conditions says. 'Batters may choose to abort a run, provided the umpire believes that there was no intention by the batter concerned to deceive the umpires or to score the run in which they did not make their ground,' the rule added. Full-time playing replacement in domestic first-class cricket To compensate for the loss of a player who has suffered a serious external injury, the ICC has requested that cricket boards trial a full-time replacement player in their domestic first-class matches. This replacement player will be like-for-like, similar to a concussion substitute. The injury will have to be evident and visible for match officials before a decision is taken. It would not be applicable to hamstring pulls or niggles.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Silva ready to gamble on pace in 2nd Test vs Bangladesh
ANI Colombo Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva is betting on pace to do the job against Bangladesh in the second game of the two-match series ahead of their 11-month Test hiatus in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. In the past couple of years, Silva has insisted on infusing pacers at home, which offers them an opportunity to prepare the quicks for overseas assignments. In the second Test against Bangladesh, Silva is considering putting three in the final XI, considering the benign nature of SSC. 'We've got 12 in the squad, and we've got options, because our weather is changing from time to time as well. We were hoping to go with three seamers, but it's hard to tell exactly - the pitch also looks flat,' Silva said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. Sri Lanka's theory of lining up with more pacers could possibly stem from how Bangladesh batters against their quicks compared to the spinners. The top three seamers, including Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, and Kasun Rajitha, scalped 29 wickets between them, occupying first, second and third spots on the series wicket-takers list. 'Not just in the last series in Bangladesh, even in the previous one, it was pace that got a lot of wickets. We talked a lot about how the seamers got about 70 per cent of their wickets. But it's not easy to play seamers on these pitches, but we're trying to play three. Let's see what the pitch is like tomorrow morning,' Dhananjaya said.
Qatar Tribune
18-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Bernardo Silva set to captain Man City after deciding to stay
PA Media/dpa Philadelphia Bernardo Silva has confirmed he will stay at Manchester City for the coming season - and he looks set to wear the captain's armband. The Portugal midfielder is entering the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move this summer after eight seasons at the Etihad Stadium. Saudi Arabian outfit A Hilal were reportedly among the clubs interested in the 30-year-old but he has decided to reject any overtures to remain with City. His reward could be an enhanced senior role, with manager Pep Guardiola revealing Silva will be one of his four-strong captaincy group for the 2025-26 campaign. Silva said: 'This season will for sure be with Man City. I'm going to stay. 'I've had options in the past and this year but, like last year, this year my option is to stay at Man City.' Silva, speaking in Philadelphia ahead of City's opening match of the Club World Cup against Wydad Casablanca, would not say if it would be his final season in Manchester or not. He said: 'I know what I'm going to do but it's not the time to talk about that. I'm very focused on my season and performing well for Man City. 'When the time is due I will talk about it.' Guardiola has broken with his own protocols to name his group of on-field leaders himself this summer. The Catalan hasa previously allowed the squad and backroom staff to vote for their own captains but, after an underwhelming past season, he has taken control of the situation himself. Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland were the four players named publicly by Guardiola on Tuesday. Silva received the most glowing report, suggesting that when fit and selected, it will be the former Monaco playmaker who leads out the team. 'I'm the manager and this season, for the first time in my career, I decided who is to be my captain,' said Guardiola. 'I didn't like what happened last season and I decided this season who represents the team. Sometimes I want to be the boss! 'I think Bernardo had been an incredible figure for us. Eight years here, no injures, always in the bad moments he makes a step up, sets the example on the pitch. 'Ruben it is not necessary to say. He has been (the same as Silva), and Rodri at the same time.' Those three players all featured in the leadership group last season, along with Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, but the elevation of 24-year-old Haaland is new. The prolific striker signed a 10-year contract in January and, after plundering 121 goals in 142 City appearances, is ready for the step up. Guardiola said: 'He has to start to learn what does it mean to be a captain because he will be here, hopefully for many, many years. 'Sooner or later he will take that position as the first one. I took (the decision) because he's incredibly respected. He's an important figure for us.'
