Latest news with #Galle
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Australia favourites to retain WTC crown against South Africa
LONDON : Australia will have to dust off the cobwebs but are still fancied to successfully defend their World Test Championship crown against equally ring-rusty South Africa in the final at Lord's, starting on Wednesday. The five-day clash comes on the heels of a plethora of limited overs cricket over the last five months and both teams have been scrambling to prepare for a high-profile return to the red-ball game. Australia have not played a test since beating Sri Lanka in Galle in February when they made sure of a top-two finish in the standings from results for the 2023-25 WTC cycle. South Africa were assured of top place when they won their last test against Pakistan at home in January to book a first-ever finals appearance. It came on the back of a run of seven successive wins, but the fact they did not play against the Aussies or England has seen their achievement dismissed as too easy. Former England captain Michael Vaughan said they reached the final "on the back of beating pretty much nobody," which was a result of the lopsided test schedule where Australia, England, and India dominate and South Africa elect to play more financially lucrative limited-overs internationals. But an upset win for South Africa could change that. "It's the biggest thing in this team's existence. It's the biggest thing for South African cricket at the moment,' said their coach Shukri Conrad. SELECTION CHOICES Australia have been warming up with training sessions at Beckenham in Kent as they grapple with selection choices. They must pick between Scott Boland or Josh Hazlewood to join skipper Pat Cummins, left-armer Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon in the attack' The top batting order is likely to be changed with Cameron Green set to return for his first test in more than a year. He will likely bat third with Marnus Labuschagne opening alongside Usman Khawaja, while Steve Smith will come in at No. 4. South Africa's planned four-day warm-up scrimmage with Zimbabwe at Arundel last week was largely washed out but did hint at Wiaan Mulder moving up the order to No.3 in a batting lineup that has been inconsistent over the last two years. Their hopes rest instead on a fiery bowling attack where Kagiso Rabada features after serving a one-month ban for recreational drug use.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Bangladesh in Sri Lanka 2025
June17-21 1st Test, Galle (05:00 BST)25-29 2nd Test, Colombo (SSC) (05:00 BST) July2 1st ODI, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:00 BST)5 2nd ODI, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (10:00 BST)8 3rd ODI, Pallekele (d/n) (10:00 BST) 10 1st Twenty20 international, Pallekele (d/n) (15:00 BST)13 2nd Twenty20 international, Dambulla (d/n) (15:00 BST)16 3rd Twenty20 international, Colombo (RPS) (d/n) (15:00 BST)NB Fixtures and start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sri Lanka's Mathews to retire from Test cricket
Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews will retire from Test cricket in June. The 37-year-old, who made his debut in 2009, will make his final appearance in the first Test against Bangladesh, which starts on 17 June in will remain available for Sri Lanka's white-ball teams, although he has not featured in a limited-overs international since last will retire as Sri Lanka's third-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, with 8,167 runs at 44.62 from his 118 matches to date. Only Kumar Sangakkara (12,400 runs) and Mahela Jayawardene (11,814 runs) lie ahead of has also taken 33 Test wickets as a captained Sri Lanka in 34 Tests between 2013 and 2017, including overseeing a memorable series win against England in 2014. He scored a second-innings 160 in a decisive 100-run victory at a social media post, Mathews said: "The past 17 years of playing cricket for Sri Lanka has been my highest honour and pride."I have given everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return and made me the person I am today."While I bid adieu to the Test format, as discussed with selectors I will remain available for selection for the white-ball format, if and when my country needs me."
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Sri Lanka's Mathews to quit tests after Bangladesh match
COLOMBO, May 23 (Reuters) - Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews will quit test cricket after the series opener against Bangladesh next month but will be available for white-ball selection, the all-rounder said on Friday. Mathews will be 38 when Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh in Galle on June 17 in what would be his 119th and final test. "The past 17 years of playing cricket for Sri Lanka has been my highest honour and pride," Mathews said in a social media post. "I have given everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return and made me the person I am today. "Whilst I bid adieu to the test format, as discussed with selectors, I will remain available for selection for the white ball format, if and when my country needs me." Mathews, who captained Sri Lanka in 34 tests, has scored 8167 runs, including 16 hundreds, from 118 tests averaging 44.62. Mathews made his test debut against Pakistan in 2009 as a robust all-rounder but a spate of injuries meant he was playing as a specialist batter towards the end.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Sri Lanka's Mathews to quit tests after Bangladesh match
COLOMBO :Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews will quit test cricket after the series opener against Bangladesh next month but will be available for white-ball selection, the all-rounder said on Friday. Mathews will be 38 when Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh in Galle on June 17 in what would be his 119th and final test. "The past 17 years of playing cricket for Sri Lanka has been my highest honour and pride," Mathews said in a social media post. "I have given everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return and made me the person I am today. "Whilst I bid adieu to the test format, as discussed with selectors, I will remain available for selection for the white ball format, if and when my country needs me." Mathews, who captained Sri Lanka in 34 tests, has scored 8167 runs, including 16 hundreds, from 118 tests averaging 44.62.
