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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Whitewashing the Aussies in 2016': Angelo Mathews names best career moments ahead of Test retirement, looks back at 'dream run'
Sri Lanka is set to host Bangladesh for a two-Test series starting Tuesday in Galle, marking veteran 's final Test appearance after 118 matches. The series begins as cricket resumes following South Africa's World Test Championship victory at Lord's, with the Test matches to be followed by three ODIs and three T20s. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sri Lanka enters as favourites despite their recent disappointments in the World Test Championship. They were contenders for the WTC final until December before losses in South Africa and against Australia in Galle derailed their campaign. "We had one hand on a spot in the final but a few brain fades at crunch moments cost us dearly," Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva said. "We've learnt our lessons. A strong home start lays the foundation for success on the road." The Sri Lankan squad features six uncapped players, with at least one set to make their debut. The team continues to rely on their spin bowling strength, featuring Prabath Jayasuriya and recalling off-spinner Akila Dananjaya. 'Cricketers Aren't Cattle... ': Harish Thawani on the IPL and Business of Indian Cricket Bangladesh faces the challenge without experienced players Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. "Tamim and Shakib -– those are massive boots to fill," said captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. "But this is a chance for the young guys to put their hands up." Shanto, making his first appearance in Galle, expressed confidence in his team's preparation. "We've prepped well and we're ready for the challenge," he said. Poll Who do you think will win the Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Sri Lanka Bangladesh Draw Angelo Mathews looks back on a rewarding career The match holds special significance for Mathews, who began his Test career at the same venue in 2009. "It's been a dream run," the 38-year-old reflected. "The wins in England in 2014 and whitewashing the Aussies in 2016 stand out. I've seen so many youngsters come through the ranks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I truly believe Sri Lanka's future is in good hands." The historical record heavily favors Sri Lanka, who have won 20 of their 26 Tests against Bangladesh. Bangladesh has managed just one victory, with five draws completing the head-to-head record. The second Test is scheduled to begin on June 25 in Colombo.
France 24
15 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Sri Lanka's Mathews hails 'dream run' in final Test against Bangladesh
The red-ball matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be followed by a white-ball series of three one-day internationals and three T20s. Hosts Sri Lanka begin the contest as firm favourites, eager to turn a fresh page after a stuttering end to the previous WTC cycle. Sri Lanka were firmly in the mix for a place in the WTC final until December before the wheels came off spectacularly. Two defeats in South Africa followed by a twin collapse at Galle against Australia saw them tumble down the rankings. "We had one hand on a spot in the final but a few brain fades at crunch moments cost us dearly," Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva told reporters on Monday. "We've learnt our lessons. A strong home start lays the foundation for success on the road." 'Dream run' Sri Lanka's squad includes six uncapped players, with at least one debut cap set to be handed out. Spin remains Sri Lanka's strength, with Prabath Jayasuriya the key and selectors also calling up off-spinner Akila Dananjaya. Bangladesh enter the series without stalwarts Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is realistic about the challenge. "Tamim and Shakib -– those are massive boots to fill," he said. "But this is a chance for the young guys to put their hands up." Shanto, who is playing in Galle for the first time, said the team have "prepped well and we're ready for the challenge". The Test will also be the swansong of Sri Lanka's veteran Angelo Mathews, who is retiring after 118 Tests. The former skipper also played his first Test on the famous pitch perched beneath the fortress in Galle in 2009. "It's been a dream run," said 38-year-old Mathews. "The wins in England in 2014 and whitewashing the Aussies in 2016 stand out. I've seen so many youngsters come through the ranks," he said. "I truly believe Sri Lanka's future is in good hands." Sri Lanka have won 20 of the 26 Tests they have played against Bangladesh, who have only managed a solitary win along with five draws. The second Test will begin in Colombo on June 25.
Int'l Cricket Council
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Australia shatter records with mammoth first-innings total in Galle
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in their last red-ball assignment ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final, and went on to make the most of the opportunity by posting their highest-ever total in Asia. Newly promoted opener Travis Head got off to a characteristically aggressive start, smashing 57 off 40 balls before falling to Prabath Jayasuriya. Marnus Labuschagne added 20 runs before Jeffrey Vandersay claimed his maiden Test wicket. The defining partnership came from Australian stalwarts Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, who put together a massive 266-run stand. Khawaja reached a career milestone with his maiden double century, while Smith not only notched another Test hundred but also became the 15th player in history to cross the 10,000 mark. Josh Inglis had a dream debut, scoring a century in his first Test innings. Alex Carey contributed 43, while Beau Webster added 23 and Mitchell Starc chipped in with 19, helping Australia reach a massive 654 before declaring.
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Australia's fortunes turn on bowling choices ahead of first Test in Sri Lanka
Australian Test teams have had a shift in their relationship with Sri Lanka, a country they tour rarely but for a long time toured with success. In five trips from 1983 to 2011, the visitors only lost one Test, which was enough to decide their only series loss after the second and third matches were heavily washed out. But in 2016 a pretty handy Australian side got whitewashed 3-0, after first dropping the ascendancy in a remarkable turnaround in Pallekele. Then in a shorter series in 2022, after a sizeable win on a surface that spun big, Australia got pummelled by an innings in the second match, while the country they were visiting was in upheaval with massed crowds on the streets causing the popular overthrow of a broken government. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion The political situation and national finances of Sri Lanka have eased a little, but its cricket administrators still make an efficiency by concentrating Tests in Galle. In the series starting this Wednesday, both matches will be played there, as they were the last time Australia visited. It suits the home team: since that Australia loss, they've dropped one other game at the ground but have won six. Galle is a not a place for draws anymore; the most recent was in 2013, which was 25 matches ago. Prabath Jayasuriya, a left-arm spinner who stepped up to Tests from a humble Colombo club cricket pedigree at the age of 31, has enjoyed his trips down the coast more than anyone. Eight matches there, eight five-wicket bags, twice going on to take ten in the match. That's eight matches out of a career totalling 18, while 71 of his 107 wickets have come at that ground. Four or five more matches at his rate and he would catch Rangana Herath and Muttiah Muralitharan to be Sri Lanka's premier Galle specialist. That should give an indication that it's a handy ground for spin. Sri Lanka's squad also has Jeffrey Vandersay's leg-breaks, off-breaks from Nishan Pereis and Dhananjaya da Silva, left-arm spin from Sonal Dinusha, and potentially finger spin from either hand via Kamindu Mendis. But with four seamers plus Angelo Mathews also available, they have options for all conditions. This is what Australia will have to combat. Starting with a curious squad, discarding older players with subcontinent pedigree such as Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell in favour of regeneration candidates Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Cooper Connolly, it is not credible to argue that Australia would have picked this squad had a World Test Championship spot been at stake. But now that the starting line is in view, the approach has become more serious. For starters, stand-in captain Steve Smith has confirmed that Travis Head will open the batting, instituting the plan that has been pending since Head's marauding holiday up the order in India in 2023. That means Konstas will be pushed out, though whether from opening or from the XI altogether remains to be seen. Marnus Labuschagne and Smith are a lock at three and four, Beau Webster at six, which leaves only No5 to be filled. So, Konstas, out of position and with no Asian experience? McSweeney, likewise on the latter, but a middle-order bat at home? Connolly, after four first-class matches? Or most attractively, Josh Inglis, who played so well in India during the World Cup and who has shown the temperament and adaptability to be a specialist bat even while Alex Carey takes the gloves? It is an oddity that Inglis looks the most experienced and credentialled candidate but it is the one yet to make a Test debut. The bowling makeup has as many questions. Webster got picked in Sydney as a seaming all-rounder and could share the new ball, but Australia usually like at least two specialist quicks, so Scott Boland is a strong chance to start with Mitchell Starc. Webster used to bowl off-spin, which might be his more likely second task. With him plus part-time options in Labuschagne and Smith, the case for McSweeney or Connolly, who both bowl a little, recedes further. Specialist spin will be led by Nathan Lyon, backed up by either Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann, or both if Boland makes way. If two spinners, you would guess that selectors would prefer Kuhnemann's left-arm variety to having two off-break bowlers, but Murphy was so good during his first foray in India that he might force that choice. Having both play will depend on a last-minute pitch inspection the morning of the game. Whatever the configuration, it will suddenly be a very different task to taking on India during the home summer. No Pat Cummins, resting an injury and welcoming a new baby. No Josh Hazlewood, still on the recovery roster as well. And possibly no Konstas, flavour of the month in Australia after his Boxing Day heist, but perhaps not the right ingredient for a very different subcontinental dish. The challenge is for this team to take results back to some time before 2011, while building a side that is starting to look to the future.
