**Official** Sri Lanka Domestic Season 2013/14

[Maximas]

I found this pretty interesting...

Sri Lanka Cricket News: Dinesh Chandimal awarded top contract by SLC | ESPN Cricinfo

Full list of contracted players
Category 1: Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal
Category 2: Lahiru Thirimane, Ajantha Mendis
Category 3: Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera
Category 4: Shaminda Eranga, Sachithra Senanayake, Kaushal Silva, Suranga Lakmal
Special category: Prasanna Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga

Disappointing to see Randiv off the contract list altogether, Jeevan Mendis, Welegedara and Tharanga were also cut. Looks like Sri Lanka are really putting some faith in Chandimal, Thirrimanne and Kusal Perera, all of whom gained promotions. A few other interesting things to note...
- Kulasekara remains in the top bracket, which would suggest that the selectors still see him as a test bowler, so we may see him playing on the England tour in the test side alongside Eranga and Lakmal, not entirely sure how I feel about this, as he brings control but not much penetration, not exactly sure that's what our attack needs with Eranga and particularly Lakmal in there, remembering of course that Matthews can also provide a bit of control too.
- Ajantha Mendis is in the second bracket, which is another bracket that is presumably for three-format players, I think the selectors now see Mendis as our second spinner, possibly at test level, I don't like the sound of that very much at all.
- Lakmal and Eranga are both in the bottom bracket, meaning they are being treated largely as test specialists it would seem, although they still play in a few ODIs, that's ideal as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Maximas]

Sometimes the guys at cricinfo just don't bother with the Premier League round-up, looks like they did this in 2 minutes.

Premier League Tournament 2013-14, 2nd day Report : Dilruwan Perera 10 gives Colts victory | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

Paranivatana (a century) and Jeevan Mendis (8 wickets) had good games for Sinhalese and Tamil Union respectively, Welegedara also bowled tightly and picked up a couple of wickets, although he didn't finish one of his overs - and it wasn't the last over of the innings or anything, not sure why...

 

[Maximas]

The Lions and Sri Lanka 'A' predictably finished as a draw, was disappointing to see the Sri Lankan batsmen throw away a great start by Tharanga and Warnapura and collapse well short of the total posted by the Lions, however what was encouraging was Randiv finishing with 8 wickets out of 15 for the game, maintaining a good economy rate throughout, hopefully the selectors take note, he has also been in pretty good form with the bat in domestic games, which might help him try and displace Dilruwan Perera as Sri Lanka's second spinner, assuming Ajantha Mendis hasn't leapfrogged him, we can only hope not.

Speaking of Dilruwan Perera he had a field day in the Premier League, picking up match figures of 7-60 in a game that finished within 2 days, 27 wickets fell on day one, Colts ended up beating Badureliya by 7 wickets in the end. Herath and Shaminda Eranga came back from injury this round playing for Tamil Union, picking up 3 and 2 wickets respectively, giving their team first innings points and the chance to set a last day chase up. Tharindu Kaushal picked up 4-110 for Nondescripts as they just took first innings points against SL army. Prasanna Jawayardene scored an impressive 59 against Sri Lanka air force to give them first innings points.

 

[YorksLanka]

thanks for the great update Maximas!! nice to see my "boi" still in the runs and also randhiv , who as you say is decent with the bat as well as the ball. Its a very healthy position for us to have genuine competition between players for places in the first team and that's something i havent seen for a long time..i honestly think that in today's cricket the days of a player being single skilled is over unless you are someone like Mali..we desperately need herath and eranga fit for the england tour...

 

[Maximas]

Jehan Mukarak notches up his third century of the season, this time 149 not out out of a total of 297, Nondescripts won't have time to bowl Sri Lanka Army out before the close however, with SL Army 0-52 at tea on day three (the final day) needing almost 300 to win, hoping Tharindu Kaushal picks up a few wickets though. To my great disappointment and bewilderment, Tamil Union have spent day 3 batting on uselessly after picking up a 200 run lead late yesterday, as well as avoiding a potential win, it has also deprived Eranga and Herath the chance to bowl in the second innings, something I was keen to have a look at, although they may declare soon and bowl a few overs, doubt it though. Also, Ragama are cruising to victory against Ports Authority CC despite a century from batting all-rounder Sachithra Serasinghe, who played in the 'A' team last year and has been in decent for this season, scoring 2 hundreds

 

[Maximas]

I also found this article which gives a rather worrying and pessimistic account of the state of domestic cricket in Sri Lanka, one that is more and more producing mediocre international cricketers that are struggling to supplement our soon to be retiring star players in the national team. The article also points out that the administrators have made progress very difficult to get away from a system where there are too many clubs and lacks a provincial system, which would expose domestic players to a wider variety of conditions (such as in Pallekele where the pitches are faster) and such a system would hopefully reach out to talent outside Colombo

 

[Maximas]

Jehan Mukarak keeps on piling on the runs, 112 this time, Nondescripts 6/280 against Tamil Union, for whom Eranga and Herath aren't playing for on this occasion, not exactly sure why tbh. Sri Lanka army in trouble against SSC, having been bowled out for 189 they are now bowling to SSC, who are 8/426, Dimuth Karunaratne scored a century while Kaushal Silva could only manage 20, continuing his poor recent domestic form after a string of strong international performances. Seekkuge Prasanna has snared 4 wickets so far.

 

[Maximas]

Oh no...

Sri Lanka Cricket News: SL in contracts standoff again | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[YorksLanka]

i am with the players 100% as it is they who generate the income for the board..as usual, greedy no marks are trying to hijack the money for doing nothing..

 

[Maximas]

Sri Lanka Cricket News: SLC offers contract compromise | ESPN Cricinfo

Looks like the contract dispute could be sorted by this compromise, I quite like the idea of a rewards-based system at these limited overs tournaments, particularly because Sri Lanka has done well in them recently. I wonder if a similar system could be used for tests, would the board be willing to offer rewards if say, Sri Lanka manages a drawn/won series in England and then knocks off South Africa at home?

 

[YorksLanka]

yeah definately seems a good idea and good to see players recognised for their efforts..by the way Maximas, are you doing a SL squad thread for the World T20?

 

[Maximas]

yeah definately seems a good idea and good to see players recognised for their efforts..by the way Maximas, are you doing a SL squad thread for the World T20?

Yeah, I'll put it up now, I guess I'll just post the named squad and we can use the thread to discuss the squad itself and our chances in the tournament.

 

[YorksLanka]

good work sir !!

 

[Maximas]

Prinjayan has scored a century at almost a run a ball and helped set a decent total of 279 for Nondescripts to chase tomorrow, they are already 3 down for only 40 odd but with Mubarak and Angelo Perera at the crease both in form this one could really go either way. SSC are doing it nicely against Colombo, Dhammika Prasad is in the wickets while Kaushal Silva and Paranivatana both made half centuries, Chamara Silva managed a first innings century.

 

[Maximas]

**** yeah, Mubarak scores an unbeaten 172 and Nondescripts win by 2 wickets, Randiv took another 5 for playing for bloomfield too

 

[Prince EWS]

Mubarak has gone completely nuts with the bat this season. Not bad timing with all the impending retirements; Sri Lanka do seem to have replacements lined up already but there's no guarantee they'll all actually succeed.

 

[Prince EWS]

]**** yeah, Mubarak scores an unbeaten 172 and Nondescripts win by 2 wickets, Randiv took another 5 for playing for bloomfield too

Does this mean you've picked them as your domestic team to follow btw?

 

[Maximas]

Mubarak has gone completely nuts with the bat this season. Not bad timing with all the impending retirements; Sri Lanka do seem to have replacements lined up already but there's no guarantee they'll all actually succeed.

Would like to see him get at least one more test series at some point, he's averaging 100 this year, and the next best is like 65, I think the 'A' team goes to England at some point this year? Maybe he could head off with them.

Does this mean you've picked them as your domestic team to follow btw?

I sort of follow individual players rather than teams, I was more happy because I foreshadowed it a bit the day before.

 

[Maximas]

Sri Lanka Cricket News: Kumar Sangakkara to quit T20Is after World T20 | ESPN Cricinfo

Yeah, expecting this from Mahela and Dilshan too at the very least, probably Herath too. I wasn't too happy with them all extending their t20 careers after the 2012 world t20 because I thought they should've concentrated fully on tests/odis, but t20 cricket has really become Sri Lanka's main strength, so I understand now, but this is surely the end of the line for some of these guys

 

[Maximas]

Mahela has also retired from t20s, meaning this will be his last tournament, not sure why Jayasuria is so pissed off, surely he saw this coming and was making preparations for it, can sort of understand it though given Sri Lanka are ranked first in t20s and they might struggle to maintain their standards in the absence of these two. Would think Sanga and MJ would have given them a proper warning about it though I guess.

Premier League Tournament Report : Rambukwella 12 sets up Tamil Union win | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

Solid round-up of last weeks premier league results, glad to see the writers highlighting Mubarak's goolden summer