CWC 2015 is fixed! WhatsApp reveals...

In what may serve as a big blow to cricket enthusiasts, a message on #WhatsApp that has gone viral claims that the ongoing ICC World Cup 2015 is fixed.

The shocking fact about this message is that all the results of the World Cup 2015 matches so far have come true and have matched what the message states.

According to the message, India will not be able defend their World Cup title and will also go on to lose against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

According to the message, India will beat New Zealand in the first quarterfinal, but will go down to Australia in the semifinal.

The message states that the second quarterfinal will be between Australia and Zimbabwe, in which Australia will be the winners, South Africa will beat England in the third quarterfinal and Sri Lanka will register their first World Cup victory against Pakistan by beating the 1992 champions in the fourth quarterfinal.



The message shows that South Africa will defeat hosts Australia in the final for their maiden World Cup title victory.

But Asian giants India and Sri Lanka won't progress beyond the semifinals as they will be beaten by arguably the two best teams in the competition - Australia and South Africa respectively, the message claims.

The message shows that South Africa will defeat hosts Australia in the final on March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for their maiden World Cup title victory.

If this message is true indeed, then all the work done by the International Cricket Council against the fixers will clearly come to naught.

TOI Sports

Mendis and Dilshan tormented the Australians ............

Sri Lanka's captain Tillakaratne Dilshan struck a compelling century then marshalled his team neatly in the field to secure a 35-run victory over Australia in the first Twenty20 international in Kandy.

Sent in to bat at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the hosts were headed for a total of about 150 before Dilshan (104, 57 balls, 12 fours, five sixes) and the allrounder Jeevan Mendis (29, 19 balls) combined for a stand of 104 runs in a mere 45 balls to lift the hosts to 198 for 3. Dilshan hammered 67 from his final 23 deliveries, a sequence that effectively decided the match.

The Australians' chase was undone by the flat offspin of the debutant Dilruwan Perera (3-26), who provided a reminder there is plenty of slow bowling depth for the Sri Lankans to utilise across the limited overs and Test series to take place through August and September. Rangana Herath (1-11) also posed plenty of problems, much as he had done on his debut against the Australians on their 1999 visit to the island.

Dilshan's was exactly the kind of opening statement a captain desires to make, providing plenty of evidence the Australians will be up against a feisty opponent on this tour. They will also need to sharpen their fielding, as fumbles were a recurring theme of the team's first international since a limited overs series in Bangladesh in April.

Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Shane Watson were all taken for more than 11 runs per over, while curiously the spin of Steve O'Keefe and Steve Smith was not fully utilised despite offering a greater level of economy than any of the faster men.

By contrast the Sri Lankans employed three spin bowlers in their defence of the target, and in truth no-one other than the belligerent David Warner (53) ever looked comfortable enough to impose serious pressure on the home attack.

Needing 10 runs an over virtually from the start, Australia's reply was inconvenienced by the early swing of Nuwan Kulasekara (2-39), who found a way through Watson in the third over. Warner was soon finding the boundary, and on one occasion cleared it with a line drive over the bowler's head.

Shaun Marsh was less settled, and misread the first over from the debutant Perera to be lbw for four. David Hussey appeared fortunate that no-one on the field was fully alert to an apparent thin edge behind off the bowling of Dhammika Prasad, but next over he was nowhere near a sharp off break from Perera that tilted middle stump.

Cameron White managed only one boundary before he too was defeated by a Perera offbreak that straightened from around the wicket, and at 63 for 4 Australia's chase was looking decidedly sick. It deteriorated further when Steven Smith was utterly confused by Herath and stumped, while Dilshan had the luxury of dropping Warner then being able to accept another chance. O'Keefe and Johnson provided nuisance value, but by then the equation would have been too steep even for Dilshan.

Brett Lee had shared the new ball with the left-arm spinner O'Keefe in a nod to a surface that offered some bounce but also turn. Mahela Jayawardene managed a pair of crisp boundaries to long-on and backward point, but in the third over squirted a Lee yorker into his stumps.

Dilshan immediately took the attack to Lee, following a top-edged hook for six with an artful glide through gully for four, meaning the over reaped 14 runs as well as a wicket. He then sought to unsettle Johnson with a series of impudent gestures. Dinesh Chandimal also made a bright start, but on 11 was hurried onto the back foot by Johnson's pace and slid ungracefully into his wicket - only the fifth such dismissal in T20 internationals, its rarity underlined by the bowler's miffed reaction.

Tensions were evident between Dilshan and Watson, the Australian firing a return throw towards the batsman, who fended it away with a glove. A curious appeal by the Australians posed the question about obstruction, as the game's laws have been changed to disallow any by a batsman out of his crease, but the umpires waved it away.

Kumar Sangakkara cracked boundaries over mid-off and square leg to raise a 50 stand with Dilshan, but the next over he flicked ineffectually at a Watson slower ball and handed a simple catch to Cameron White. Mendis announced himself with a reverse-swept boundary from the bowling of Smith, then gave a passing impression of no less a left-hander than Sangakkara himself with a pull shot of some flourish when Watson dropped fractionally short.

John Hastings' slower balls were losing their novelty, and Dilshan took a heavy toll by swinging thrice to the legside for boundaries either side of an exceptionally cheeky reverse-dab past short third man - the over was worth 20.

Mendis and Dilshan tormented the Australians in the closing overs, piling up 67 runs from overs 15-18 to turn a middling total into an intimidating one. Too often the touring bowlers missed the yorker length, and when they did strike it Dilshan's wrists were supple enough to send the ball skidding through gully to the rope.

On 84 when the final over began, Dilshan cracked a pair of sixes then mis-scooped a boundary to go to three figures, before adding another to take the Sri Lankans to the cusp of 200 - a total they would not have contemplated at 94-3. Australia's bowlers, and batsmen, have the task ahead of them.

SOURCE  : ESPNCRICINFO

Katich baggage left behind for Sri Lanka tour, says captain Clarke

A FRANK player meeting called by Australian captain Michael Clarke has cleared the air after Simon Katich's controversial axing before the team's tour of Sri Lanka.

The fallout over the veteran Test opener's inglorious dumping threatened to distract the players in the lead-up to next month's tour.

After missing out on a Cricket Australia contract, Katich sensationally revealed there was unease within the Test team about selection decisions, while Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson expressed their surprise over the opener's treatment.

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But Clarke said every player was on the same page before the tour after starting a training camp in Brisbane with an honesty session.

''We had a couple of really good meetings on Sunday night, which were really open in an environment where guys were comfortable to voice their opinion,'' he said.

''It was a closed environment which gave everyone the freedom to be themselves and say what they feel, get everything on the table - it was very positive.

''We all walked out of that looking forward to what was in front of us.''

Australian coach Tim Nielsen admitted this week Katich's axing was a clear sign national selectors wanted to ''regenerate'' the team.

But Clarke said players wouldn't be ''looking over their shoulder'' on the Sri Lankan tour, where he will make his debut as full-time Test captain.

''Not at all,'' he said. ''The boys are now feeling very comfortable.

''Unfortunately, in this game some people do get dropped but it is about supporting your mates and getting the best out of your team.''

Australia will play two Twenty20s, five one-dayers and three Tests in Sri Lanka. The T20 and ODI squads have been named but the Test squad won't be announced until later this month.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/katich-baggage-left-behind-for-sri-lanka-tour-says-captain-clarke-20110708-1h6ng.html#ixzz1Rfhuq7ug

Skipper of T-20 , Left Out from the ODI's for Sri Lanka Tour....

Australian T 20 Skipper Cameron Leon White has been left out from ODI squad for Sri Lanka tour on August....
Mean while Left Hand opener Shaun Marsh included to the squad...
 "Kick in Gutz" named the mission for Sri Lanka tour... for ausis ...

Australia will play two T20s, five ODIs and three Test during the tour of Sri Lanka. The Twenty20 players fly out on July 30 and the remaining one-day squad members depart on August 5. The Test squad will be announced later in July. Meanwhile, Phillip Hughes and Jason Krejza have flown to Zimbabwe early to join the Australia squad, to replace Nic Maddinson (calf strain) and Matthew Wade (back) ahead of Friday's final one-day game.

Twenty20 squad Shane Watson, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Steve O'Keefe, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, James Pattinson.

ODI squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Doug Bollinger.

De Silva urges Sri Lanka to copy Australia

Sri Lanka's outgoing chief selector and former batsman Aravinda de Silva on Thursday urged players to develop the never-say-die spirit shown by Australia.

"We are superior in talent to Australia, but it is the character and the fighting spirit which we must inculcate in our players," de Silva, vice-captain of the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan team, told reporters.

A three-member Sri Lankan selection committee led by de Silva quit on Wednesday, less than a week after the team's defeat against India in the World Cup final inMumbai.

De Silva, who scored 6,361 runs in Tests and 9,284 in one-day internationals, said he felt players became "emotional" during the final as the match tilted in India's favour.

"Maybe they were thinking about lost opportunities and became emotional," he said. "This is the difference between an Australian side and ours. They don't give up the match until the last ball is bowled.

"They (Sri Lanka) should know how to fight until the last ball and not to give up the game. These are the things that we don't have in our culture."

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara and vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene have stepped down following the World Cup defeat, while Australia-born coach Trevor Bayliss' four-year stint with the team also ended after the tournament.




Source : THE TIMES OF INDIA

"The spinners could determine Australia's destiny" - Langer

World Cups, like Olympic gold medals, are special and every player would love to win one.

Four years is a long time to wait for a chance at World Cup glory and that is why it is such a coveted prize.

Like everything though, the bigger the prize, the bigger the pressure.

With so much time between World Cups, the building expectation and hope promotes a new level of intensity and competition, and the players can feel that.

Adding to the pressure of this year's tournament are the venues in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The extra noise, the spinning pitches, the fast outfields, the hot, humid conditions, and the extreme fanaticism of the crowds in the sub-continent will add spice and intrigue to the competition.

Playing in India is never for the faint-hearted and with a World Cup on the line, the next six weeks is going to be a great spectacle.

Before a ball is bowled many questions are being asked.

Can Australia win their fourth consecutive Cup? Can England and South Africa win their first? Can India win on their home turf? Can Sri Lanka become the champions, like they did in 1996? Which team will cause the biggest upset of the tournament?

From Saturday, all these questions will be answered - but the team that ultimately triumphs will be the one whose superstars stand tall in the big games.

History shows that great players become so because they have the ability to excel when pressure is asking her most stringent questions.

Australia have won the last three World Cups on the back of extraordinary and inspirational performances in the big games.

Steve Waugh and Shane Warne in England in 1999 were breathtaking; during the 2003 South African campaign Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds were sublime throughout and in the West Indies last time around Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Gilly were outstanding .

That is not to say that the closest knit and most talented teams will not be the ones to watch, but when it really comes to the crunch, the eventual winner will the one whose stars shine the brightest.

With the tournament yet to start, it is really hard to pick the winner.

India have a plethora of stars; in particular Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan.

They know their conditions well and often play them perfectly. Whether they can live up to the incredible pressure of expectation remains to be seen, but on paper they look excellent.

South Africa  too have a well organized and experienced one-day team. Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Graeme Smith and the in-form Hashim Amla are the backbone of a very fit and confident outfit and, as usual, they should be among the top teams here.

Any team which has the talent of Murali, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in it, and a home ground advantage as they have, should never be discounted and I believe Sri Lanka will be tough to beat, especially in Colombo.

Meanwhile, England, despite their problems during the seven one-dayers in Australia, showed during the Ashes that they are a tightly-knit, disciplined and talented team.

Their biggest challenge will be to remain clear-minded after such a long time on the road .

Three months in Australia followed by seven weeks in India is sure to be a distraction that Andrew Strauss, Andy Flower and his staff will need to manage.

Pakistan are always capable, and at times brilliant, but you are never quite sure of their consistency, while the West Indies boast some of the biggest names in the shortest version of the game.

Whether they can reproduce their Twenty20 brilliance on the biggest stage remains to be seen.

Disregarding their horrible form of the last 12 months, New Zealand always fight hard and Bangladesh, with their knowledge of the home conditions, could be the dark horse of the tournament.

While I don't think they can win the World Cup, they could easily shock a few of their opponents.

Of course Australia, with the chance to win four in a row, will also be tough.

With four genuinely fast bowlers, they will provide sleepless nights for many batsmen and with their experience and confidence they should be amongst the action come finals time.

Still ranked number one in the world, the way their middle order plays the spinners could determine their destiny here.

Just writing about each of the teams promotes an extra beat of the heart and I am sure this is not the first time over the next six weeks that the nerves will provide a reality check of just how tough this tournament will be.

From : BBC SPORTS

There are a lot of reasons to support Clarke: Chappell

Melbourne: Highly impressed with Australian stand-in-skipper Michael Clarke`s captaincy, the national selector Greg Chappell said that the selection panel was thrilled with his leadership qualities.

"The selection panel I can speak for -- we`ve been delighted with his leadership," Chappell said.

"His captaincy in the first three games has been excellent. His strategies, bowling changes, everything that he`s done -- not least winning matches -- has been good, and I`m sure that will only be good for him," the former Indian cricket team coach told a newspaper.

Under the able leadership of 29-year-old Clarke, the Aussies have managed to draw a favourable result with a 3-0 lead in the ongoing seven-match ODI series against England.

The Kangaroos are now just a victory away from sealing the series, which is quite significant keeping in view the dismal show put up by them during the 3-1 Ashes loss.

OZ XV Men squad For ICC WC 2011

The Defending Champions Australia have submit their 15 Men squad for ICC WC 2011 yesterday....
Last 3 World Cup Champions , The Kangaroos looking forward to grab their 4th consecutive World Cup on coming up February...
  Ricky Ponting will lead The Oz team with the assistance of vice captain Michael Clarke
Here is the squad :

• Ricky Ponting
• Michael Clarke
• David Hussy
• Michael Hussy
• Doug Bollinger
• Brad Haddin +
• John Hastings
• Nathan Hauritz
• Mitchell Johnson
• Brett Lee
• Tim Pane+
• Steven Smith
• Shaun Tait
• Shane Watson
• Cameron White

Video : Jump before you are pushed, Chappell tells Ponting

"I think he should be given the opportunity to defend the World Cup as a captain, but I just hope he makes the decision himself. I'd hate to see Ricky Ponting get pushed, I'd rather see him jump than be pushed. So, I hope he makes the decision and preferably he makes it himself, but if he doesn't I hope that Cricket Australia suggest to him that it might be better if you went of your own volition, rather than us having to push you."

Highlights - SriLanka vs Australia 2nd ODI @SCG [05-11-2010]

Click Here To Watch Highligts

Lions claim their first series victory on Australian soil

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 29 runs in the second one-day international on Friday to claim their first series victory on Australian soil and condemn the hosts to a seventh straight defeat in all forms of the game.

Australia, who start the Ashes series at the end of the month, never looked like reaching their initial victory target of 244 in 39 overs or the 240 in 38 overs they were handed under the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain stopped play for a third time.

Impressive opener Upul Tharanga contributed an unbeaten 86 to Sri Lanka's 213 for three, which they achieved in 41.1 overs as showers interrupted the action for a total of nearly three hours.

Shane Watson (40), Cameron White (35) and Steven Smith (33) offered the faintest glimmer of hope for the Australians but it was always going to be an uphill battle and they crumbled to 210 all out.

The attendance of 11,495 was the lowest crowd for a one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground for 27 years and most were supporting Sri Lanka.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan top order put in a solid afternoon's work to set up the win after relying on the tailenders to produce Wednesday's remarkable victory in the first match in Melbourne.

Australia again laboured in the field with test strike bowler Mitchell Johnson the target of some big hits and Michael Clarke and Watson conspiring to mess up a simple run out.

Tharanga was stranded when Clarke fielded a slow lob from Brad Haddin with plenty of time but he threw the ball straight into the leg of Watson, who was standing in front of the wicket, and the batsman scurried to safety.

Watson was the best of the Australian bowlers, accounting for Kumar Sangakkara, who was caught on the boundary by Clint McKay for 45, and Mahela Jayawardene, who was adjudged lbw for five.

Tillakaratne Dilshan put on 98 for the first wicket with Tharanga before being trapped in front by recalled spinner Nathan Hauritz for 47.

The third and final match of the series takes place on Sunday in Brisbane, also the venue for Australia's first Ashes test against England starting on Nov. 25.

Sri Lanka Looking For a Historical Win....!

Skipper Sangakkara would be hoping to create history at Sydney, with an opportunity to win their first ever series in Australia. The team would be inspired by Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga's excellent performance in the last game where they snatched victory from a seemingly un-winable position.

Read More

Mathews and Malinga achieve famous win

Sri Lanka achieved one of the greatest comebacks in the history of ODI cricket after a remarkable one-wicket win on Wednesday against Australia in Melbourne.

In front of thousands of ecstatic Sri Lanka fans, Angelo Mathews (77 not out) and Lasith Malinga (56) added 132 runs for the ninth wicket, as the visitors recovered from 107-8 after debutant Xavier Doherty had taken 4-46.

Malinga was dramatically run out with just one run required for victory, before Muttiah Muralidaran struck the winning runs with 5.4 overs remaining.

Earlier Mike Hussey's 71 not out had helped Australia to 239-8 off 50 overs with Thisara Perera in outstanding form as he took 5-46.

Sri Lanka became the first side to beat Australia in a T20 on their own soil with a 7-wkt win at Perth.

Australia's poor form across all forms of the game ahead of the Ashes series continued as their 10-game Twenty20 home streak ended. They have now lost four straight Twenty20 matches, as well as three consecutive Tests and their last completed one-day international.

The visitors restricted Australia to 133 for eight from their innings and had to chase just 6.70 runs per over to win.

Sri Lanka cruised to their small target to secure their first win in any form of the game in Perth, with Tillakaratne Dilshan (41 off 34) and Kumar Sangakkara (44 not out off 43) starring. The veteran pair put on 71 for the third wicket to lead their side to victory.

Dirk Nannes, Peter Siddle and Steve Smith were the wicket-takers for Australia after their batters put up a total they were always going to struggle to defend.

Australia made a dreadful start with the bat, falling to 43 for five in the 11th over, but Brad Haddin (35) and Smith (34) consolidated the team's innings. They put on 66 from 43 balls to give the hosts some hope.

Suraj Randiv (three for 25) and Thisara Perera (two for 22) led an impressive bowling performance for the tourists.

Sri Lanka were always in control during their run chase after scoring 27 off their first three overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene put on 35 from just 22 balls for the first wicket, before the latter edged a Siddle deliver through to Haddin while on 24.

Nannes then wrapped Dinesh Chandimal on the pads and he was given out lbw for two by umpire Bruce Oxenford, despite the ball appearing to be pitched well outside leg stump.

The dismissals did not slow down Sri Lanka's run-rate, which was still at nine per over after five overs, pushing the required rate below six.

Dilshan and Sangakkara looked comfortable against all of Australia's bowlers, gradually moving towards their target without any rash strokes.

After a brief period of consolidating the innings, they attacked some lifeless bowling by the home side to speed up the inevitable.

But Dilshan was stumped by Haddin for 41 off Smith's bowling when the 34-year-old tried to advance but could not connect.

Sangakkara and Perera saw Sri Lanka to their target, with the latter scoring 16 off three Smith deliveries to end the game.

It's all about the numbers

Top Performer: Suraj Randiv

Source : ESPNSTAR.com

Lions Fly For Kangaroos...

Sri Lankan Tour in Australia .......

 

1st match will play on 31st OCT.

One-day squad for VB Tour of India - CA

Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson all rested as Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) announce a 14-man squad for the one-day component of Australia’s VB Tour of India.

The 14-man squad is: Michael Clarke (c), Cameron White (vc), Doug Bollinger, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and David Warner.

NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:

“Player workload management is particularly important over the course of the next seven months as we prepare a squad to defend the ICC Cricket World Cup in India and the subcontinent and to win the Ashes back from England.

“Each individual player has a program developed in collaboration between the player, the coaching and conditioning staff and the NSP, which will get each player to the end of April 2011 in the best possible physical condition and, we hope, with plenty of Australian success on the field.

“With that in mind, Ricky Ponting will not take part in this one-day series. The NSP has decided as part of the ongoing management of Ricky’s workload he should not take part in this series. The demands of back-to-back Test matches in tough Indian conditions have been taken into consideration.

“In addition, Ricky faces a very demanding domestic summer on his return to Australia and will have no other opportunity for a break from the start of the domestic season until after the much-awaited ICC Cricket World Cup in India and the subcontinent, which begins in February next year.

“Mitchell Johnson will also have his workload managed and not take part in the series. As Mitchell is now the leader of our bowling attack, and with numerous injuries to our fast bowling stocks at present, it is essential we manage his workload so he can get through the domestic summer and the ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Shane Watson also will not take part in the series. The NSP considers it essential that he has a break to ensure that can fulfil his vital role during our domestic summer and of course the World Cup.

“It is essential to the balance of our side that Shane can open the batting and play the all-round role. Shane’s playing and training program has been carefully managed over the last couple of years and we have decided the best way of ensuring he can play this role is for him to miss the one-day component of this series.”

“The NSP is very excited about the one-day squad with a squad full of the best of our young talented cricketers and it presents a great opportunity for them all to impress against India on their home soil and ahead of selection for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Two uncapped fast bowlers in James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc join Clint McKay and Doug Bollinger as a four-man pace attack for the one-day series. Clint impressed in India last year and James and Mitchell have really impressed since joining the Test squad as standby players. The NSP is sure they will have an impact in international cricket and will seize this opportunity.

“Callum Ferguson makes his return to the Australian side after a serious knee injury. He has been in great form recently and richly deserves the opportunity to resume his position in the Australian one-day side where he performed so well prior to this injury.

“David Warner returns to the one-day squad. The NSP considers he has the potential to have a significant impact at the top of the order in sub-continent conditions and it is an ideal opportunity for David to perform in these conditions prior to selection for the ICC World Cup.

“Steve Smith is again a member of the one-day squad. Steve is an impressive young talent and his game is improving in all facets with his continued involvement in the Australian squad. The NSP is sure Steve will be looking to cement his position in the one-day team during this tour.

“Both Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle are making extremely good progress in their returns from injury and will resume playing state cricket while this one-day squad is in India. It was felt premature for them to return to international cricket for this series and they are expected to build workload through the beginning of the interstate season.

“This 14-man squad is really looking forward to playing aggressive and entertaining cricket in what promises to be an enthralling one-day series.”

Source : CA

Sanath - Vaas Still dropped in Tour of Australia...

To feature in the upcoming tour of Australia commencing on the 22nd of October. Sri Lanka will play 3ODI’s and a solitary T20 match against the Australians.

Vaas And Sanath are still not taken to the squad. By the selecting committee. Mean while The Legend Sir Murali is called up for the same Tour.... .....

Squad:

1.      Kumar Sangakkara  (C/WK)
2.      Mahela Jayawardana (VC)
3.      T.M. Dilshan
4.      Upul Tharanga
5.      Chamara Silva
6.      Jeewan Mendis
7.      Angelo Mathews   (subject to fitness, if not to be replaced by Thilina Kandamby)
8.      Chamara Kapugedara
9.      Thisara Perera
10.  Lasith Malinga
11.  Nuwan Kulasekera
12.  Dilhara Fernanado
13.  Muttiah Muralitharan
14.  Suraj Randiv
15.  Dhammika Prasad
16.  Dinesh Chandimal (WK)

Standby   

Rangana Hearth
Ajantha Mendis
THilina Kandamby
Thilina Thushara
F. Maharoof

Want to be a 12th man alongside Aussie legends?

has anyone ever fancied taking their place in a team with some of the biggest legends in Australian cricket? Well this is your chance to join the Johnnie Walker ACA All*Stars squad, as they take on the KFC Australian XI in a T20 clash at the Gabba! (Disclaimer: I work on behalf of Johnnie Walker)

The All*Stars are a team made up of cricketing legends and the best of Australia’s emerging young talent. They will be captained by Shane Warne, and will feature former Test greats Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Matt Hayden. 

Johnnie Walker is giving you a once in a lifetime chance to live the life of an international cricketer: you’ll train with the squad, stay in the team hotel, pull on the kit, carry the drinks at the game and also attend a players and partners season launch party. 

Check out www.johnniewalker.com.au for details 

Cricket Australia approves one-day split-innings format

Cricket Australia has listened to the public but ignored its players after pushing through a split-innings one-day domestic trial before the national team attempts a fourth consecutive victory at next year's World Cup. The introduction of the 45-over format means the country's only 50-over matches in 2010-11 will occur at international level.

In an unusual effort to counter the imbalance, Cricket Australia is already considering private fixtures for fringe members of the World Cup squad if they are short of game-time in the global format. The change towards the four-innings regulations for the entire domestic one-day tournament over-ruled the initial plan to break up the event, which would have scheduled traditional fixtures when the international representatives were available.

Ricky Ponting, who is unbeaten as a World Cup captain, was not in favour of the alterations during the planning phase and after the announcement the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) said 78% of its surveyed members rejected the idea. Despite the criticism, Cricket Australia's board passed the changes on Friday and the new format will begin when Queensland host Tasmania at the Gabba on October 6.

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, said the players' views were extremely important, but they were not the only ones involved in a redesign being employed to revitalise the one-day concept. "In talking to stakeholders, the ultimate thing was the tournament should be played over the course of a whole year," Sutherland said. "To do a proper trial and to ensure the public fully understands the way it is played. There is no doubt there are issues for individual players and preparation for the World Cup coming up."

One of the major ones is the lack of 50-over games for the squad members who will not appear regularly during the seven-match Australia-England ODI series in January and February. A 15-man World Cup unit will be named in December and Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's deputy, said the board had approved the option for "possibles versus probables" contests to ensure the right sort of preparation.

"I'll work with the selectors to determine whether they want some particular players, for example Brett Lee or Callum Ferguson, or people coming back from injury, and if that's the case we'll put on private matches to give them a chance to perform at optimum level for the World Cup," Brown said. England and South Africa also don't play any 50-over competitions at domestic level despite the ICC saying it has no plans to over-haul its preferred one-day genre.

Sutherland said split innings would lead to a sense of "cat and mouse" and provide more strategy. Under the changes, the 20-over first innings will be followed by 25-over conclusions. There will be teams of 12, with only 11 batting or fielding, but no Powerplays or super strikers. Bowlers will be allowed to deliver two bouncers an over and have a maximum of 12 overs.

Key features 45 overs per team with split innings of 20 and 25 overs A maximum of 12 overs by any one bowler 10 wickets per team and 12 players per team - teams can bat any 11 of the 12 and field any 11 of the 12 A maximum of two bouncers per over A new ball from each end at the start of the innings and no replacement new balls No Powerplays Fielding restrictions: Overs 1-5 = 2 fielders outside the circle; 6-20 = 4 outside; 21-25 = 2 outside, 26-45 = 4 outside

Paul Marsh, the ACA chief executive, said the players weren't consulted properly until a decision had been made to push ahead with the trial. "For the people that play and know the game better than anyone, this process has been difficult to comprehend and players are very disappointed," Marsh said. "Players are open to changes to any format of the game that can make the game better.

"They acknowledge that the one-day format has had its recent challenges and as a collective they want to help those running the game find the best solution. However, the players don't believe the split-innings format is the best solution."

Marsh was on the Cricket Australia committee - it also included Mark Taylor, Greg Chappell and Matthew Hayden - that recommended the final product, but he detailed the dissent of the ACA members. "We surveyed the players and an overwhelming majority (78%) rejected the split-innings format," he said.

"They are adamant that radical format changes are not the highest priority for the one-day game. Players continue to believe that administrators need to address the far bigger issues of the lack of context in one-day international cricket and the excessive number of one-dayers that continue to be programmed."

Sutherland said the ACA had been consulted heavily throughout the process. "The public told us to act and we have," he said. "The fans told us, through formal research, that they like ODI cricket best, but they want to see it refreshed and they want to see it with a short-form identity that is distinctively different from fast-emerging T20 cricket.

Source : cricinfo