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| Sunday, 13 January 2002 |
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Sri Lanka under-19 cricketers must brush-up batting! by RANJAN ANANDAPPA Inconsistency in the Sri Lanka under-19 team's batting has caused them some concern prior to their departure to New Zealand to participate in the under-19 Cricket World Cup to be staged from January 14 to February 9. Sri Lankan youth toured Pakistan recently in preparation for this World Cup but found that it was not the ideal preparation for their batsmen against strong opposition as they failed to live up to expectations. Sri Lanka will meet host New Zealand on January 19 in a group 'B' preliminary round match as they begin their quest for the title. South Africa had a miserable tour during the 2000 World Cup in Sri Lanka as most of their matches were washed out by rain and were unable to make any impact in the tournament. New Zealand should hold the home advantage with some good players and playing on pitches that differ from venue to venue according to Sri Lanka coach Owen Mottau. They too have a strong combination with a couple of test players. "In the last outing in Pakistan, we were a bit unlucky losing the toss most of the time in vital games, but hopefully the batting should come good in New Zealand," said Mottau. The opening ceremony will be held on January 14 and thereafter all participating 16 teams will play two practice games prior to the actual commencement of the championship on 19th January. Sixteen teams are divided into four groups and Sri Lanka are pitted against New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Namibia to be played in Christchurch. Brendon Kuruppu, the former Test wicketkeeper and opening batsman who is well remembered for his debut double hundred (201 n.o) against New Zealand in 1987, will accompany the team as the manager. He said that the team is a well knit combination with most of the players having division one club cricket experience. "Cricket is a funny game as all of us know, but I am confident that the side could reach the semi-final stage. Thereafter the competition could be tough and more competitive and the side that performs best on that particular day should have the advantage," said Kuruppu. The majority of the players are from the outstations and the team is captained by Dhammika Niroshan from Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda. Niroshan captained a under 19 team to Pakistan in preparation for the World Cup and he will have the services of 11 players who played under him in Pakistan. The team has some aspiring allrounders in deputy skipper Thomian Jeevan Mendis, De Mazenod's Dammika Prasad, Gamini Chandrakumar (Nalanda), Omesh Wijesiriwardena (Richmond), Fervez Maharoof (Wesley) and Kanchana Gunawardena (D.S.Senanayake) In the preliminary rounds, in Group 'A', the defending champions India who won the championship last when it was held in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago defeating Sri Lanka in the final, will meet South Africa, Bangladesh and Canada in Auckland . In Group 'C', Pakistan are pitted against England, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea also in Christchurch. In Dunedin, Australia, West Indies, Scotland and Kenya will meet each other in Group 'D'. Championships of this nature have provided the ideal footing for young test aspirants and Pakistan has harnessed the most since the last under-19 World Cup was held in Sri Lanka in year 2000. India were the winners then and they defeated Sri Lanka. Present one day and Test players like Ritendra Singh Sodhi, Mohammed Kaif and Yuvaraj Singh were in Indian team. For Pakistan eleven out of the 14 players who played in the last World Cup in Sri Lanka are either Test players or one-day international players. For Sri Lanka present one day players Kaushal Weeraratne, Prabath Nissanka, Akalanka Ganegama and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara were members of the 2000 World Cup. Present Zimbabwe players Travis Friend, Hamilton Masakadza, Tetenda Taibu were some of the players who represented Zimbabwe. The West Indians too had Riyan Hinds, Marlon Samuels and Jermain Lawson in their year 2000 World Cup squad. Sri Lanka Under-19 team for the World Cup: Dhammika Niroshan (Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda), Jeevan Mendis V.Captain (S.Thomas'), Kanchana Gunawardena (D.S. Senanayake), Gamini Chandrakumar (Nalanda), Charith Sylvester (De Mazenod, Kandana), Dammika Prasad (De Mazenod), Damith Indika (Thurstan), Eshan Abeysinghe (Ananda), Sumalka Perera and Lasith Fernando (St.Sebastians, Moratuwa), Farveez Mahroof (Wesley), Upul Tharanga (Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda), Prasad Ranawaka (St. Anthony's, Katugathota), Omesh Wijesiriwardena (Richmond). Manager: Brendon Kuruppu. Coach: Owen Mottau. Schools representative: B.S. Perera (Vice Principal Sri Jayewardenepura MV), Lal Thamel (Physio). Asoka de Silva will be the Sri Lankan umpire. |
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