Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for the most fours and sixes in the IPL

Sanath Jayasuriya of Mumbai Indians, the oldest player in the IPL, holds the record for the most sixes - 31.

Sanath Jayasuriya hit more fours than anyone else in the IPL. He hit a total of 57 boundaries.

Team Preview : Mumbai Indians

Performance in IPL 2008

Mumbai had a disastrous start, losing their first four games to Bangalore, Chennai, Punjab and Hyderabad but bounced back remarkably well before ultimately failing to make it to the semi-finals.

After four successive defeats, Mumbai won their next six games on the trot - the best streak of the tournament- as they appeared to peak at just the right time.

Mumbai will rue their 1-run defeat to Punjab since it not only ended their winning streak but also their hopes of a semi-final berth as the team seem to lose momentum. Two more defeats followed before Mumbai beat lowly Bangalore to finish in fifth position.

Who's in, who's out

Mumbai shopped for South African sensation Jean-Paul Duminy in this year's auction and splashed out an eye-popping USD 950,000 to acquire the stylish southpaw.

New Zealander Kyle Mills (USD 150,000) and Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful (USD 75,000) were part of their signings.

Mumbai was also involved in two swaps, trading Robin Uthappa for Zaheer Khan with Bangalore and Shikhar Dhawan for Ashish Nehra with Delhi. Jaydev Shah was also added to the roster while Dwayne Smith, Dominic Thornely and Ashwell Prince were released from their contracts. Shaun Pollock will not return as a player after taking up the role of the coach.

Mumbai also signed Graham Napier and Ryan McLaren, both prolific all-rounders in the English Twenty20 competition.

Dream of watching Jayasuriya and Tendulkar play together to come true for small towns in India

Move to shift IPL ties to small towns hailed

The Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers’ move to shift matches to small towns like Rajkot, Nagpur and Baroda has found favour from former Test cricketers like Praveen Amre and Kiran More.

Former Indian middle order batsman and Mumbai Ranji Trophy coach Praveen Amre praised the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi’s intentions to shift some of the matches to small centres as it gives the spectators over there to watch international players rub shoulders with each other.

"I think it is a fantastic idea because the spectators from small towns get an opportunity to soak-in the Twenty20 atmosphere. Their dream of seeing two of the world’s most destructive batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya play for the same team will be realized. And even from the point of security it will be easier to secure a city like Nagpur or Baroda than to spread security blankets on big cities," Amre told on Friday.

"I also respect the fears of the Central Government as the elections always need tight security. Also IPL is just a year-old baby, which has created a huge response world over, and if something goes wrong due to lack of security it might become very tough for the organizers to convince foreign players or their boards to send them back next year.

No player would like to go through what the Sri Lankans went through in Pakistan," he added.

Source: Cricnext
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'I'm not interested in the captaincy' - Sanath Jayasuriya | Special Interview

Nearly 40 and still going strong, Sri Lanka's veteran opener is looking to contribute to the side, but he's not eyeing a leadership role again

February 28, 2009


We caught up with Sanath Jayasuriya after he returned recently from South Africa, where he played for the Nashua Dolphins this season in the provincial one-day and Twenty20 competitions. He came home for two days before whizzing off on a 24-hour visit to Mumbai, his new second home as he calls it, to work with the city's IPL side. In this interview he talks about his plans for the future, the resignation of Mahela Jayawardene, and the forthcoming IPL.

Did you enjoy your time with the Dolphins in South Africa?
Yes, it was a great experience. The only regret is that we lost our semi-final to the Cape Cobras and missed the chance to get into the Champions League, which had been our target this year. Nevertheless I was very grateful for the chance to play down in South Africa. It was a fresh challenge and a good experience. They have a good set-up there in Natal. I hope to go back and play next season too, depending on my international commitments.

What went wrong for Sri Lanka during the recent India series?
I thought the first two games were crucial in that series. We could have won them both and should have won the second, when we were chasing just 256. That was a big game. It left us under a lot of pressure in the third game and kept our confidence down. India then carried it away from us. Anyway, the problem was the consistency of the batting and the fact that we did not take responsibility during crucial periods. Not winning the toss is not an excuse, but that did not help in the day-night games.

How do you rate this Indian one-day team right now?
In my mind they are the best one-day team right now. They are playing some brilliant all-round cricket and all their batsmen are in top form. I feel they are ahead of both Australia and South Africa. That does not mean we should not expect to beat them. On the contrary, I think we can match them when playing at our best. It was great to win the final game and show that. We need to raise our one-day game fast because we have a very tough tour to India scheduled for later in the year.

Sri Lanka's one-day form has been inconsistent since the 2007 World Cup. What has been going wrong?
The main problem for us has been batting. We have been talking and discussing this a lot but at the end of the day we have not been delivering. All the batsmen, including me, need to take responsibility for that. The good news recently is that [Tillakaratne] Dilshan has performed in his new role as opener. The middle order has been a bit of a concern. We lack a guy like Russel Arnold, who has experience and the ability to absorb pressure. You need that kind of player at No. 6 or 7. Having said that, guys like Thilina Kandamby and Angelo Mathews are developing fast, which is encouraging. I think the talent is there. We just need to keep building and developing.

What are your views about the right balance for the team? During recent years Sri Lanka has moved towards a 6-5 batsman-bowler combination, where in the 2007 World Cup, and indeed the 1996 World Cup, there were seven batsmen in the team.
Personally I think 7-4 is better in Asian conditions, unless you have a genuine allrounder who is a top-order batsman at No. 7. Outside the subcontinent it makes sense for a 6-5 combination. The problem is that the Powerplay rules have made it important to take wickets, hence why we have liked to have five wicket-taking bowlers. But I think on balance, especially in Sri Lanka, we can get away with using good part-timers to fill in as the fifth bowler.

You are 39 but still clearly enjoying your cricket and performing.
I am pretty happy with my form right now. I have been batting well and it was good to get a century in the first game against India. In the other matches I was a bit disappointed to have wasted some good starts, as the team needs me to go on and make big scores. I'm also happy with my fielding and bowling at the moment. On the fitness front I have been working really hard. The older you get, the harder you need to work and I have been doing that, putting in lots of time in the gym and keeping myself in shape.

What are your plans for the future, and do you think you can play on to the 2011 World Cup?
The 2011 World Cup is a long way away right now. Yes, it is at the back of my mind, but it depends on form and fitness and it is too early to say. When you get to this stage of your career you need to perform all the time. That's the reality.

The recent decision by Mahela Jayawardene to step down from the captaincy after the present Pakistan tour has surprised many around the world. Were you also surprised?

Yes, I was surprised. It was surprising for everyone, I think, because he was doing really well. But it is his personal decision and he felt it was the right time, so you have to accept that. I spoke to him over the telephone from South Africa and he explained that it was something he'd been thinking about for a couple of months. He did a good job and can look back proud of what was achieved during the three years he was in charge - the England tour in 2006, taking us to the final of the 2007 World Cup, being adjudged Captain of the Year, and leading us to the Spirit of Cricket Award in 2007 and 2008. He had his own way of leading the team and I think one of his biggest strengths was that he always had confidence in his players. He always backed the players and led the team calmly, never showing any frustration. He was a good man manager.

Who do you think should take over?
Personally, I think Sanga will make an excellent captain. He has the experience after about eight years of international cricket; he has a very good cricketing brain; and he is a sensible guy with the right temperament to be a strong leader. He may have a lot on his plate, also keeping wicket in ODIs, but I don't see that as a problem for him. He can handle that responsibility easily.

What about yourself? There has been some talk of you being considered for the ODI or the Twenty20 captaincy. Would you be interested?
No way! I have done my four years as captain. I enjoyed it a lot and it was an honour to lead the team. But my job now is to contribute to the team as a senior player. I have to keep performing consistently and that is my focus. I will help and support whoever the selectors choose, but I am certainly not interested in captaining any of the teams.

The second edition of the Indian Premier League is fast approaching. Are you looking forward to it?
The next priority is Sri Lanka's one-day series against Zimbabwe, but yes, I am looking forward to this year's IPL. I really enjoyed being with the Mumbai Indians last season. It was exciting playing in front of huge crowds, and the standard of cricket was very high. We started badly but I was really pleased with the way we bounced back in the second half of the tournament. We are looking to build on that this year. I love the city; it's full of life, energy and amazing people. I was made to feel a part of Mumbai, and I'm looking forward to going back.

The IPL's critics worry about its impact on Test cricket. What are your thoughts on this?
I don't see why the IPL or Twenty20 cricket will threaten Test cricket. Test cricket is unique and you can't touch it. Serious cricket fans and the players will always love Test cricket. I do think, though, that Twenty20 cricket is a competitor for the 50-over format. That's why we are seeing modifications and innovations being made to this form of the game. That's good and will help cricket become more popular.

Do you believe the IPL needs a window in the Future Tours Programme?
Yes, I think most people accept that now. The IPL is going to be the biggest Twenty20 tournament in the world and it has proven its success. You can't have windows in the international schedule for all domestic Twenty20 tournaments, but the IPL deserves one when the new FTP is agreed. When there is a window there will be no clashes for players or problems for sponsors or franchises. This will also be a positive for national cricket boards by raising funds through the Champions League. For a country like Sri Lanka, that revenue is very important for the development of the game.

Courtesy : Cricinfo

Sanath Jayasuriya on CNN`s Talk Asia | T20 to phase down ODIs | Watch the entire Interview

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How he went from a Sri Lankan fishing village to becoming the country`s national treasure, how his fame in some part helped his mother survive the South Asian Tsunami in 2004



This left-handed batsman earned a reputation as one of the world’s most feared batsmen, someone whose ferocious hitting helped revolutionize the one-day game. Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya, recently recalled to Sri Lanka's one-day squad for a tri-series with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in January, has a staggering 421 one-day internationals to his name. The 39-year old is far from slowing down and he discusses with CNN’s Hugh Riminton on TALK ASIA this week, how he went from a Sri Lankan fishing village to becoming the country's national treasure, how his fame in some part helped his mother survive the South Asian Tsunami in 2004, and his thoughts on the dramatic changes that cricket is currently undergoing.

Jayasuriya revolutionized the way one-day cricket is being played, with his aggressive approach and hard hitting, particularly in the first 15 overs. He has scored over 12,000 runs & also proved himself handy with the ball, claiming over 300 ODI wickets. He came into the limelight during the 1996 World Cup when he was named the player of the tournament and subsequently Wisden’s Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

On the future of cricket, Jayasuriya suggests that changes need to be made to the 50-over game to draw more people to watch – he believes the shorter Twenty/20 game is the answer. "Cricket has changed all over the world. For the public to watch this game we need for it to change. You can now enjoy all that in around 3 hours (with Twenty20). The Indian Premier League (IPL) is good for cricket and good for cricketers. The one-day game will be phased down."

Jayasuriya also shares with Riminton how, along with fellow cricketer Marvan Atapattu, he used some of his earnings to construct 150 houses for Tsunami victims. He reflects on how personal the tsunami is to him as his mother nearly got swept away by the waves and if it were not for people recognizing him by name, she would not have been rescued.

Jayasuriya is the first cricketer to be appointed a United Nations (UN) Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, a cause he is very committed to: "Coming from Sri Lanka you need to do a lot of charity work and help in anyway you can. People love cricket and they look to cricketers, so as a team Sri Lanka also does a lot for charity. It's a personal commitment,"

While cricket is the love of his life, Jayasuriya realizes his constant travels takes a toll on time spent with his wife and three children. He reveals how he first met his soul mate, now his wife, while on a flight from India to Sri Lanka but how it took him one year to find and convince her to marry him.

Also read :

Jayasuriya does CNN, Jayasuriya style

Sanath Jayasuriya : Sri Lanka's humble cricketing hero | CNN.com

(CNN) -- Growing up in a small Sri Lankan fishing town, cricket changed Sanath Jayasuriya's life. But his association with the game and humanitarian work has also helped transform the lives of many others.

Jayasuriya's stature and shot-making led to comparisons with India's Sachin Tendulkar.

"Without cricket I would have a small job in my home town. My mother is happy to say my name," he told CNN in Hong Kong.

His mother's pride in his success has an extra poignancy as Jayasuriya's fame in some part helped his mother survive the south Asian tsunami on December 26, 2004.

She was swept away by the first wave and only by calling out to get attention, saying she was Jayasuriya's mother, did a rescuer manage to spot her among the debris and destruction and pull her to safety.

Thousands of others, including many of Jayasuriya's friends and neighbors, were not so fortunate, and the impact that the disaster had on Jayasuriya's hometown of Matara and many other parts of Sri Lanka is still felt today.

"Even now when many people hear the word (tsunami), they are still scared. When my mother hears it, she still can't run," he said.

After nearly 20 years of international cricket, the 39-years-old is now just as happy to put bowling attacks to the sword as well as working as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

"Coming from Sri Lanka you need to do a lot of charity work and help in anyway you can. People love cricket and they look to cricketers, so as a team Sri Lanka also does a lot for charity. It's a personal commitment," he told CNN.

On the pitch he has always been just as committed to helping his team. Making his international Test match debut in 1991 he retired from the five-day version of the game in 2007 having captained the Sri Lankan team for four years until 2003 and hit memorable centuries against every other Test side, bar the West Indies and New Zealand.

However it was in the one day game that the all-rounder has really made his mark.

As part of the Sri Lankan team that won the World Cup in 1996 he played an explosive innings of aggressive shot-making that has been credited with revolutionizing the way in which batsman play the game.

In 2005 he became only the fourth batsman to reach 10,000 runs in one-day matches and his current stats stand at 12785 runs from 421 one-day internationals.

Having made his name in the 50-over version of the game he's still involved in cricket's latest revolution; the even shorter Twenty20 game that is being touted as the future of popularizing the sport.

"Cricket has changed all over the world. For the public to watch this game we need for it to change. You can now enjoy all that in around 3 hours (with Twenty20). The Indian Premier League (IPL) is good for cricket and good for cricketers. The one-day game will be phased down."

Throughout his career he's shown his own resilience adapting to changing circumstances on the cricket pitch as well as off it. Before the 2003 World Cup he took the decision not to sign a contract with the Sri Lankan cricket board, citing the loss of potential earnings it would mean for him and fellow players.

Despite not being a confrontational personality, the tension between himself and the Sri Lankan cricket board led to his resignation from the captaincy in 2003.

With no Test cricket to play this year, Jayasuriya found himself omitted from the Sri Lanka squad for 2008 series one-day series against the West Indies.

However his fine form while playing in the IPL -- he ended its inaugural season as the third highest run scorer with 514 runs and hitting 31 sixes -- convinced the selectors to pick him for the upcoming one-day series between Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

"Looking back I could never have thought I would have come this far. Buddhism helped me a lot. It says that you should take the middle path and you will never go wrong," he said.

"But I've done a lot of hard work and everyone, my family and coaches, have given me support. Without that I wouldn't have got here." When he does finally retire you can expect Jayasuriya to keep giving all he can to the game and causes he loves so much.

• Sri Lankan cricketer recognized as changing the way one-day cricket is played
• The first cricketer to be a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador and campaigns
• Sri Lanka's highest run scorer in Test matches and one-day internationals

Source : CNN.com

Cricketing legend ready to hit Durban curries for a six | Jayasuriya in South Africa

Sri Lankan cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who recently joined the Nashua Dolphins as an opening batsman, is looking forward to sampling Durban’s famous bunny chow.

The 39-year-old left-hander , who is contracted to play for the Dolphins until February next year, said he had not yet had time to explore the city but was eager to tuck into the local cuisine.

Jayasuriya, rated among the world’s top batsmen, said he was confident that he could handle Durban’s spicy curries.

“I eat spicy food at home, so I’m sure I can handle the curry here,” he said.

He compared Durban to his home town of Colombo, saying the two cities were similar.

“Both cities are situated on the coastline, the climate is very similar and the people are very friendly.”

He will soon be joined by his wife and three children.

“It is difficult for them to join me now, but as soon as the school term is over, they will come.”

He said that after the Dolphins’ defeat by the Eagles and the Highveld Lions, they planned to up their game against the Titans on Wednesday.

He will not be part of the Dolphins’ Champions League squad for the forthcoming fixtures in India because of his contract with the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians.

The Dolphins will be leaving for Bangalore next month to take part in the Champions League T20 with the Free State Eagles. They will play against the finalists from the Indian Premier League and Australia.

Jayasuriya joined Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar at the crease as teammates of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. “That was a very good experience for me. It was the match against the Chennai Super Kings, and I had the opportunity to bat with one of the best batsmen of our time. We batted well and scored runs. It was a good game.”

The Times : Nov 23, 2008

Troubling Jayasuriya by Lalchand Rajput | IPL Flash Back

If there's one seat that gets you the best view of the action, it is the place right near the boundary ropes. This area is occupied by the ball boys who return the ball back to players once it crosses the boundary so that play can resume without much wastage of time. Ball boys are generally budding cricketers and are chosen from local coaching camps.

While most ball boys are satisfied with autographs and photographs, we spotted one eager player Lalchand - a nets bowler for the Mumbai Indians who was making most of the opportunity.



The young pacer saw his fortune catapult at the prospect of bowling to one of the most destructive batsmen in the world - Sanath Jayasuriya. "I could not believe my eyes when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped on the practice pitch where I was supposed to bowl," says Lalchand animatedly. And was he nervous at any time? "Yeah I was, initially but started with some good length deliveries and he was effortlessly creaming me with his drives." Lalchand later reveals the biggest moment of his life. I decided to surprise him and bowled a short one. It bounced considerably and hit him on his chin. He never expected it from a nets bowler like me." The Matara Mauler has spared no bowler the world over and this must have hurt his ego if not his chin though. "Yes, the next ball I bowled to him disappeared in the stands," the cheeky bowler says with a grin on his face. He also had a brief interaction with Shaun Pollock who passed on some of his tricks which he mastered over the years to the youngster. "I could only swing the ball one way, he taught me to do it both ways." Lalchand could not have chosen a better venue to implement what he had just learned. "The next day, were the selection trials for Mumbai U/19 team and I decided to try that out. It came good and I am hoping to get picked for Mumbai." If this wasn't enough, he somehow made it to Sachin's nets the next day where the master blaster was busy setting up the bowling machine. "I completely froze when I saw Sachin next to me. There were just three of us - Sachin, Rajput sir and me. I was gathering the balls and handing them over to Rajput sir who in turn was putting them in the bowling machine." This is indeed a special moment as Sachin, who still follows conventional training methods seldom practises with the bowling machine. Lalchand signs off by saying that all this is done to get into the Mumbai Indians team for the next season and one person who can make it possible is the one with whom he shares his name, Lalchand Rajput, the coach of Mumbai Indians.

Opinion | Jayasuriya controversy : Sanath has every right to defend his integrity, portraying his own loyalties to his motherland

Sri Lankan cricketing icon Sanath Jayasuriya to face the embarrasment of hurled verbal abuse while fielding close to the boundary where some of these demonstrators had gathered outside and Jayasuriya's own remonstration had been made a big deal of by the local media.

Jayasuriya had every right to defend his integrity with a show of defiance himself while portraying his own loyalties to his motherland and giving them the veritable single finger salute and bravo to him and to hell with his critics!

Sanath Jayasuriya - A Tribute to the Legend of Modern Cricket

Sanath Jayasuriya will not be remembered as a legend of the game, but he perhaps should be. There have been some notable retirements in recent times (Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brian Lara to name just three) but the little opener from Matara deserves to be held in similar company.

He is of course still going strong in One Day Internationals (he signed off from Tests last December with a typically attacking half century) , so it is a little early for a career review. However, Jayasuriya's longevity (he made his international debut in 1989) earns special recognition, as his career does more than span eras; he helped start a whole new one in cricket.

Few will forget his impact at the 1996 world cup. Previously a lower order batsman and useful left arm spinner, he forged a devastating opening partnership with Romesh Kaluwitharana that revolutionised the way ODI cricket is played. Standard wisdom dictated openers should accumulate runs and keep wickets in hand for a late assault, but Sri Lanka's pinch hitters blazed away from the start, taking full advantage of the fielding restrictions that were in place during the opening overs.

This tactic became the batting blueprint in ODIs, although no one could carry out the plan as Jayasuriya has done. He is the second highest ever ODI runscorer and in consideration of his 307 wickets, is perhaps the greatest ever all rounder in the 50 over format. Three of the fastest ever ODI tons have come from his bat and his 17 ball half century against Pakistan in 1996 is the fastest ever 50. No one has hit more ODI sixes.

Jayasuriya managed to transfer this form into the Test arena. He is Sri Lanka's second highest Test runscorer and third highest wicket taker. He holds the seventh highest ever Test score and was a successful captain for four years, maintaining the progress Sri Lanka made under Arjuna Ranatunga.

Dropped after failing to reach 50 in 20 innings last year, he won back his place after lighting up the Indian Premier League (what a shane he will miss out on the Twenty20 era - the perfect batsman for the format). Only Geoffrey Boycott was older in scoring an ODI ton - what a contrast in styles ! - and we should enjoy Sanath while we still have him. No one will play his flicks, cuts and pulls with the same panache: a unique player with a unique style.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Oliver

Xavier Marshall who broke Sanath Jayasuriya's record of 11 sixes set in 1996 tested positive in the drug tests

Xavier Marshall, the West Indies opening batsman, and Tonito Willett, from Leewards, have tested positive in the drug tests conducted during a two-week camp in Antigua in August. They were among the 32 players named in a provisional Stanford Superstars squad to face England in the Stanford 20/20 for 20, a winner-take-all US$20 million match on November 1.

The Caribbean batsman's had destroyed a 12-year-old record as he eclipsed Sanath Jayasuriya's record of 11 sixes set in 1996 just few days back.

Donald Peters, the chief executive of the West Indies board (WICB), confirmed the news and said action would be taken after advice from the attorneys. "They [the attorneys] are looking into the matter and will advise us on the course of action," Peters told Cricinfo. "WICB has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and the matter could come up to the disciplinary committee. We are looking at a time frame of two weeks."

Peters said that the board will take action, if any, on Marshall, as he is a centrally-contracted player, and would let Leewards handle Willett. Marshall was withdrawn from the Stanford squad on September 16 for undisclosed reasons.

The drug tests on the Stanford Superstars were carried out by the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) agency. "We did the drug tests and there were two adverse analytical findings - which is the equivalent to two positive tests," Dr Adrian Lorde, the chairman of the Caribbean Rado, had told Midweek Nation.

"We can't reveal the nature of the substance they tested positive for," an official with Stanford said.

Sanath comes home to Trillium Residencies | New Residence

Sanath Jayasuriya, who revolutionized ODI cricket with his aggressive batting style, is moving into his new home at Trillium Residencies, beginning a brand new inning in his life with his family. Welcoming their latest and probably, their most famous resident, Chairman of Ceylinco Condominiums, Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala together with Lady Dr. Sicille P. C. Kotelawala and the Board of Directors hosted a grand. A host of well known personalities are scheduled to grace this event.

Sanath’s new home, Trillium, is a marvel in planning and eco-friendliness, with over half the entire area dedicated to wide open spaces and lush green foliage. Redefining the concept of luxury living, Trillium provides some state-of-the-art recreational facilities offered by none other – a fine swimming pool for a refreshing dip, a club house to entertain in style, a well-equipped gym to keep in shape, a badminton court and jogging track to sweat it out, a rooftop garden to relax in, and a beautiful park for kids to frolic. What’s more, Trillium assures its residents total security and peace of mind. There is a split-level parking area and every other amenity necessary for convenient living, such as a day-care centre, convenience store/mini-market and laundry collection centre.

Trillium is a flagship project of Ceylinco Condominiums Ltd., a subsidiary of the reputed Ceylinco Housing and Real Estate Company Ltd., which has been at the forefront of the construction industry for almost 25 years. The project was created by the award-winning architects of Design Consortium Ltd.

Sanath certainly looks forward to a life of luxury and contentment as he spends quality time with his family at his new home at Trillium Residencies.

[Pic] Scenes from 'Victory' | Contributed by Hilal

Sanath Jayasuriya in the Bollywood Movie 'VICTORY'

Harman Baweja in Srilanka

Scenes for ‘Victory’, a story of a small town boy who dreams of playing cricket for India, were shot in Colombo last week with actor Harman Baweja playing against Sri Lanka’s national team. Apart form the cricket stars Sri Lankan tourism ambassador Alston Koch and cricket commentator Roshan Abeysinghe are also featured in the film. The final scenes in the film shows the hero in the cricketing epic played by Harman Baweja receiving his award for the 'Man of the series' from the Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism & Tourism Ambassador Alston Koch on the awards podium especially erected for this film at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo. This famous ground has witnessed the cricketing talents of Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Len Hutton, Geoff Boycott, Colin Cowdrey and Rohan Kanhai and the great man Sir Donald Bradman who was dismissed for a 'duck' at the venue.

Contributed by Hilal - www.hilalscricket.com

Why Sanath Jayasuriya is good for Dolphins...

ARE the Dolphins keeping a good local player out of their team by signing Sanath Jayasuriya for the season? Possibly, but let’s see how the Sri Lankan star can benefit the team from Durban. First, the Dolphins have lost one of their best prospects, Jonathan Vandiar, to the Lions, who seem incapable of producing (or keeping) their best young players. After all, they let Graeme Smith slip away to Western Province. Second, along with Jayasuriya, the Dolphins have lured young wicketkeeper Bradley Barnes from Cape Town. Barnes now has a chance to get serious game time because he would have had to wait in a queue at Newlands. Finally, someone like Jayasuriya can help mould young players in the Dolphins squad, just as Malcolm Marshall did when he spent a few seasons with the Durban team. Shaun Pollock, for one, benefited enormously under the late West Indian great. Western Province did the same with their new generation (of whom Jacques Kallis was a member) when they got Desmond Haynes to play in Cape Town. Free State made one of their best signings when Franklyn Stephenson joined. He was part of a programme to lift the standard in the province and they have not looked back. Jayasuriya has been signed for only one season, but it’s enough time to pass on some cricket nuggets - and they might be able to persuade him to return. The Dolphins, according to their CEO Cassim Docrat, will play in the same group as the Rajasthan Royals, Middlesex and Western Australia in the upcoming Champions League. The Titans, who won the tournament in South Africa, will play in the same group as the Chennai Super Kings, Victoria of Australia and Sialkot of Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's Jayasuriya becomes a Dolphin - Sanath to play for Dolphins, South Africa

Sanath Jayasuriya, the Sri Lankan batsman, has been signed by the Dolphins, the Kwa Zulu-Natal-based franchise, to play on the South African domestic circuit for two seasons.

The Dolphins have pulled off the biggest pre-season coup in South African cricket by negotiating a contract with Sri Lankan batting maestro Sanath Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya confirmed he had signed a contract with the Dolphins but refused to reveal his fee. "I'm bound by my contract not to make any statements about the financial side of the deal," Jayasuriya told South Africa's Daily News. "All I can say is that I will play for the Dolphins and help change things around over the next two seasons."

Jayasuriya, who will arrive in Durban with his family towards the end of October, said he was joining the team for a purpose. "I'm still part of the Sri Lankan one-day and the Twenty20 squads. Hence I am coming to Durban with a goal: I want to transform the Dolphins into a trophy-winning team. That's my aim."

In the Indian Premier League Jayasuriya was a huge hit. He scored 514 runs with a highest score of 114 not out (9x4s and 11x6s off 48 balls) against Chennai Super Kings. He averaged 42.83 in the competition and his strike-rate was a massive 166.34. He struck a total of 57 fours and 31 sixes in the 14 matches. The former Sri Lankan captain has played a record 421 one-day internationals for his country, 110 Tests and 28 Twenty20 Internationals.

Yashin Ebrahim, the Dolphins coach, said that signing Jayasuriya was a dream come true for the team. "He is still one of the best players in the shortened form of the game and he will no doubt add value to the Dolphins this season. The fact that we have not won a trophy for a few years motivated Sanath to make the trip to Durban. He said he loves challenges and would do his best to bring back the glory days and crowds to Sahara Stadium Kingsmead."

The Dolphins were placed fourth in the SuperSport Series, South Africa's four-day domestic tournament, fifth in the one-day championship, and were finalists in the Pro20.