Jayasuriya to be a part of Ten Sports Expert Analysis team

The Micromax Cup between India and Sri Lanka will be telecast live on Ten Sports. The three-match test series begins on July 18, 2010.

Commenting on the live telecast of the series, Atul Pande, chief executive officer, Ten Sports, said, "Ten Sports is committed to bringing the best of international cricket to its viewers. The matches in the Series will also be tied with in-depth pre- and post-match analyses from experts in the cricketing space.”

Some of the guests scheduled to appear on the studio shows include Charu Sharma, Arun Lal, Dean Jones and Sanath Jayasuriya. To promote the series, Ten Sports has launched a 360-degree marketing campaign revolving around the thought “The No.1 Test Team is back”, to appear in print, outdoor, digital, radio and television.


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Jayasuriya may not play for Worcester's final 2 matches

WORCESTERSHIRE Royals could go into Sunday’s final Friends Provident t20 North Group match without an overseas player after they revealed Shakib Al Hasan will not be arriving until next week.

It was hoped that the Bangladesh vice-captain would join the New Road outfit for the final two games - Warwickshire Bears away on Friday night and Lancashire Lightning at home on Sunday.

However, he will remain with his national side until next Tuesday night before joining up with the rest of his new team-mates in Derby for the LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Derbyshire the following day.

New Road chief executive Mark Newton said Sri Lankan star Sanath Jayasuriya may be released prior to the clash with Lancashire should the Royals’ quarter-final hopes be over.

The Bangladeshi cricket authorities told Newton today that the world’s leading one-day all-rounder will play their two one-day internationals in Ireland before heading north to play Scotland on Monday and the Netherlands, in which County batsman Alexei Kervezee will feature, on the Tuesday before making the near 300-mile trip from Glasgow to Derby.

It is a bitter blow for the Royals as the news comes after Australian opener Phil Jaques headed back home to New South Wales.

“We understand the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s stance,” Newton said. “Of course, we are disappointed, but they regard all their matches as important and they have picked up a number of injuries.

“But when you sign international players this can happen as their boards have first rights, so it’s a great shame that Shakib will miss our Twenty20 campaign.”

Newton said the County will talk to Jayasuriya this week about his involvement in the final two matches of the Royals t20 campaign.

Worcestershire need to win their remaining two games to stand a chance to progression, but the New Road chief executive admits all hopes of a place in the last eight would be all but over should Derbyshire Falcons beat Durham Dynamos tomorrow night.

If the Falcons win in the north-east it would mean, should they lose their final two matches, that progression would go down to run-rate and Derbyshire have a vastly superior one to Worcestershire.

“Sanath will be in the squad on Friday, but we will talk to him this week about the final match if we are no longer in contention,” Newton said.

“The key match is tomorrow’s meeting between Derbyshire and Durham. If Derbyshire win then it could go down to run-rate and we are a long, long way behind.”

Jayasuriya, Vaas to be considered for WC 2011 - Aravinda

Not only Sanath Jayasuriya, even Chaminda Vaas will be considered for the World Cup 2011, said Aravinda De Silva, Chairman of National Selection Committee. He added they are keeping a close eye on them and if the need arises they will definitely be given a chance to play.

Aravinda De Silva made this statement speaking exclusively to Ada Derana yesterday. He also said that this decision would not hinder the opportunities for younger players as they have enough and more time before them.


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[VIDEO] Sanath Jayasuriya - 54 off 29 balls vs Lancashire

Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 54 runs off 29 balls, playing for Worcestershire Royals vs Lancashire in the Friends Provident T20 County Tournament 2010 which included 4 sixes and 4 fours.


Scorecard: http://www.cricinfo.com/countycricket2010/engine/match/435780.html

Jayasuriya left out of SLC Contract list

Finally it is curtains for 41-year-old Member of Parliament Sanath Teran Jayasuriya as far Sri Lanka cricket is concerned. The Panel of selectors led by Aravinda de Silva has decided upon the contracts for the 2010/11 season and requested the Lankan cricket hierarchy to omit the Lankan cricketing veteran from the list of contracted players for the coming season.

Jayasuriya who played 110 Tests for Sri Lanka and scored 6973 runs with an average of 40.07 making 14 centuries and 31 half centuries. Jayasuriya made his Test debut for Sri Lanka against New Zealand at Hamilton on February 22, 1991. He is also one of the triple centurions for Sri Lanka making a highest score of 340 against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

The left hand opening batsman who was more prolific as a ODI player turned out for Sri Lanka in 444 One-day Internationals and scored 13,428 runs at and average of 32.43. The Contracts for the Lankan players expired at the end of March this year and was delayed owing to logistical reasons. SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga explaining the situation to the Sunday Times said “Now we have ironed out the few creases on the sheet and are ready to sign them up before the first Test against India at Galle on the 18th of July.” He also added that there would be some more names added to the list after the Sri Lanka A tour of Australia.

In category 1 comes the incumbent national cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara along with former skipper Mahela Jayawardena, vice captain Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera and T.M. Dilshan. However as Muralitharan has retired from Test cricket he will be paid only 40% of his contract, but, still will remain with the top five contracted players.

With Muralitharan calling it a day in Test cricket, the next hurdle for the selectors would be to select a vice captain from the second Test against India which will begin on the 26th of July at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds. On the head to head count it would be a toss up between the next most senior player T.M. Dilshan and consistent Thilan Samaraweera, but one could not leave out promising all rounder Angelo Mathews for the job if they are looking for Lankan cricketing fortunes beyond 2011. It is noteworthy that the 23-year-old allrounder had been placed on the category III contract over several other seniors.


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Worcs fall four runs short after Jayasuriya fireworks

WORCESTERSHIRE Royals' hopes of reaching the Friends Provident t20 quarter-finals are all but over after a nervy three-run defeat to Durham Dynamos.

Set 145 to win at New Road, Steve Rhodes' side took the match to the last ball but, having slumped from 51-1 to 67-4, were always behind the run-rate and lost cheap wickets chasing the target.

Despite 45 from Sanath Jayasuriya, it was a disappointing effort with the bat from a promising position and the Royals now go into tomorrow's match with Leicestershire Foxes at HQ bottom of the North Group.

It had all looked so good for Worcestershire after their decision to bowl upon winning the toss saw Durham openers Phil Mustard and Mark Stoneman stifled by Moeen Ali and Imran Arif before Jack Shantry bowled Mustard in the third over.

There were, though, a few nervy moments with Shaaiq Choudhry, making his Twenty20 debut, letting a Mark Stoneman drive slip through his fingers.

Choudhry also put down Stokes on 36 off Moeen as he juggled what seemed a certain catch before allowing it to squirm from his grasp.

Stokes was finally dismissed for 44, following a second-wicket stand of 85 with Stoneman, to a fine catch by a Moeen at long-on.

Stoneman was stumped by teenager Ben Cox off returning skipper Vikram Solanki for 46, but Durham's progress remained pedestrian. From there, the visitors lost the wickets of Dale Benkenstein, Albie Morkel and Gordon Muchall for 12 runs as they closed on 144-6.

In reply, Jayasuriya was quickly into his stride and plundered two successive sixes off Morkel in the fifth over.With Phil Jaques, the pair eased passed 50 but the Australian was soon on his way as he skied Ben Harmison to Gareth Breese.

The Royals then lost two wickets in the eighth over to Breese, Moeen chipping to Will Smith and Jayasuriya going leg-before five short of his half-century.

Having made such a prom-ising start, the Royals had only reached 67 at half-way and things got worse when Alexei Kervezee was well caught at mid-wicket by Stoneman, again off Breese, who finished with 3-14.

Solanki hit the first six of the innings in the 13th over but, when he was caught by Muchall for 25, his team's chances deteriorated.

There was a late moment of controversy as a wayward Steve Harmison delivery was given as a wide despite the ball appearing to slip out of the seamer's grasp.

Clearly riled, the former England paceman sent Daryl Mitchell's stumps cart-wheeling with next ball and with it went any realistic chance of a Royals victory.

Jayasuriya & Worcester Royals facing do-or-die time

WORCESTERSHIRE Royals head to Leicestershire Foxes this evening (5.40 pm) requiring snookers if they are to stand a chance of qualification for the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident t20.

While the New Road side can overhaul everyone in the North Group except leaders Nottinghamshire Outlaws, most teams have four matches remaining, meaning a 100 per cent record in the five remaining games for Steve Rhodes’ outfit might not be enough.

The Royals are looking to bounce back from their crushing 46-run defeat at Lancashire Lightning on Monday night.

Worcestershire’s failure to come to grips with the 20-over game has not been made any easier due to injuries to some of Rhodes’ key performers.

Skipper Vikram Solanki has been missing since the third match of the competition with a pelvis problem and is unlikely to be fit until late next week when the Royals could be just playing for pride.

Seamer Chris Whelan, a bowler Rhodes says would be first on his teamsheet, has not featured at all due to a number of injuries.

Alan Richardson has only been able to play twice due to an on-going elbow complaint, while fellow paceman Matt Mason pulled up injured two balls into his second over at Old Trafford with a groin strain. He is facing at least a fortnight in the treatment room.

“It has been hard — but you have to get on with it,” Rhodes said. “We have given some good opportunities to some young guys to try and gain experience.”

But injuries have only been one of the problems with the County’s t20 campaign.

Dropped catches, miss-fields, loose bowling and batsmen crumbling under pressure have been the story of another disappointing 20-over campaign. The positives have been few and far between.

Worcestershire will welcome back seamer Richard Jones for the trip to Grace Road after the quick bowler missed the visit to Lancashire through illness.

But the 23-year-old has gone at 10.5-an-over in the five matches he has played, picking up just two wickets.

However, the other seam options, Imran Arif and Chris Russell, are either more expensive or yet to be tested.

Worcestershire Royals: (from): Jaques, Jayasuriya, Moeen, Kervezee, Mitchell (capt), Manuel, Cameron, Cox (wkt), Andrew, Jones, Shantry, Choudhry.

Jayasuriya to replace Vaas at Winchmore Hill cricket festival

Chaminda Vaas has cancelled his special guest appearance at the Festival of Cricket at Winchmore Hill Cricket Club, this Sunday.

Organisers announced that Vaas is now not able to attend the event at the Paulin Ground, in Ford's Grove as he has a cricket game to play which clashes with the festival.

So organisers have enrolled Sri Lanka cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya to appear instead.

For more information, call organisers: 020 8952 2105

Worcester lose despite Jayasuriya's 54 of 29 balls

Lancashire Lightning moved up to third in the Friends Provident Twenty20 North Division with a convincing 46-run win over Worcestershire Royals at Old Trafford today.

A blistering 54 off just 29 balls from Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya gave the Royals a great start, but Glen Chapple claimed three wickets in four balls and Stephen Parry took three for 19 as they lost seven wickets for just 20 runs.

Jayasuriya, who had a short spell at Old Trafford in 2007, hit four of the first 13 balls he faced for six and was dropped by Simon Kerrigan, who failed to hold onto an easy chance off Daren Powell's bowling as Worcestershire started their reply well.

At one point the Sri Lankan was 30 off ten balls but Kerrigan made amends in the ninth over as he claimed the catch to dismiss the opener off the bowling of Parry.

The Royals were still ahead of the rate at the halfway stage, but then fell foul of some devastating Lightning bowling as Chapple - who accounted for Daryl Mitchell, Jack Manuel and Ben Cox in a four-ball spell - Smith and Parry blasted through the Worcestershire middle and lower order.

[PIC] Sanath Jayasuriya celebrates 41st birthday with a cake

Sanath Jayasuriya celebrates his 41st birthday with a cake. Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas to his right are currently in England playing in the English county season.

(Source)