Sri Lanka Cricket TeamThe Sri Lankan Cricket Team is rated among strongest and most challenging sides in the world. Though a relatively new entrant to international cricket, Sri Lanka today has the potential to upset any international side. They surprised the cricketing world in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, when they defeated the mighty Australians in the final. They reached up to the semi-finals in the 2003 ICC World Cup. In the recently held Natwest Series 2006, they stunned England in their own home, making a 5-0 whitewash, the heaviest home defeat for English side in 13 years.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Team made its first international appearance in the first ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975. It became the eighth Test playing nation in the world, when it was accorded Test status in 1981 by the ICC. Sri Lanka has produced several famous cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan.
In the ICC World Cup 2007 groupings, Sri Lanka is placed in Group B, along with India, Bangladesh and the debutant Bermuda. The team will play its first warm-up match against Scotland on March 05, 2007 at 3Ws stadium in Barbados, and will start its 2007 World Cup campaign against Bermuda on March 15, 2007 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Jayawardene emulates Bradman to put Sri Lanka on top
COLOMBO (AFP) — Mahela Jayawardene equalled former Australian legend Don Bradman's record of nine centuries at one venue to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the opening Test against India here on Thursday.
Skipper Jayawardene cracked a stylish 136 to help his side post 422-4 in the first innings at stumps on the second day.
The Sri Lankan captain's ton at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground equalled Bradman's nine at one venue -- the Australian great's coming at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I wasn't really thinking about all that," said Jayawardene.
"It is a very friendly venue for me as I've been playing almost 12 years of first-class cricket here."
Jayawardene was not the lone batsman to feast on the Indian bowling on a placid track as opener Malinda Warnapura (115) and Thilan Samaraweera (111 not out) also contributed handsomely to their team's total.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was unbeaten on 20 after earning a reprieve under a new experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions.
He was on one when given out caught behind off left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan by umpire Mark Benson of England, but asked the official to review the decision.
Benson consulted TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa before changing his decision as the ball had not made contact with the bat
