Rex Clementine

Ravi Shastri in commentaries speaking of Lancashire greats in 1980s mentions Gehan Mendis, who has an impressive First Class record. He was offered a chance to play in Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test in 1982, but he stayed on hoping England would come calling. It never happened.

T20s is Sri Lanka’s lowest ranked format and the last 72 hours has been proof that there’s lot of work left to be done. Last night the batters didn’t even put up a contest with spin being their Achilles’ heel. Not a bad idea to take a look at the ‘A’ team that’s now in Australia.

Sir Garfield Sobers is 89 today. He was Sri Lanka’s coach in 1980s. His contributions to our cricket is massive.

Well played India and England. But, imagine two wickets falling on last day of a Test match in Colombo, Kandy or Galle. The pitch would have been rated proor and that Andy Atkinson would have been flown down for corrective measures. Long live big three.

Nalanda's centenary: 100 years of academic brilliance and cricketing glory! 🌟🏏 #NalandaCricket @RexClementine thepapare.com/cricketing-cra…

Sri Lanka will tour England next year and play three ODIs and three T20Is in September. The T20Is will be at Rose Bowl, Cardiff and Old Trafford, the ODIs will take place in Chester-le-Street, Headingley and The Oval.

Watching India take on England in Manchester brings back memories of Sri Lanka’s gritty Test there last year. Kamindu Mendis braved the cold to post a sublime century while Asitha Fernando’s six-for gave them a sniff. Just 50 more runs and it could’ve been a famous Sri Lankan win

Nalanda College is celebrating 100 years. The school has been an excellent cradle to Sri Lankan cricking having produced so many talents from first Test captain Mr. Bandula Warnapura to Mahanama, Gurusinghe, MJ, Kaluperuma, Dharmasena, Anura Ranasinghe and many others.

Another hundred for Nuwanidu Fernando against the Aussies in Darwin. Sri Lanka were put into bat this morning. Sri Lanka A - 1st innings: 4/263 (90 overs) Nuwanidu Fernando 102, Kamil Mishara 81 Liam Scott 1-25, Henry Thornton 1-31.

This ain’t the West Indies. This is Sri Lanka’s south coast.

Everyday we learn something. Today I learned that the rest area in the southern expressway was ‘gifted’ to us by Mahinda. I guess this is part of his ancestral wealth.

T20I troubles haunt the islanders despite Test & ODI gains 🏏 Urgent changes needed to keep up! #SriLankaCricket #SLvBAN @RexClementine thepapare.com/sri-lankas-t-2…

We are one hour away from start at RPS. This 35,000 capacity stadium has gone through a facelift in last year or so with a new floodlight system installed along with a swimming pool. The latest addition is indoor nets making the High Performance Center a state of the art facility

The first unofficial Test between Sri Lanka A and Australia A has ended in a draw. Nuwanindu Fernando has scored a hundred in the second innings while Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Pawan Rathnayake have scored half-centuries. Sonal Dinusha scored a hundred in the first innings.

One good thing with the national selectors is that they have given a player a decent run before axing him. Nishan Madushka for example as he played in all three recent ODIs. Avishka Fernando is unlikely to get that license for tomorrow given the scrutiny he’s been put under.

What a Test match at Lord’s. Spare a thought for Jadeja. Cruel for Siraj. Most unfortunate way to get out. Brook consoling a crestfallen Siraj brings back memories of Brett Lee and Flintoff in Birmingham 2005.

A series of soft dismissals and Sri Lanka crash to their heaviest defeat against Bangladesh. It’s also their lowest total at home against any opposition in T20Is.

Fans are already filling up at Dambulla. Tickets were sold out three days ago. One thing about this ground is it is easily accessible from all corners be it Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale, Anuradhapura, Pollonaruwa or Trinco. People from all part of the island gather here.

Sonal Dinusha, fresh from his Test debut has scored a hundred against Australia A in Darwin in the unofficial Test. Sri Lanka were put to bat this morning. Sri Lanka A - 1st innings: 272 all out (82 overs) Sonal Dinusha 105*, Nuwanindu Fernando 34, Liam Scott 2-27.

Kusal Mendis repays a decade of faith with stellar knocks! 🌟 Sri Lankan fans want more 🇱🇰 #SLvBAN @RexClementine thepapare.com/kusal-mendis-f…