The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it will not force its players to play in the Afro-Asia Cup to be held in South Africa in August. It has said that the cricketers could decide whether they wished to play in the series comprising three one-day internationals between Asia XI and Africa XI .”No player would be pressed to play the matches which have been given official status by the International Cricket Council (ICC). We’ll ask them [players] if they want to make themselves available, but if any player wants to skip the event it’s all right with us,” said a senior PCB official quoted in Apart from Shoaib Akthar, Younis Khan and Danish Kaneria, who are playing for English counties, none of the other Pakistan cricketers have any cricket commitments until October when England is scheduled to tour Pakistan.Saleem Altaf, PCB Director Cricket Operations, said that the Asia XI selection committee would meet in Dubai on August 1 to select the squad. “Majid Khan [Pakistan], Ravi Shastri [India]. Graeme Labrooy [Sri Lanka] and Shafiq-ul-Islam [Bangladesh] will meet to finalise the Asian XI squad,” said Altaf. “But before that we’ve to inform them about the number of players available for selection.” He also said that he hoped that the best players would be available to play.The first game of the Afro-Asian Cup, which has been given official status by the ICC, will be held at Cape Town on August 17. The proceeds from the tournament will go to the Asian and African cricket associations and also to the recently-formed Afro-Asian Cricket Council.
Michael Bevan is eager to make a rapid return to county cricket, after his unexpected axing from Cricket Australia’s list of contracted players for the 2004-05 season.Bevan, 34 next month, has enjoyed successful stints with Yorkshire in 1995 and 1996, Sussex between 1998 and 2000, and Leicestershire in 2002. He will be meeting up with his manager Robert Joske on Thursday to discuss the options available to him.The timing of Cricket Australia’s announcement is particularly galling for Bevan, because most counties have not only signed up their two overseas players for the season, but have also nominated replacements in the event of an international call-up. “At this late stage, beggars can’t be choosers," Joske admitted to AAP, "but we were already looking at a short-term stint for him on the basis that he would be playing for Australia."I’m keen now to continue looking at that and also to find out if there is any opportunity for a full-term stint," added Joske. "We’re not going to play all our cards too early. We will meet tomorrow and discuss the various options available for him, and what he wants for his career and his family.”
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen Queensland Bulls captain Jimmy Maher to join the Australian Test squad on the Travelex Tour of the West Indies.Maher, Australia’s reserve wicket-keeper at the 2003 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup has been selected to cover for Adam Gilchrist during Australia’s three-day tour match against a University of West Indies XI in Barbados, beginning on 26 April.It will be the first match Gilchrist has missed since Australia’s victory over Holland in a World Cup preliminary match on 20 February.NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said given Maher’s likely selection in the 15-man squad for Australia’s seven one-day internationals beginning on 17 May, it made sense to choose a player who would be with the side for the remainder of the tour."Jimmy will more than likely be part of our one-day squad in the West Indies simply on his batting alone, so it is important that we continue to give him added `keeping experience if he is to continue covering adequately for Adam Gilchrist on tour," Hohns said."We are not necessarily saying that Jimmy is the country’s second-best wicket-keeping option, but for this match we would rather introduce a player who is going to be with the team for the duration of the trip, rather than fly someone across for a few days."As for Adam Gilchrist, it is important that we continue to monitor his workload and give him time-off where possible."He has had a long campaign and doesn’t get many opportunities to rest, so we need to be conscious that he doesn’t get over-worked and end up suffering from fatigue," he said.Maher’s inclusion in the Test squad means that he will relinquish his Australia A captaincy duties for the remainder of its series against South Africa A. He will depart Adelaide for Brisbane today.New South Wales Blues batsman Simon Katich will stand in as captain.
After a disappointing performance by New Zealand, the Kiwi captainStephen Fleming still remained positive about his side’s chances ofmaking it to the Coca-Cola Cup final."I think we’ve got a good chance. If India lose tomorrow we arethrough to the final. We can put aside this dismal performance andcome back with a good one when we meet India," said Fleming whoseside was comprehensively beaten by Sri Lanka by 107 runs."Very disappointing performance. But once again the Sri Lankansplayed exceptionally well. We didn’t push hard in this game,"reflected Fleming. "We’ve never played on this ground. So we didn’tknow what’s a good score. The partnerships helped the Sri Lankans toput up a good score."The Black Caps so far in the tournament have been struggling againstspin. But this time around the fast bowlers did most of the damage,"The fast bowlers really bowled well. They achieved a lot of movementand took the game away from us. They just destroyed us in the firstten overs," said Fleming.Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya was thrilled about his side’sperformance. "It was a good all-round performance. It was nice to gopast 220 and then the bowlers did very well to restrict them. Thecream of the batting was back in the pavilion by the 10th over."Fleming put Sri Lanka in on winning the toss. Jayasuriya revealed hewould have done the same had he had won the toss. "It was a good tossto lose. I would have bowled first had I won the toss."Jayasuriya was also happy with the way the batsmen played. "All thebatsmen are among the runs. That’s what is important. Only Mahela wasstruggling and now he’s among the runs as well. After this, hisconfidence level was high and this was evident in the field."Sri Lanka are through to the final and when asked as whether theywould rest some of the players to give others a chance, Jayasuriyasaid, "We haven’t decided on the team for the Indian game yet."Man of the match Chaminda Vaas bowled a superb spell of fast bowlingchanging the cause of the game as he sent back three of the top orderbatsmen back to the pavilion in his first spell."I would have loved to bowl first. The conditions were ideal for fastbowling. But things worked very well for me later in the day," saidthe Sri Lankan fast bowler. "I loved the wicket of Jacob Oram. Theball really moved away from the batsman."Vaas who bowled a first spell of 5-1-10-3 did not get any wickets inhis second spell, "I would have loved to end up with five wickets andSanath gave me a second spell as well but it didn’t work."
The mood around Arsenal is a lot more nervous than it was a few weeks ago.
Sure, Mikel Arteta’s side are still top of the Champions League and Premier League, but their recent performances have left a lot to be desired.
Moreover, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, in particular Phil Foden, appear to be getting back to the very best.
However, while the atmosphere around the club is a little down at the moment, there is still a lot to be optimistic about for Arsenal, and there could be even more should Arteta opt hand his own version of Foden more minutes in place of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze.
Odegaard & Eze's seasons so far
Now, it should be said that neither Odegaard nor Eze have had a bad season for Arsenal so far.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
In fact, both players have had some really impressive moments in red and white, but it’s also true that they’ve been somewhat disappointing at times.
Starting with the former Crystal Palace star, it would be fair to say that few signings in the Emirates era have been met with such excitement from the fans.
However, while he scored the incredible hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur and that acrobatic effort against his own side, there have been more than a few games in which he’s totally ghosted.
For example, away to Aston Villa, he was removed at half-time, and then at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he created practically nothing and again had to be removed from the game.
With that said, Eze’s talent is still incredibly evident, and with more time, he’ll surely become more and more effective for the North Londoners.
Moving on to the club captain, the most disappointing aspect of his campaign so far this year is that he hasn’t been available enough.
The Norwegian is never going to be as flash as the Englishman, but his ability to move the ball up the pitch, instigate the press and keep hold of the ball has been instrumental for the team over the last few years.
So, the fact that he’s played just 620 minutes of action across 13 matches and already missed 66 days of action through injury this year is far from ideal.
Moreover, this has unsurprisingly led him to look a little rusty at times when he has come on or started games.
In all, Eze and Odegaard are hugely talented footballers, but Arteta doesn’t have to, nor should he, rely solely on them, especially when he has someone in the squad who could become Arsenal’s answer to Foden.
Arsenal's answer to Foden
Arsenal have plenty of seriously talented players in their squad, but when it comes down to someone who could be their answer to Foden, only one player comes to mind: Ethan Nwaneri.
Now, this isn’t to say that the Hale Ender is as good as the City star at the moment.
However, there is every chance that the youngster could become as much of a game-changer as his compatriot, especially as there are already several parallels between them.
For example, both players have come through the academies of a ‘big six’ side; they are both English and, more crucially, share some similarities in how they play the game.
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Like the City star, the 18-year-old is primarily an attacking midfielder, but has plenty of experience playing out wide and has proven himself capable of playing there at a high level.
Nwaneri in 25/26
Appearances
10
Minutes
427′
Goals
1
Assists
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.1
Minutes per Goal Involvement
427′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, the often “unplayable” dynamo, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, scored nine goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 1378 minutes.
That means the teen phenom averaged a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or, more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes, which helps justify Joe Cole’s claim that “he’s the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.”
This highlights another trait both players share: a desire to get the ball forward and either take a shot themselves or create a chance for their teammates at every opportunity.
In other words, while someone like Odegaard might be happier to keep hold of the ball and carefully work an angle, the two Englishmen are more explosive, more direct.
Ultimately, with all that in mind, so long as he starts to get more game time, then one analyst’s claim that “Ethan Nwaneri will be Arsenal’s version of Phil Foden” seems like an entirely reasonable one.
Arsenal flop is fast becoming their worst signing since Mustafi
Things are not looking great for the Arsenal star this season.
Darren Pattinson bowled his first over on the opening day at Trent Bridge at around 11.05 am and also bowled the final over at around 6.30 pm. During that time 20 wickets tumbled as Pattinson ripped Lancashire apart with a career-best 6 for 30 before Nottinghamshire were removed for 202. It was the second time in two matches that Lancashire had been involved in such a day, following their game against Durham last week. Pattinson took a five-wicket haul on his county debut in the opening match of the season against Kent, but had to move aside while Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad were available. With those two on England duty, Pattinson had another chance and responded in destructive fashion. Lancashire’s top order – missing Mohammad Yousuf who has had some minor visa issues – slumped to 16 for 4, and later the last six wickets went for 12. In between Stuart Law (55) and Steven Croft began a recovery but Mark Ealham started the second collapse by having Croft caught by Graeme Swann. Wickets continued to fall as Nottinghamshire slipped to 43 for 3. Samit Patel produced the best innings of the day, adding 93 with Mark Wagh (55), and Patel’s 74 off 71 balls took his team into the lead before Gary Keedy – the first spiner of the match – grabbed two quick wickets. Croft then swiftly wrapped up the innings with his medium-pace, although the lead of 89 is useful on a lively surface. The pitch inspectors are on their way for the start of the second day.Chris Tremlett continued the promising form he showed for England Lions last week with five wickets as Hampshire had a productive first day against Surrey at The Rose Bowl. He removed Jon Batty for a duck and returned to have Scott Newman bowled via an inside edge when he appeared set. Mark Ramprakash, searching for his 100th hundred, was caught behind for 17 as plenty of Surrey batsmen made starts without capitalising. Mark Butcher, well caught by Sean Ervine at midwicket, and Usman Afzaal fell in the forties despite being dropped three times between them. Matthew Nicholson’s 40 gave the total some respectability and the day ended on a positive note for Surrey when Jimmy Ormond removed Michael Carberry in his first over.The Somerset top order enjoyed the conditions at Taunton and Sussex endured a tough day in the field. James Hildreth scored his first Championship century of the season as the visitors were made to toil in typically batsman-friendly conditions. Chris Adams put Somerset in, perhaps swayed by last week’s match when Somerset were 23 for 6 against Hampshire. Neil Edwards was within touching distance of his own century but, having advanced out of the crease against Ollie Rayner, was run out for 99 by some swift work from Chris Adams at slip. Marcus Trescothick hit 74 with 11 boundaries before becoming Corey Collymore’s first Championship wicket.Click here for John Ward’s report of the first day’s play between Durham and Yorkshireat Chester-le-Street where Michael Di Venuto dominated with an unbeaten 184.
Second Division
Chris Taylor and Steven Snell hit centuries to haul Gloucestershire out of a hole against Worcestershire at New Road. The pair added 222 in 53 overs for the sixth wicket after the top order had fallen against the new ball to leave them struggling on 85 for 5. Simon Jones struck twice in his first spell, but Taylor and Snell carried the game away from Worcestershire. Snell began his cricketing life on the Isle of Wright and has now been preferred ahead of Stephen Adshead in the Championship. He reached his first century off 179 balls while Taylor hit four sixes in his 137 before being caught behind off Gareth Batty. But the momentum was now with Gloucestershire, a point emphatically hammered home by Mark Hardinges’ 43-ball half-century during the final session.Jonathan Clare continued the impressive form, which has earned him a contract extension, and his unbeaten 70 boosted a mediocre batting performance by Derbyshire at Sophia Gardens. The Glamorgan attack made early inroads as James Harris helped reduce Derbyshire to 66 for 3. Chris Rogers made 69 before being caught behind off David Harrison, but Clare and Graham Wagg (32) started the fightback with a stand of 50. Robert Croft worked his way through the tail to end with four wickets, including his 900th for Glamorgan. Matthew Wood fell early to Wagg, but Gareth Rees gave Glamorgan a solid platform to their reply.2nd dayJacques du Toit hit his maiden first-class century as Leicestershire piled up 527, their highest total for nearly two years, against Northamptonshire at Grace Road. He built on the solid work from the top order on the opening day, adding 129 with Paul Nixon (79) for the seventh wicket. Even when Nicky Boje removed them both the problems didn’t stop for Northamptonshire as Jermaine Lawson clubbed 35 off 29 balls at No. 11. Niall O’Brien built a solid response after Lawson removed Stephen Peters with a leg-stump yorker, finishing the day unbeaten on 76.
Brian Lara has said that he retired from international cricket on his own terms in spite of his surprising announcement at the end of West Indies’ unsuccessful 2007 World Cup campaign.Lara had initially planned only to retire from one-day internationals at the end of the tournament but was expected to be part of the ongoing tour of England. “We needed a new direction, someone who was willing to see some sort of change,” Lara said in an exclusive interview in . “I was willing to do that. I wanted to come to England but I had also said I wanted to finish with one-dayers. It’s not ideal but then how many things in life are?”Lara also indicated that he could be playing cricket again in six to eight months although he refused to be drawn who for and at what level. “I think I am going to play cricket again. If I go six or eight months without cricket I would lose it and I don’t want to lose it yet.”He was part of a West Indian side that suffered a massive slump in form over the last decade. Lara, in fact, has been involved in 63 Test defeats, the most for any player. “I’ve done what I could do so I’m happy with me,” he said when asked if he felt fulfilled. “As a team, we’ve not been able to climb out of the doldrums so that will remain on my mind. That does not rest well with me. I leave West Indies cricket with my head held high. I’ve tried my best and I’ve worked my arse off. Maybe I could have done things differently but I’ve done things my way – that’s the most important thing.”
If a man wants to fault me, then fine. But respect me for trying and that I didn’t short-change anyone
If a man wants to fault me, then fine. But respect me for trying and that I didn’t short-change anyone.”Lara insists that the problems with West Indies cricket ran deep. “It’s that we don’t have a good infrastructure for young guys to develop. West Indies have a great Under-15 side. I know a 16-year-old guy in Trinidad who’s awesome but I worry for him because of the facilities. A mediocre Australian cricketer at 17 or 18 will be slapping everyone all over the world five years later. If you don’t have facilities and you don’t have employment then you have a negative atmosphere.”It’s a cliché that cricket is the only unifying force in the Caribbean. It is but there are a lot of other factors that keep us apart. Success in sport and war will always unite but you need to have a greater foundation and a greater core. That has been tested through the decline of West Indies cricket and we have seen how divided we are as a people.”
Joey Carew, convenor of West Indies’ selection panel, has declined to comment on Brian Lara’s plea to include a bowler of genuine pace in the squad for the third Test. With the St Kitts Test due to start on Thursday, Carew has, however, agreed with Lara on the fact that pitches in the Caribbean need improvement.In response to Lara’s suggestion that Jermaine Lawson be considered for selection in the absence of Fidel Edwards, sidelined since the first Test with a hamstring injury, Carew told the : “Brian said that he spoke to some people who said that Jermaine Lawson, the quickie from Jamaica, is ready, but we still have our doubts about his bowling action. He has been called internationally for throwing, and even in a local match. For Lawson to be included in the team, we must see him bowling at top pace with a clean action.”Carew, a former Trinidad and Tobago captain and West Indies opener, was of the opinion that the ideal bowling combination would be three fast bowlers, a spinner, and Dwayne Bravo, the allrounder. “You see when you have this kind of composition, you have an attack that can perform on any surface, because there is variety at your disposal,” he said. “I think that pretty soon, these guys will break the ice and start winning matches for us. So far, we have had some encouraging signs, and it is just a matter of time before they make the breakthrough.””We need better pitches in the Caribbean,” Carew added. “Look at India, they cannot even bowl us out twice. Looking at our bowling attack, a major factor has so far been the absence of Fidel Edwards through injury. He was an essential part of our attack and would have provided the pace that is necessary to be penetrative on such pitches.”Carew said he believed West Indies would begin winning Test matches soon. “What I would like to see happening at present is our batsmen compiling more runs,” he explained. “We have been drawing matches, and even if we cannot win matches presently, then they should not be struggling to draw games.”Carew gave no reasons as to why Dave Mohammed, the left-arm spinner, was omitted from the 13-man squad for the third Test.
Shane Deitz provided the highlight for South Australia’s 2nd XI and in the process helped his side recover to be 294/5 at the end of the first day of their ACB cup clash with Western Australia’s 2nd XI at Tompkins Park in Perth yesterday.Western Australia won the toss and, on a cold damp blustery morning atMelville Cricket club’s home ground Tompkins Park, asked South Australiato bat first.Jack Smith and Daniel Harris opened to the attack of Michael Clark andStuart KarppinenIn the fourth over Smith was dropped by second slip Adam Voges off Karppinenwithout scoring. Four overs later he was caught at point by Brett Jonesoff Karppinen for two (26 balls) to leave South Australia 12/1.After only a brief but successful spell, Karppinen was replaced at the Riverend by Callum Thorp who carried on through to the drinks break. However, justbefore that break, Voges (who was still in second slip) earned the ire ofthe change bowler Thorp when he dropped his second catch of the day – thistime off Ben Higgins when that batsman was on eight. Voges was soonbanished to the outfield.When the first session drinks break was taken after 14 overs had beenbowled, Harris had scored three (46) and Higgins fourteen (21) and the SouthAustralian score was 1/30.Andrew James replaced Clark at the Canning Road end. The former Canberranquick spraying the ball either side of the wicket in his first over with sixruns being taken off it.James’ next over had a double breakthrough. Playing well away from his bodyoutside off, Higgins was unlucky to have played the ball off the inside edgeand into the stumps behind him after scoring 27 runs (38). Two balls laterMark Cosgrove was out edging to the ‘keeper Ronchi without scoring and fromthe last ball of the over. James followed this up with a sharp maiden over.James was replaced by Beau Casson who bowled two economical overs beforethe lunch break, and lunch was taken with the weather improving and SouthAustralia steady at 3/75 after 28 overs.Wes Thomas 15 (47) was caught in the 34th over when he edged to the ‘keeperLuke Ronchi from the bowling of Michael Thistle (bowling from the River end). South Australia were 4/85. By drinks in the middle session, Daniel Harris (38) and Deitz (15) had moved the score to 114.Deitz pulled at a short ball from James sending it high and deep overfine leg where it fell dangerously close to a river. The six took hisscore along to 36.Before tea, Thorp replaced Karppinen at the River end and then Cassonreplaced James at the Canning Road end. Tea came and the ground was againdark and gloomy with the score on 4/167 with Harris 60 andDeitz 41 after 57 overs.Harris was on 60 (172) when he fell as he pushed out to a ballfrom Thorp and nicked it through to the ‘keeper Ronchi when the score was 168.Michael Thistle came in for some punishment after he replaced Thorp at theRiver end with 26 runs being taken off six overs in his final spell.James replaced Casson as WA took the new ball after 80 overs and the scoreon 5/242. His first two overs of this spell were maidens keepingFerguson quiet. With Deitz on strike for the next two overs he conceded nineruns.The cloud cover had returned when Deitz brought up his centuryturning the ball from James into the leg-side and coming back for thesecond. The South Australians were right onto that fact and gave him agoodly round of appreciation from their positions under the club houseeaves. The Western Australian supporters too were equally generous. Inthree and a half hours of batting Deitz entertained with shots to allparts of the ground with measured aggression at times and respect atother times.At stumps, with picturesque shafts of light bursting through the cloudslow on the horizon, South Australia had taken their score along to 294/5 wickets. Deitz was the story of the day, his unbeaten knockof 114 (197) was chanceless. Harris gave a chance which wasn’t taken andwent on to make 60 before becoming Thorp’s only scalp. Ferguson 48 (117)also remained unbeaten at day’s end, a stalwart ally for Deitz in the unbroken sixth wicket stand of 126.For Western Australia there can be only a measure of disappointment atthe end of this day after chances went begging, allowing the batsmen to take full advantage. Double wicket-taker James was wayward and expensive. Thistle andKarppinen probably could have done more. Callum Thorp was impressivelydisciplined but largely went unrewarded for his efforts and Casson and Clarkboth bowled courageously but without any luck.This game will continue for the next three days with the weather outlookbecoming fine. The facilities at the Melville CC’s ground are fantastic.
Sri Lanka stopped Shane Warne from overhauling Courtney Walsh’s 519-wicket world record – but could not prevent Australia from inflicting their first series whitewash on home soil with a 121-run victory at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Warne played his part, snapping up four wickets in the final session, as Sri Lanka came within eight balls of saving the game before they were finally bowled out for 248.During the afternoon, the band played, Warne toiled, and the threat of SriLanka’s first home whitewash seemed to be fading as Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene battened down the hatches after lunch, and added 64 in 160 balls for the third wicket.Warne had failed to make any headway despite the dusty dry pitch, and Australia’s seamers were also beginning to show signs of tiredness after an exhausting tour, although Michael Kasprowicz was still gunbarrel-straight and Jason Gillespie occasionally conjured up some real devil from the placid surface.But as tea approached, Darren Lehmann – the Man of the Match after 153 in the first innings and five wickets in the game – reclaimed the initiative for Australia with the wickets of Samaraweera and Jayawardene. At 186 for 4, the Sri Lankans sipped their tea nervously.Samaraweera, pushed up to No. 3, had bedded down on his favourite home pitch (he has scored all three of his Test tons here) and looked set for a long stay as he passed 50 again. But then he was drawn down the pitch and stumped (156 for 3). Then Jayawardene, who had batted so well and watchfully for his 97-ball 37, was given out caught behind off Lehmann, although the TV replays showed the ball had only brushed his pad (181 for 4).After tea, Warne finally claimed his first wicket of the innings as KumarSangakkara – who was shifted down toNo. 5 after Samaraweera’s promotion – patted a legbreak defensively which then spun between his legs onto the stumps. He made 27 (191 for 5).
Hashan Tillakaratne and Tillakaratne Dilshan held Australia’s bowlers at bay for nearly an hour. Tillakaratne blocked each delivery, while Dilshan played his natural free-spirited game, hitting five fours and speeding to 31 from 44 balls. But Dilshan’s aggressive approach eventually proved his downfall, as he miscued an attempted inside-out drive over cover and was caught at mid-off (232 for 6). The breakthrough opened up Sri Lanka’s lower order – and, crucially, the new ball was just moments away.Tillakaratne’s last innings as captain ended shortly after the start of thefinal hour when he was trapped in front by Jason Gillespie, who was hunting for his 200th wicket with a shiny new ball. Warne returned to the attack to snare Nuwan Zoysa four overs later.Chaminda Vaas resisted for 74 minutes for his 9, eschewing thedaring approach that had cost Sri Lanka dearly in the second Test at Kandy, but was finally trapped lbw by Warne in the 13th over of the final hour. Next over, the penultimate of the series, Kasprowicz pinned Rangana Herath leg-before for a duck, to seal Australia’s victory.Sri Lanka’s morning had started brightly, with Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu extending their opening partnership to 45. Jayasuriya cut a couple of early boundaries and Atapattu drove crisply straight down the ground. Kasprowicz was denied Jayasuriya’s wicket on 28 when Adam Gilchrist floored a difficult one-handed chance.But Kasprowicz was not to be deprived for long, as Atapattu’s off stump was sent cartwheeling by an offcutter, a carbon copy of his first-innings dismissal. He made 14 (45 for 1). It was the sixth time in 11 innings during this tour that Atapattu’s stumps had been rattled, a worrying statistic for an opening batsman.Jayasuriya’s 131 at Kandy was an electric innings, a knock that carried SriLanka to the brink of a famous win, but today’s was more sedate. There was the odd signature rifle-cracking boundary through the off side, an area the Australians protected with a deep point, but he stopped short of an all-out assault.Nevertheless, Sri Lanka were scoring at a good rate, and local dreamers might have started to ponder a remarkable victory. But an umpiring blunder quashed those hopes when Jayasuriya was given out caught at backward short leg off Lehmann’s first delivery of the morning. Like Jayawardene’s dismissal later on, the ball appeared only to brush the pad.It was that sort of day for Sri Lanka. And the news didn’t get any better after the match, when it was revealed that Chris Broad, the match referee, was reporting Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action to the ICC. Broad, it seems, has reservations about Murali’s newish doosra delivery.