minfkas
01-15-2010, 09:23 AM
Sri Lanka start the event as one of the favourites to win the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup having enjoyed an excellent finish to 2009, where it won a limited-overs series against Australia and also captured a tri-series at home to Bangladesh and Pakistan in December.
Its 3-2 win in Australia, which meant it had become the first national side from Sri Lanka to win a series in Australia, was credited to detailed warm-up preparations, where it played a total of 20 practice matches ahead of the series, as well as to the input of team consultant Aravinda de Silva, who was working to support former Sri Lanka international, Naveed Nawaz, as team coach.
Having sealed that series in the deciding encounter, it again illustrated that it had the nerve for the big occasion when it defeated Pakistan by one wicket off the final ball of the game to capture the tri-series in December.
Sri Lanka hosted the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2000 and 2006 and was runner-up in the former event losing to India by six wickets in the final.
In the 2008 event in Malaysia, it had a mixed tournament which started brilliantly with impressive wins over Australia, Namibia and Nepal, but ended in disappointment when it lost to New Zealand by 79 runs in the quarter-final and then to England by eight runs (D/L method) in the fifth-place play-off semi-final.
Sri Lanka will expect runs to come in from hard-hitter Banuka Rajapaksa, Rumesh Buddika and Kithruwan Vithanage.
Medium pacers Chathura Peiris and Charith Jayampathi and spinner Rushan Jaleel were instrumental against Australia and will look forward to a good performance in the tournament.
Placed in a group with New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Canada it should progress comfortably into the last eight and it will be hoping it will once again be able to keep its nerve when it matters.
PLAYER TO WATCH
BANUKA RAJAPAKSA
His stunning 154 not out in a seven-wicket victory against Australia U19 in 2009 highlighted his potential and he has already featured at senior domestic level in Twenty20 cricket, with a strike-rate of almost a run a ball. He lists Kumar Sangakkara as his cricketing hero, although compares his game to Adam Gilchrist due to both having an aggressive style of batting. A pet lover, being particularly interested in dogs, he also enjoys playing squash and swimming in his spare time.
http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/chatura-peiris-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/chatura-peiris.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/akshu-fernando-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/akshu-fernando.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/andri-berenger-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/andri-berenger.html)Chatura Peiris (c) (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/chatura-peiris.html)Akshu Fernando (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/akshu-fernando.html)Andri Berenger (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/andri-berenger.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/banuka-rajapaksa-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/banuka-rajapaksa.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/charith-jayampathi-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/charith-jayampathi.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/danishka-gunathilleke-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/danishka-gunathilleke.html)Banuka Rajapaksa (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/banuka-rajapaksa.html)Charith Jayampathi (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/charith-jayampathi.html)Danishka Gunathilleke (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/danishka-gunathilleke.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/denuwan-rajakaruna-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/denuwan-rajakaruna.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/kasun-madushanka-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kasun-madushanka.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/kithuruwan-vithanage-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kithuruwan-vithanage.html)Denuwan Rajakaruna (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/denuwan-rajakaruna.html)Kasun Madushanka (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kasun-madushanka.html)Kithuruwan Vithanage (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kithuruwan-vithanage.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/lahiru-jayaratne-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/lahiru-jayaratne.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/maduka-liyanapathiranage-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/maduka-liyanapathiranage.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/rumesh-buddika-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rumesh-buddika.html)Lahiru Jayaratne (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/lahiru-jayaratne.html)Maduka Liyanapathiranage (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/maduka-liyanapathiranage.html)Rumesh Buddika (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rumesh-buddika.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/rushan-jaleel-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rushan-jaleel.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/saranga-rajaguru-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/saranga-rajaguru.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/udara-jayasundera-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/udara-jayasundera.html)Rushan Jaleel (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rushan-jaleel.html)Saranga Rajaguru (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/saranga-rajaguru.html)Udara Jayasundera (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/udara-jayasundera.html)
Its 3-2 win in Australia, which meant it had become the first national side from Sri Lanka to win a series in Australia, was credited to detailed warm-up preparations, where it played a total of 20 practice matches ahead of the series, as well as to the input of team consultant Aravinda de Silva, who was working to support former Sri Lanka international, Naveed Nawaz, as team coach.
Having sealed that series in the deciding encounter, it again illustrated that it had the nerve for the big occasion when it defeated Pakistan by one wicket off the final ball of the game to capture the tri-series in December.
Sri Lanka hosted the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2000 and 2006 and was runner-up in the former event losing to India by six wickets in the final.
In the 2008 event in Malaysia, it had a mixed tournament which started brilliantly with impressive wins over Australia, Namibia and Nepal, but ended in disappointment when it lost to New Zealand by 79 runs in the quarter-final and then to England by eight runs (D/L method) in the fifth-place play-off semi-final.
Sri Lanka will expect runs to come in from hard-hitter Banuka Rajapaksa, Rumesh Buddika and Kithruwan Vithanage.
Medium pacers Chathura Peiris and Charith Jayampathi and spinner Rushan Jaleel were instrumental against Australia and will look forward to a good performance in the tournament.
Placed in a group with New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Canada it should progress comfortably into the last eight and it will be hoping it will once again be able to keep its nerve when it matters.
PLAYER TO WATCH
BANUKA RAJAPAKSA
His stunning 154 not out in a seven-wicket victory against Australia U19 in 2009 highlighted his potential and he has already featured at senior domestic level in Twenty20 cricket, with a strike-rate of almost a run a ball. He lists Kumar Sangakkara as his cricketing hero, although compares his game to Adam Gilchrist due to both having an aggressive style of batting. A pet lover, being particularly interested in dogs, he also enjoys playing squash and swimming in his spare time.
http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/chatura-peiris-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/chatura-peiris.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/akshu-fernando-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/akshu-fernando.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/andri-berenger-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/andri-berenger.html)Chatura Peiris (c) (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/chatura-peiris.html)Akshu Fernando (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/akshu-fernando.html)Andri Berenger (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/andri-berenger.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/banuka-rajapaksa-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/banuka-rajapaksa.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/charith-jayampathi-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/charith-jayampathi.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/danishka-gunathilleke-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/danishka-gunathilleke.html)Banuka Rajapaksa (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/banuka-rajapaksa.html)Charith Jayampathi (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/charith-jayampathi.html)Danishka Gunathilleke (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/danishka-gunathilleke.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/denuwan-rajakaruna-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/denuwan-rajakaruna.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/kasun-madushanka-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kasun-madushanka.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/kithuruwan-vithanage-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kithuruwan-vithanage.html)Denuwan Rajakaruna (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/denuwan-rajakaruna.html)Kasun Madushanka (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kasun-madushanka.html)Kithuruwan Vithanage (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/kithuruwan-vithanage.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/lahiru-jayaratne-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/lahiru-jayaratne.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/maduka-liyanapathiranage-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/maduka-liyanapathiranage.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/rumesh-buddika-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rumesh-buddika.html)Lahiru Jayaratne (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/lahiru-jayaratne.html)Maduka Liyanapathiranage (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/maduka-liyanapathiranage.html)Rumesh Buddika (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rumesh-buddika.html) http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/rushan-jaleel-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rushan-jaleel.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/saranga-rajaguru-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/saranga-rajaguru.html)http://e.yimg.com/ni/icccricket/iccu19/images/player-images/srilanka/66-74/udara-jayasundera-small.jpg (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/udara-jayasundera.html)Rushan Jaleel (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/rushan-jaleel.html)Saranga Rajaguru (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/saranga-rajaguru.html)Udara Jayasundera (http://iccu19worldcup.yahoo.net/teams-and-players/player-profile/srilanka/udara-jayasundera.html)