On Tuesday, a record number turned out at the R. Premadasa Stadium to witness the seventh ODI between Sri Lanka and England. The 2012 World T-20 final at the same venue had a few empty seats, but Tuesday was a packed house.

With former captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara announcing their retirements, many expected another former captain Tillekeratne Dilshan to quit as well. Dilshan is one year older than Mahela and Sanga, but he said that he will continue to play limited overs cricket beyond the World Cup, a move welcomed by his skipper Angelo Mathews.

The Sri Lanka Test team took wing to New Zealand for a 2-match series on 18th December morning as Angelo Mathews will lead a young and energetic squad in his first tour to Kiwi land. 

TM Dilshan’s first ton in 2014 and a 3-wicket haul led Sri Lanka to a memorable 87-run win over England in the 7th ODI played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday to send off their two great servants, Mahela and Sangakkara with a glorious 5-2 series win at home.

England’s players have one last chance to put their hands up for a World Cup place when they face Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

 Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara has expressed his keenness to join English county side Surrey during the next season.

The incident happened at the beginning of the 34th over in Sri Lanka’s innings when Sangakkara got involved in a prolonged discussion with on-field umpire Bruce Oxenford

Sri Lankan cricket hierarchy over the years has used unorthodox players to devastating effect just at the right time. They had decided long before the 1996 World Cup to use explosive openers Romesh Kaluwitharana and Sanath Jayasuriya, but implemented it just before the tournament and the ploy paid off.

Kandy witnessed their local boy, Kumar Sangakkara score a magnificent ton in what would be his final match in his home town as Sri Lanka took an unbeatable 4-2 lead winning the sixth ODI by 90 runs on Saturday.   

Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Shahid Afridi of Pakistan are in line to become the most experienced players in ICC Cricket World Cup history, after they were named in provisional squads for the tournament that starts on 14 February.