CRICKET (Abroad):
* The England 'A' team for their forth coming tours to Kenya and Sri Lanka have been finalised. The England 'A', team led by Nick Knight will be touring Sri Lanka in November and will be engaged in three four-day unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka 'A' Tests and three One-day 'internationals'.
The other members of the tour party are D.A. Cosker (Glamorgan), M.A Ealham (Kent), A. Flintoff (Lancashire), A.F. Giles (Warwickshire), B.C. Hollioake (Yorkshire), P.M. Hutchison (Yorkshire), S.P. James (Glamorgan), D.L. Maddy (Leicestershire), D.C. Nash (Middlesex), J.C. Powell (Essex), D.J.G. Sales (Northantamshire), O.A. Shah (Middlesex) C.E.W.Silverwood (Yorkshire).
* One of India's popular English weekly published in Mumbai, 'Sunday Mid-Day' has published a full page article on Sri Lanka's dashing opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya branding him as the Matara Mauler.
The last edition of the 'Sunday Mid-day' says one could observe the 'Matara Mauler' put his hand into his right pocket while he is at the middle. ``That apparently is to touch the good luck charm which a monk has given him'' it said.
Ravi Shastri, former India captain and now a TV commentator, has told the weekly that the chances of Jayasuriya succeeding on faster wickets are very good. ``He has the ability to adapt and he is no slogger, if that is the word'', says Shastri.''I have a feeling he would come pretty good on a faster wicket against a bowler of say, Allan Donald's calibre''. The weekly further said ''Yet, Jayasuriya remains a picture of modesty, a man who has time and a smile for everyone. The amount of attention he commands is amazing.
(Home):
* Lanka Cavaliers will be in Moneragala this weekend to conduct their second outstation cricket programme at the Pelwatte Sugar Industries, Buttala grounds. It is organised by the Moneragala District CA. They will play an exhibition match against Moneragala DCA X1 on Sunday.
On the following day, a coaching clinic for the cricketers in the area will be held. This follows a highly successful launch at Anuradhapura last month. The other programmes scheduled by the Lanka Cavaliers will be at Matale in October and Badulla in November. This group is led by Sri Lanka's first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, Jayantha Seneviratne and many former national players of repute.
Lanka Cavaliers comprise Bandula Warnapura, Jayantha Seneviratne, Jerry Woutersz, Basil Perera, Mervyn Fernando, Damian Fernando, K. H. Nandasena, Kirthi Gunaratne, Bandula de Silva, Lantra Fernando, C. P. P. Raj, Mike Raj, Zareen Hameed, Dushan Soza, Chitral Mendis, Dennis Davis, Peter Manuel, S. Illangaratnam, Mahesh Jayasekera, Daya Sirisena, Desmond Woutersz and Lakith Pieris.
* Twenty two top sides have been invited to participate at the 5th Lemonade Challenge Trophy Schools Invitation Knock-Out Six-a-Side Cricket tournament conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club at Campbell Park on September 27 and 28. The teams taking part are De Mazenod, Isipatana MV, St. Sebastian's, St. Benedict's, Nalanda, Dharmapala, St. Joseph's, Royal, S. Thomas', St. Peter's, Thurstan, Prince of Wales, Wesley, Kalutara MV, Richmond, Kingswood, D. S. Senanayake College, Joseph Vaz, Maris Stella, Sri Piyaratne MV, Sri Jayawardenapura MV and Lumbini MV.
All matches will be played with the white ball, black sight screens and coloured shirts. Matches will be worked off on turf, but if rain intervenes, matches will be played on matting. Among the other trophies to be awarded at this tournament are - Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder, Man of the Tournament and Man of the Final.