Several senior players, including Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera and Ajantha Mendis, were left out for next month's tri-series with Bangladesh and India. Former captain Mahela Jayawardene, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, all-rounder Angelo Mathews and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando were not available due to injury.
Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis bowled Sri Lanka to an innings and 239-run victory in the first Test against India on Saturday.
Bangalore Royal Challengers skipper Kevin Pietersen has been warned by the Indian Premier League for showing dissent over an umpiring decision during his side's humiliating 92-run loss at the hands of Chennai Super Kings on Monday. Pietersen received an official warning from the IPL for objecting his first-ball leg before wicket dismissal against Sri Lanka veteran spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed a match haul of 9-140 to propel Sri Lanka to an 88-run victory in the first Test against England on Wednesday.
Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan broke Shane Warne's all-time Test wickets record and Sanath Jayasuriya scored 78 in the second innings on the third day of the first Test to pave the way for Sri Lanka to edge into control against England on Monday.
"Murali has so much cricket left in him that I have little doubt that he will reach the 700-wicket mark in Test cricket," the former Sri Lankan batsman said.
Cricket Australia has roped in Muttiah Muralitharan as spin consultant ahead of Australia's tour to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka also called up Nuwan Zoysa for the first time since June 2002 for the first Test against Australia.
Muttiah Muralitharan goes into the first Test against a second-string Zimbabwe side within sight of one of cricket's most celebrated records.
Muttiah Muralitharan is keen to set the record straight in India during the Champions Trophy.
Muttiah Muralitharan said Kevin Pietersen's innings of 142 was one of the best he had seen
Muttiah Muralitharan claimed his 300th wicket in ODIs as Sri Lanka beat England by 31 runs in the tri-series.
Former Australian umpire Darrell Hair, who triggered a storm by accusing Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan of chucking 16 years ago, says Indian tweaker Harbhajan Singh is also among the bowlers with "highly suspicious action".
Sri Lanka will be hoping for help from wickets more suitable for spin bowling in the next two Tests against Australia after losing the opener by 137 runs on a Hobart track described as a "minefield" by coach Graham Ford.
Veteran Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan does not consider his swansong Test against India a "big match" and says he would not feel sad if he retires without touching the unprecedented 800-wicket mark.
Kumar Sangakkara has been appointed Sri Lanka captain, the selectors confirmed on Wednesday. Sangakkara, 31, the vice-captain since 2006, was the obvious heir apparent to Mahela Jayawardene, who stepped down after the recent Pakistan tour which was abandoned when gunmen attacked the team bus on the way to the stadium in Lahore.
Legendary Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who has the highest number of Test wickets under his belt, is planning to quit cricket's longer version after the tour of West Indies in October.
Sri Lanka picked a four-man pace attack with all rounder Farveez Maharoof taking the place of injured spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Ashwin has been in brilliant form in the ongoing Test series against Australia.
Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir will replace Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as one of the two foreign recruits in Australian state side Victoria Bushrangers for the upcoming KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. 'The 24-year-old Tanvir joins the West Indies' Dwayne Bravo as the two international signings for the tournament, following the withdrawal of the Sri Lankan spin king, who has scheduling conflicts,' read a Victoria Bushrangers statement.
Sri Lanka's spin wizard and Test cricket's highest wicket-taker will play for Bengal in their Ranji Trophy campaign this season.
Pune Warriors batsman Monish Mishra tells Manu Shankar the IPL is the perfect platform to showcase one's talent.
Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ignored a hamstring problem as he propelled Sri Lanka to a thumping 112-run victory over New Zealand in their final Group A match at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
Containing big-hitting Brendon McCullum and the best utilisation of his key spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is what Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori is thinking ahead of their IPL clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, in Bangalore, on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan feels India's Ravichandran Ashwin is presently the best spinner in the world and his achievements with the ball are a testimony to his greatness.
Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been included in the 16-member squad for the three-Test series against India, starting at Galle on July 18. He made his last Test appearance in December 2007 against England.
The Sri Lankan off-spinner said that New Zealand were unsporting in executing his run out in the first Test.
Ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has also been included in the team's 15-man squad.
Australia's unprecedented workload could actually help him get back in the Test team, feels fast bowler Brett Lee.
Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up a record 420 wickets in 71 Tests played in Asia -- the most by an Indian bowler.
Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker is to fly home to Kandy following the death of his aunt.
Sri Lanka won the third ODI to take an unassailable 3-0 lead over England in the five-match series
Legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on Friday said Australia does not have enough fire in its bowling unit, which is the reason for its extended poor run and may also dent chances in the upcoming Ashes series against England.
India may have flopped in the opening Test against Sri Lanka but opener Virender Sehwag held on to the number one spot, while Sachin Tendulkar gained a place to be seventh in the latest ICC rankings for batsmen issued on Friday.
Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga on Monday said he believes that ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan can end up with more than 1000 Test wickets if he plays for another few years. The 47-year-old was effusive in his praise of India ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said India are on the right track in their preparation for the 2011 World Cup.
South Africa's Dale Steyn climbed to third in the International Cricket Council Test bowling rankings following his match-winning performances against New Zealand. The 24-year-old fast bowler took 20 wickets in his team's 2-0 series win over New Zealand, moving up five spots to lie just behind team mate Makhaya Ntini in the rankings.
The duo have been left out of the training squad for the New Zealand series.
Bangladesh slumped to an innings and 234 run defeat in the first Test with Muttiah Muralitharan claiming a match haul of nine for 102.
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