Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag admitted the presence of Kevin Pietersen and Mahela Jayawardene in the line-up gave him the freedom to go for his shots at the start of innings.
Their crucial contribution in guiding India to their first World Cup title in 28 years on Sunday fetched the trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan a place in the International Cricket Council's Team of the Tournament.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene once again led from the front, hitting his second century in as many Tests to steer his side to 238 for six on the opening day of the second and final match against England on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene combined luck and pluck to hit his 30th Test century and steer the hosts to a respectable 289 for eight wickets on day one of the first Test against England on Monday.
The first sights that greet a visitor at the Colombo airport are billboards that reach out on cricket's behalf: 'Ayubowan! Welcome to where cricket is a way of life,' 'Welcome to a cricket loving nation,' Come, share our passion for cricket,' Get set to eat, breathe, and live cricket.'
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.
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene rued the lack of partnerships upfront as they lost to Australia by 16 runs in the last and decisive final of the tri-series in Adelaide.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene was proud of his team even though it lost the Commonwealth Bank one-day tri-series to Australia in Adelaide.
After registering a comprehensive win over Australia in the second final of the tri-series, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene on Tuesday said that the key to his team's success against a tough opponent is to "compete well at all times".
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has been fined 10 percent of his match fee for arguing with the umpires during the second final of the best-of-the-three finals of tri-series against Australia in Adelaide.
Lasith Malinga has been taken to the cleaners for the second time in three games, but skipper Mahela Jayawardene backed the express bowler after his eight overs cost Sri Lanka 74 runs in the first final of the tri-series in Brisbane.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been dropped from Sri Lanka's 14-member squad for the Asia Cup, to be held in Dhaka from March 11 to 22.
A woeful India out of the equation, Australia and Sri Lanka will battle it out in best-of-three finals with the spirited islanders well-equipped to upstage the hosts in the summit clashes starting on Sunday.
Kumar Sangakkara (130 not out) played the captain's role to perfection to bolster Sri Lanka's position in the second Test against India at the SSC ground in Colombo on Monday. The home team was 312 for two at close of play.
His team's prospects of reaching the tri-series final have been dented after the massive loss to India but Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday said he is glad that at least the islanders' fortunes are still in their own hands unlike their sub-continental neighbours.
The Indians may have had an indifferent tour of Australia but Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene on Monday cautioned his team-mates to guard against complacency when the two teams clash in a crucial tri-series match in Hobart on Tuesday.
Lasith Malinga became the first bowler to take three One-day international hat-tricks as Sri Lanka beat Australia by four wickets in the fifth and final match of their series on Monday.
The IPL V auction that was held in Bangalore on Saturday saw very surprises in terms of money spent by franchises to buy players. India's hard-hitting batsman, Ravindra Jadeja, who's batting prowess is now well known, was the top money-spinner at the auction with Chennai Super Kings buying him for a whopping Rs 9.72 crore. He was followed by Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who went for Rs 6.8 crore. Here are the Top-10 buys at the IPL auction.
Mahela Jayawardene, on Thursday, said he has taken up the Sri Lanka captaincy for a short term and rejected rumours that there was an internal bickering in the side.
Sri Lanka dropped veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and spinner Ajantha Mendis from their 15-member squad for the Asia Cup tournament starting in Colombo from June 15.
Lasith Malinga claimed five wickets as Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 183 runs in the one-day international tri-series, also featuring Ireland, at the Grange Cricket Club ground in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene will bat more freely after he reaches his milestone of 10,000 Test runs, feels captain Tillakaratne Dilshan.
A detailed statistical look at the group matches in the Indian Premier League.
The ICC flagship event will return to the country after more than a decade.
Mahela Jayawardene hit his maiden century in the IPL to guide Kings XI Punjab to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Sunday. Jayawardene, a last minute inclusion in place of the injured Shaun Marsh, finished unbeaten on a splendid innings 110 from 59 balls, having hit 13 boundaries and three sixes to give his team a much-needed victory.
Images from the IPL match between Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab in Cuttack on Friday.
Pakistan won by 21 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after compiling 257 for eight and bowling out Sri Lanka for 236 in 48.5 overs.
Kochi Tuskers Kerala skipper Mahela Jayawardene emphasised on the importance of achieving consistency, after his side's eight-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League match.
Pakistan, replying to Sri Lanka's first inings total of 413, were 35 for 2 at stumps on Day 2 of the third Test.
Kumar Sangakkara's 27th Test century helped Sri Lanka reach 245 for two and into a strong position at stumps on the first day of their must-win third and final Test against Pakistan in neutral Sharjah on Thursday.
Veteran Yuvraj Singh was seen holding the IPL trophy even as a few fans chanted 'Bumrah Bumrah' along the way.
For MI's top-scorer Kieron Pollard, it was Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga's 19th and 20th overs that made the difference.
Statistical highlights of the match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand played in Mumbai on Friday.
A controversial decision by the third umpire surrounding a 'catch' of Mahela Jayawardene by Nathan McCullum triggered an angry stand-off between New Zealand and Sri Lankan players in their World Cup Group 'A' fixture at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara hailed teammate Mahela Jayawardene's return to form, saying it augurs well for his team. With a weak Bangladeshi attack at his disposal, Jayawardene struck a cracking century to announce his return to form and Sangakkara said it suited his team.
Sri Lanka's young team are good enough to be competitive in the One-day tri-series in Bangladesh this month, coach Trevor Bayliss said on Sunday.
Kumar Sangakkara remained unbeaten on 61 in his 100th Test to launch a strong Sri Lankan reply to Australia's first innings total of 316 on the second day of the third and final Test on Saturday.
Sri Lanka vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene dismissed media reports that star batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan failed a dope test conducted during the ongoing World Cup.
Kumar Sangakkara took 152 innings to accomplish this feat -- two less than Sachin Tendulkar.
Images from day two of the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka at the P Sara Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.
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