Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva added 100 for the sixth wicket to boost Sri Lanka to 217 for 5 at close of the first day of the second Test against the West Indies on Thursday. After fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor had reduced the Sri Lankans to 117 for 5, Dilshan (58 not out) and Silva (37 not out) posted their century stand from just 101 balls. Only 46.3 overs were possible on a rain-interrupted day after Chris Gayle had won the toss.
The first Test starts from November 16 while Nagpur and Delhi will host the second and third Tests respectively before the sides play three one-day internationals and a same number of twenty20 internationals.
Sri Lanka's selectors have appointed Tillakaratne Dilshan as captain of the national side for all formats until the end of 2011.
A 15-year-old schoolboy needs to be eased into a senior team set-up, said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia as he explained the decision to allow Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents to accompany him on the white-ball tour of Ireland and England.
"At the same time we are also looking at exploring the possibility of rescheduling postponed tours and looking at the windows which are available and alternatives too."
Dashing batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan stepped down as Sri Lanka captain following the team's dismal performance in South Africa, where they lost both the Test and ODI series.
Sri Lanka ended Zimbabwe's day-long resistance seven overs from the end of play to grab victory by 225 runs on the final day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. Zimbabwe were bowled for 186 runs in their second innings within sight of what would have been a morale boosting draw. Sri Lanka's Dilruwan Perera and stand-in skipper Rangana Herath took three wickets each with Perera bowling out tailender Chris Mpofu in the 91st over of Zimbabwe's second innings to clinch victory despite a gallant knock by captain Graeme Cremer, who followed up a first innings century with a stubborn 43.
Thisara admitted his side were far from perfect after another batting disaster, he insisted they always knew they had a chance of success if their bowlers stepped up.
India were dismissed for 642 in their first innings after tea on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
It was the first time in Test cricket that a full day's play had been completed without a wicket falling since the first day of the second match between South Africa and Bangladesh on Feb. 29, 2008.
Concerted pressure from New Zealand's bowling attack pushed them to the brink of victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
On Saturday, India dismissed Sri Lanka for 245 in their second innings on day 4 to complete a comfortable win and lead the three-match series 1-0.
Hamish Marshall and Nathan Astle both made centuries as New Zealand piled on 561, their sixth highest total in Test cricket.
Tharanga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara both hit half centuries on Sunday as Sri Lanka extended their lead over Pakistan to 237 runs at the close of the fourth day and set up an intriguing finale in the third and final Test in Sharjah.
Chasing 164 to win, opener Zak Crawley was dismissed in the second session before Dom Sibley and Jos Buttler took the hosts to victory.
Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera hit a maiden Test half-century off 86 balls to place his team in a strong position at the end of the third day of the third and final Test against Pakistan at the Pallakele Stadium on Tuesday.
New Zealand were bowled out for 249 in the first session but Sri Lanka struggled to get going during Patel's spells and finished on 227-7, trailing by 22 runs.
Conway's 78 from 108 balls on a grassy pitch gave the hosts a flying start
Murali took 6-36 and Samaraweera top scored with 51 in their second innings.
Pakistan's Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets in a spectacular display of leg-spin bowling to destroy Sri Lanka.
Ishan Kishan has ascended to the No.1 spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings, surpassing Abhishek Sharma after strong performances, including at the T20 World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah now leads the Test bowling rankings, while Travis Head is the top Test batter. The latest ICC rankings also show significant movements for other players across T20I and Test formats.
Trailing by 270 runs on the first innings, Sri Lanka were 134 for 1, still needing 136 to avoid an innings defeat in the second Test against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka hit back with three Pakistan wickets in Saturday's final session, including century-maker Younus Khan, to boost their chances of drawing the series by the close on the third day of the third and final Test in neutral Sharjah.
Sanath Jayasuriya said he expected his side to bowl South Africa out on a crumbling pitch during the final day.
Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed into the ages on July 17, would have turned 90 today, July 28. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam remembers a dear friend who he believes was 'undoubtedly the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen.'
Sri Lanka, 2-0 down in the series, closed on 239 for two in reply to Australia's first innings total of 401
Jerome Jayaratne will be Sri Lanka's interim coach for the home series against West Indies beginning next month, the country's cricket board announced.
Sri Lanka were 262 for 5, on day 4 in the second Test against South Africa, still needing 90 to win the match.
Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey scored centuries as Australia declared their first innings on 551 for 4 and then reduced Sri Lanka to 31-2 on the second day of the first Test in Brisbane on Friday. Clarke and Hussey, who resumed with Australia's total reading 242-3, were involved in a record partnership of 245 runs before Hussey was dismissed for 133.
The Kiwis dismissed the touring side for 154 before reaching 85 for two at the close in Christchurch on Thursday.
England were reeling at 89-4 when Buttler somewhat steadied the innings before Curran clobbered six sixes in his blistering 64 to help them to a competitive score.
Sri Lanka were 302 for 8 at close on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal will miss next week's first Test against India after being diagnosed with pneumonia, dealing a big blow to the hosts ahead of the three-match home series against their neighbours.
A patient century from Thilan Samaraweera helped Sri Lanka recover to 268 all out at the close of play on the third day of the second Test on Saturday, setting West Indies a victory target of 253. The tourists were reeling at 99 for six but a seventh-wicket stand of 138 between Samaraweera (125) and Chaminda Vaas (45) hauled Sri Lanka back into the game
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday said it will take a call on India and Bangladesh's upcoming tours to the island nation later this week. India was scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in June-July for three ODIs and as many T20Is while Bangladesh was due to visit in July-August for a three-Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Abid hit 174 for his second hundred in as many Tests -- becoming the first Pakistani and ninth batsmen overall to score two centuries in his first two Tests.
England's batsmen failed to take full advantage on a first day of swinging fortunes in the second Test against Sri Lanka, finishing on 310 for six after outstanding catching kept the touring side in contention on Friday.
India and Sri Lanka will square off in three T20Is and two Tests, with the first match of the series starting in Lucknow on Thursday.
Sri Lanka's selection panel, led by former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, will step down after the current limited overs series against India following the team's slump in form, according to reports on Tuesday.
