Andrew Fidel Fernando

1 week ago | espn.in | Andrew Fidel Fernando

Roughly 70 overs into a scorching third day against Bangladesh in Galle, Pathum Nissanka smokes Bangladesh's fastest bowler through the covers, flicks him past the keeper next ball, and soon speeds from the 150s into the 160s. He had faced a little over 200 deliveries by this stage, but even this far into a long day, Bangladesh's bowlers are finding there is still so little room for error with this guy.

1 week ago | espn.in | Andrew Fidel Fernando

Bangladesh have made 484 for 9 in Galle so far, which is often a winning first-innings score at this especially in Galle. But so batting-friendly does this surface appear so far, that even Bangladesh's assistant coach is willing to claim a definitive advantage. "It's hard to tell who is in the driving seat - it depends on who is winning each session," said Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh's assistant coach. Sri Lanka bowling allrounder Milan Rathnayake had similar things to say.

1 week ago | espn.in | Andrew Fidel Fernando

We didn't, in truth, learn a lot about Mushfiqur Rahim across the first two days of the Galle Test. That is except to say that he's still here. That he is not going away. That he can still do this. Which actually, when you're 38 and by a distance the oldest member of the squad, this is more important than you might think. Mushfiqur is the last remaining Test combatant from Bangladesh's first generation of greats, Tamim Iqbal, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mahmudullah no longer appearing.

1 week ago | espn.in | Andrew Fidel Fernando

"I don't know which arm I've taken more wickets with," says Tharindu Rathnayake of his wicket tally in domestic cricket. "I've never looked at it properly. I've bowled a lot with both my arms."If this seems like bragging, Rathnayake continues to speak as if being able to bowl with either arm is a normal experience to which anyone could relate. It must seem natural to him, though - he has 337 first-class wickets, and 122 List A dismissals.

1 week ago | espn.in | Andrew Fidel Fernando

It was just as the freshest cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 was approaching its fourth hour that the freshest Test cricketer on the planet pivoted at the top of his mark, and did something a little bit special. In his first 95 deliveries in Test cricket, Tharindu Rathnayake had been a right-arm offspinner.