This was supposed to be the site of India's coronation as 50-over world champions in November 2023. But on an awkward surface, later rated average by the International Cricket Council, their batters struggled and Australia beat them comfortably. Just 28 months later India return to play another World Cup final, in a different format, and seeking a very different outcome.
I think everyone knows that I can play in different roles and that I give my all wherever I play. This season I've played a few times as a striker or in midfield, but wherever I play I'll try to help create or score goals. I'm happy to do so.
Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today's call-up for the resumption of training. The club reserves the right to decide whether to take appropriate disciplinary action, as well as whether to continue the player's activity with the squad on a permanent basis.
Curran has warmed up with strapping on his right leg. Wasn't stopping him bowling. He was wearing it the other day also, probably no big deal Share Our man on the ground, Simon Burnton, has been in touch with the most important report of all the weather. He reports: Sunshine! Last night Kandy was on the receiving end of an extraordinary 10-hour thunderstorm, and the chances of this game being played felt very slim.
You want to know why I picked an image of Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won gold in the women's 3000 metre speed skating event while setting a new Olympic record for the event, for the cover of this article? For one, she's representative of Italy's start to the Winter Olympics. In just the first two days of the Winter Olympics, Italy has accumulated nine medals.
Sri Lanka, by contrast, breezed through their group with three wins from four, the most eye-catching of which was an eight-wicket dismantling of Australia, anchored by a superb century from Pathum Nissanka. A dead-rubber loss to Zimbabwe in their final group game will have taken the shine off slightly, but the co-hosts arrive in buoyant mood and with home advantage firmly on their side.
9th over: Australia 81-0 (Voll 63, Mooney 18) Sree Charani comes into the attack with her left arm orthodox spin. Mooney takes a single and Voll decides it's time for another slog sweep, this time for the first six of the match. There's an appeal for lbw next ball, but there's a clear inside edge from Voll. Australia are applying some serious pressure to India here it's much improved batting from Sunday's match.
Perhaps a more telling stat is the last five meetings between the two teams. Ireland have all of them. The last time they played here they ran out 36-0 winners. The time before that it was 33-7. The time before that was 57-6. However, the Italians ran them close last season and were it not for a Dan Sheehan hat-trick, they might have lost.
If they come along more regularly even than British general elections to which Brenda produced her timeless reaction in 2017 they at least have more interesting results: the past five have had five different winners and the past three six different finalists. What's more, though not much time has passed since the last one ended with India beating South Africa in Barbados, it seems to have been long enough for the game to shift into a fresh and exhilarating new gear.
The reversal late on Monday brought relief to millions of fans on both sides of the countries' shared border as well as tournament organisers and coaches. The Indian camp said it would be delighted to play against a quality side. It's great that the game is back on. We kind of never changed the preparation, India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Tuesday.