How to pronounce Sri Lankan names

I picked this from cricinfo. One fan has emailed during the NZ vs Sri Lanak match.

Bonggo: "Many commentators have pointed out the difficulty in pronouncing the names of the Sri Lankan XI in the past. It is not that difficult if you can read English. Let me tell you the best way of pronouncing some of those difficult name those names and trust me they come very close to the original:

Jayasuriya: Jaya Sue Rear
Kandamby: Can Dumb Bee
Malinga: Maa Linger
Kaluvitharana: Kalu With Are Runner

Software Engineer

There was a software engineer, who used to develop programs on his Pentium machine, sitting under a tree on the banks of a river. He used to earn his bread by selling those programs in the Sunday market. One day, while he was working, his machine tumbled off the table and fell in the river. Encouraged by his childhood story of the lumberjack and axe, he started praying for the river Goddess. River Goddess wanted to test him and so appeared only after one month of rigorous prayers. The engineer told her that he lost his computer in the river. As usual, the Goddess wanted to test his honesty. She picked ! up a match box and asked "Is this your computer ?". Disappointed by the Goddess' lack of computer awareness, "No" replied the engineer. Then she picked up a pocket sized calculator and asked if that was it. Annoyed by this, the engineer said "No, not at all" and also thought of educating the Goddess about computers. Then she picked up his Pentium and asked if it was his. The engineer, left with no option, sighed and said "Yes !" and took his machine. The Goddess was happy for his honesty and was about to give the previous objects also to him. But even before she could make the offer, the engineer asked the Goddess," Don't you know that you should show me some better computers, before bringing up my own ?" Goddess, apparently angered at this, replied, "I know that, you stupid donkey! The first two things I showed you were Millennium and Trillennium, the latest computers from IBM" and disappeared. The Pentium followed her.

Moral of the story: If you don't know much, better keep quiet.

Thanks to Shabbir - www.mbaguys.net

ICC Champions Trophy 2009 - Selection Blunder

Sri Lankan squad for the champion trophy is as follows.

Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapegedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara Mirando, Thilina Kandamby, Dhammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga.

Including Upul Tharanga in the squad is a real blunder. Surely Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan will open the innings in every match. So why include Tharanga. He will just be a passenger in this tour. If one of the opening batter gets injured Someone like Mahela or Kumar can open. Tharanga's place should have gone to a fast bowler, Maharoof or Dilhara Fernado. Lasith Malinga was also not doing great in ODI matches recently. Maharoof has the batting ability too. He did well against touring Pakistan A team.

What is Mahela doing at No 3.

Mahela Jayawardana is a really good stroke maker of Sri Lanka. He is fluent on both sides of the wickets and has the ability of playing innovative shots like Dilshan. Last Pakistan series when Jayasuriya was absence due to an illness he opened the innings and scored a brilliant century. Ever since that innings Sri Lanka team has decided to send Mahela at No 3 instead of Kumar to play agrresively and take advantage of the power plays. Since that century Mahela has failed in at No 3. Sri Lanka has two very attacking batmen at the top that is Sanath and Dilshan. Because of that No 3 should play solidly and try to consolidate. Kumar is the ideal man to do that. Since Sri Lanka has an inexperience middle order Mahela should come at no 4 and try to build a good innigs. It's a real waste to lose Mahela's wicket trying to play aggresively in power plays. In 2006 also Mahela was moved to no 3. He played brilliantly in England but then ran into a lean patch. During the world cup Kumar was again reinserted at No 3. In my opinion Mahela's feet movement was not the best early on in his innigs. So safe option is to send Kumar at no 3 and Mahela at No 4. Hope Sri Lankan team manegement will realize this very soon.