Prime Minister's XI

Who's here at Manuka Oval today?

Haddin, who will captain the Prime Minister's XI team in Canberra on Friday, said yesterday he felt like he had been dropped from the Australian one-day team, despite selectors telling him he was officially being rested for the first three games of Australia's campaign.

Haddin's the best, but must keep earning spot: Healy - Local News - Sport - Cricket - The Canberra T Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has endorsed Brad Haddin as the country's best Test gloveman but believes the 34-year-old hasn't yet earned the right to go out on his own terms.

LOCAL cricket sensation Meyrick Buchanan says his head is still spinning after being called into the Prime Minister's XI to play Sri Lanka on Friday.

Meyrick Buchanan in PM's XI squad

Ohhhhh nooooo!!!! The timing could not be any worse for Lyon, who took a series-best 4-63 in India’s second innings, including the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar. What do we think guys?

Injury rules Lyon out of PM's XI - Local News - Sport - Cricket - The Canberra Times Test spinner Nathan Lyon has been ruled out of the Prime Minister’s XI side to take on Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval on Friday due to injury.

But one of the clearest memories Queanbeyan's Peter Solway has of playing in the Prime Minister's XI match of 1993, was walking out to bat and spotting his 11-month-old son crawling on the grass.

Dean following in father's footsteps - Local News - Sport - Cricket - The Canberra Times Paul Keating was Prime Minister, it was South Africa's first tour of Australia in 30 years and his teammates included Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Tom Moody and Michael Kasprowicz.

NSW SpeedBlitz Blues and Sydney Thunder all rounder Sean Abbott has replaced Mitch Marsh in the PM's XI line up v Sri Lanka on Friday 3 Feb!

Abbott has played against Sri Lanka before, in a Twenty20 clash for NSW last summer.... What are your thoughts?

Abbott joins Gillard's team for PM's XI - Local News - Sport - Cricket - The Canberra Times Sydney Thunder youngster Sean Abbott sometimes pinches himself that he shares a dressing room with Chris Gayle and David Warner.

The Sri Lanka team has been announced!

Sri Lanka National Squad for Tri-Nation Series in AustraliaSri Lanka Cricket | Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Mahela Jayawardena, Vice Capt Angelo Mathews

Marsh set to be replaced by Ford as coach

January 22, 2012

Players/Officials: Graham Ford | Geoff Marsh
Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
Teams: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Cricket are set to replace current coach Geoff Marsh with Graham Ford, the former South Africa coach, ESPNcricinfo has learned. An announcement is likely to be made after the one-day series against South Africa. Earlier this week Ford resigned as head coach of the Dolphins, the Durban-based franchise, saying he wanted to "follow my dreams of involvement at an international level".

Ford will be the third coach appointed by Sri Lanka since Trevor Bayliss stepped down after leading them to the 2011 World Cup final. Marsh was appointed for two years in September, 2011 and was in charge for the tours against Pakistan and South Africa. His appointment appeared to end a period of upheaval following Bayliss' exit. Stuart Law, who was Bayliss' assistant, took over for the England tour before quitting to coach Bangladesh. Rumesh Ratnayake then took over for the home series against Australia, before Marsh's appointment.

Ford took over as coach of South Africa from Bob Woolmer in 1999 and held the position till 2001. He moved to Kent as director of cricket in 2004, and in 2006 he returned home to take charge of the Dolphins. In June 2007, he was offered the challenge of coaching India but declined. In 2009, he withdrew his name from the shortlist of candidates for the England coaching job.

The coaching change in Sri Lanka follows the replacement of the entire group of selectors by the Sri Lanka Sports Minister on January 19, 2012.

Sri Lanka has come in for much criticism since reaching the World Cup final, having lost every series they have played since then and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan might also be replaced by Mahela Jayawardene following their poor performance in South Africa. When asked in Kimberley, on the eve of the fourth ODI, whether he would accept the job if offered, Jayawardene said, "I will have to think about it. I will need some time."

Phone calls to SLC president Upali Dharmadasa went unanswered while secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said he could not comment on the matter.

Sri Lanka have lost three and won one of the five Tests they played under Marsh's stewardship, though that win was their first ever in South Africa. They have also lost seven of the nine ODIs they have played. When he took over, Marsh had said he was keen to extend his two-year contract to help Sri Lanka win another World Cup. Instead, his term has lasted just four months.

Tariq Engineer is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo

Got your tickets for the game yet? Just over a week to go.....

Mitchell was originally named in the Prime Minister's XI team to play Sri Lanka at Canberra's Manuka Oval on February3, but his national call-up clashes with the event and he has had to withdraw.

Mitchell the pick of Marsh bunch - National News - National - Sport - The Canberra Times Cricket Australia will announce a replacement for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the Prime Minister's XI squad today as replacements line up to take over the positions of his father Geoff and elder brother Shaun.

Have you entered the Canberra Weekly competition? It really is the *Ultimate PM's XI* pack.... Click the link to find out how you can win!

Canberra Weekly, multiple prizes (closes 9am) Canberra Weekly, multiple prizes (closes 9am)