If there is one team in World Cricket that has its own distinctive style of play, it has to be Sri Lanka. It was Arjuna Ranatunga’s team that revolutionized one-day cricket during the 1996 world cup. The idea of exploiting the fielding restrictions was Ranatunga’s who gave his openers Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana the freedom to express themselves. That team took the World by storm and surprised everybody by lifting the World title. That win changed Lankan cricket forever.
Fifteen years on, the Sri Lankan team is one of the strongest contenders for the title. They have a very balanced side with a good number of batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders. They are led very well by Kumar Sangakkara and his deputy Mahela Jayawerdene, and have the experience of Dilshan, Fernando, Murlitharan and Samaraweera to support them. They have been very difficult to beat under their home conditions. With the exception of India, no other team has managed to record a series win in Lanka in the last three years.
Sri Lanka was the first test playing nation to declare their squad for the World Cup. Similar to India, anybody could predict fourteen spots in the team. The last spot was always going to be a surprise and like their neighbours they opted for the extra spinner. The Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup is:
1. Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicket-keeper)
2. Mahela Jayawerdene (vice-captain)
3. Thilan Samaraweera
4. Tillakaratne Dilshan
5. Upul Tharanga
6. Angelo Mathews
7. Thisara Perera
8. Chamara Kapugedera
9. Chamara Silva
10. Muttiah Murlitharan
11. Ajantha Mendis
12. Dilhara Fernando
13. Nuwan Kulasekara
14. Lasith Malinga
15. Rangana Herath
Rangana Herath was the only surprise inclusion in this line-up. Many people were surprised by the exclusion of Suraj Randiv, the off-spinner. I think, the Sri Lankan selectors have taken a very good call by including Herath in place of Randiv. Herath will provide variety to their spinning options. They already have two off spinners in their squad, and the inclusion of a left arm orthodox spinner will give them more options if they are to play two spinners.
Jayasuriya and Vaas were excluded from the final fifteen and one would think that it was the right call. The final fifteen has a good balance of youth and experience and I would say that all of them have performed when given an opportunity. Jayasuriya was excluded after a poor run of form and it was the right time to move on for Sri Lankan Cricket. Vaas may have had a very good IPL but to be fair he can’t make it in the current line-up of fast bowlers that Sri Lanka possess.
What amazes me the most about Sri Lanka is their balance. Dilshan will open with either Tharanga or Jayawerdene and Sangakkara will walk in at number three. That makes a very formidable top four with Samaraweera to come in at number five to provide stability. They also possess good all-rounders in the form of Perera and Mathews who can do the job with both bat and ball. Sangakkara also has to option to play either Silva or Kapugedera depending on the inclusion of the extra spinner. Murlitharan will most certainly lead the spin attack in his swansong. Malinga and Kulasekera will complete the line-up. Sangakkara is a very lucky captain as he has a lot of options to choose from. It is very difficult to pick the best eleven from the fifteen and I think they will take that call only after assessing the conditions. Dlishan, Tharanga, Jayawerdene, Mathews, Perera, Murlitharan, Malinga, Kulasekara and the captain are certainly in the playing. For the tenth spot there will be competition between Samaraweera, Silva and Kapugedera and for the bowlers spot it would depend on whether they want to play the extra spinner or the fast bowler. With Perera doing well with both bat and ball, it is most likely at a spinner would get a game, so it boils down to Herath or Mendis. If I were Sangakkara I would go with Herath whose left arm spin would complement Murali very well.
It has to be noted that although Sri Lanka are very strong at home, they are new to the two new grounds that will make their debut this World Cup. They have three games at Premadasa and one at Wankhede in Mumbai, but two of their games are at the new grounds at Pallekelle and Hambantota. These venues are untested as the Sri Lanka-West Indies ODI series was washed out last month. Luckily for them, these two games are against Zimbabwe and Canada.
STRENGTHS:
1. Great balance in their line-up: According to me Sri Lanka are the most balanced side in the tournament as I have already mentioned they have enough batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders.
2. Strong top four: Sangakkara, Jayawerdene, Dilshan and Tharanga form a very formidable top order. It is very difficult to get past them under sub-continental conditions.
3. Strong bowling attack: Malinga and Kulasekara upfront with Perera and Murli to follow makes a very strong bowling attack.
WEAKNESSES:
1. Can Collapse at times: It has been seen that Sri Lanka can lose wickets in a heap. Most of the times it is when they are chasing and that has been their undoing. As an opposition captain I would win the toss and bat first to make them chase a total.
WARM UP FIXTURES:
1. Versus Netherlands Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. On February 12 at 09:30 AM Sri Lankan Time (same as IST).
2. Versus West Indies at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On February 16 at 09:30 AM Sri Lankan Time.
GROUP FIXTURES:
1. Versus Canada at Mahindra Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hanbantota. On February 20 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
2. Versus Pakistan at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On February 26 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
3. Versus Kenya at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On March 1 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
4. Versus Australia at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On March 5 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
5. Versus Zimbabwe at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. On March 10 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
6. Versus New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. On March 18 at 02:30 PM IST.
RECORD IN PREVIOUS WORLD CUPS:
1975: Did not qualify for the semi finals.
1979: Did not qualify for the semi finals.
1983: Did not qualify for the semi finals.
1987: Did not qualify for the semi finals.
1992: Did not qualify for the semi finals.
1996: Champions. Beat Australia in the finals.
1999: Eliminated in the first round.
2003: Semi Finalists. Lost to Australia in the semi-finals.
2007: Runners-up. Lost to Australia in the finals.
MOST RUNS: Sanath Jayasuriya. 1165 runs in 38 matches at an average of 34.26
MOST WICKETS: Muttiah Murlitharan. 53 wickets in 31 matches at an average of 19.69.
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