Cricket News - Sri Lanka dark horses for trophy

It has been well known for many years that you can’t discount Sri Lanka in the short forms of the game.

Like the other international cricket teams, they are masterful at improvisation and they demand respect from the opposition.

And while their abilities in the long form of the game are also improving, it is their successful One-Day team and T20 squads that fans love to see.

Out of the sub-continent teams, Sri Lanka are potentially the most entertaining to watch, their explosive top order batsmen meld seamlessly with a middle order that can compile runs but at the same time, if need be, can pound the leather to and over the boundary.

Their bowlers have adapted their experiences of Twenty20 and seamlessly melded them into the one-day arena.

No longer are teams trying to blitz out their opponents with quicks, teams are using slower bowlers, subtle changes of pace and spin to keep scoring low. No doubt this is giving concern to the game’s administrators as big scores dry up and matches are now more competitive but lower scores aren’t entertaining the crowds as well as T20 is.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka has a great chance of success at this tournament, something not missed by the bookmakers.

Currently ranked fifth in the world, bookmakers have installed Sri Lanka at +550, which in my mind is a good solid cricket betting line.

It’s especially good considering they face England and New Zealand as their pool opponents, teams that they know they can beat and have done regularly over the past couple of years.

The only real hurdle will be their first match, against South Africa (see match preview).

This tournament could see the end of one big name career however if things don’t go to plan, that of Sanath Jayasuria.

With slim pickings of late, selectors and fans are questioning the merit of Jayasuria in the team.

Some feel that at 40, Jayasuria’s run in international cricket may be coming to an end and although it will be a sad day when that happens, good things must come to an end one day.

Team:

Kumar Sangakkara (c): Wicketkeeper batsman who loves the challenge batting at number four. Had a fairly ordinary series against India.

Tillakaratne Dilshan: Nigh unstoppable at the top. Inventive, courageous and gritty.

Sanath Jayasuria: See above although aging body appears to be preventing big scores. If he fires, the Lankans are unbeatable.

Mahela Jayawardene: Is a member of the Top Four of Sri Lanka cricket’s batting order. If he and the above three batsmen fire,  hold on to your record books.

Thilina Kandamby: Played a sterling innings in the final of the Compaq Cup a week back. Is a relative newcomer to the squad having played just 18 matches however is already proving to be invaluable/

Chamara Kapugedera: Handy with the bat, has been known to roll his arm over if the team gets desperate.

Nuwan Kulasekara: 74 wickets in 59 matches is a good return for this lanky right arm quick. Has a solid 4.42 economy rate and a strike rate of 36.1.