Oftem when coaches and players pour over their video footage on the opposition, the conversation drifts to which players can “hurt” them the most. Loosely translated into normal speak, it does not have anything to do with the physicality of the opponents, but rather which batsman or bowler can cause the most damage.
If any of the other 13 teams were doing their analysis on the 1996 champions, they would already be in pain.
Sri Lanka have an abundance of match-winners.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara provides the cool leadership, Tillekeratne Dilshan is the dashing opener and middle-order batsman Mahela Jayawardene is all class, while the all-round talents of Angelo Matthews is something special, and that is before Lasith Malinga’s searing pace compliments the spin and guile of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.
So, despite convenor of selectors, and orchestrator of Sri Lanka’s greatest hour in their World Cup history, Aravinda de Silva, saying it was a “very hard decision and emotional thing” to leave out “two great cricketers” in the form of Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas, it can be understood.
However, Jayasuriya and Vaas – both part of the 1996 World Cup-winning team along with De Silva – collectively have an incredible 766 caps of worth of ODI experience between them. And while they either don’t bat in the middle-order, this drain is going to leave its mark somewhere in the team, and it has, at numbers 5-7 in the batting line-up.
Captain of that ’96 team, Arjuna Ranatunga, and former No 5 himself, has voiced his concern about Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle-order, a factor teams like Pakistan (February 26) and Australia (March 5) will look to exploit.
Ranatunga believes “Angelo is a very good player”, but is more worried about Thilan Samaraweera and Chamara Kapugedara. And the cricketer-turned-politician would be correct as Samaraweera and Kapugedara have strike-rates of 68.75 and 72.86 respectively, which is not good enough if the third PowerPlays are to be exploited.
Sri Lanka, though, have managed to work out a successful formula even with this duo not being overly aggressive. It usually revolves around Dilshan, in the absence of Jayasuriya, pressing his foot down on the accelerator in the initial PowerPlay overs without any thoughts of pulling up the handbrake, before Sangakkara and Jayawardene manipulate the innings through the middle overs by marrying power, technique and touch in a perfect equilibrium.
The statistics provide further proof as Sri Lanka have lost just six of their last 27 ODIs over the course of the past 15 months. The highlight during this period was undoubtedly the historic first series win over triple world champions Australia in Australia last year.
It took two magnificent performances in the first two matches to close out the 2-1 victory, but it is the first match in particular at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, that not only had Sri Lankan fans in raptures, but the entire cricket world, bar the Aussies of course.
Chasing 240 for victory, Sri Lanka had slumped to 107/8, with Mathews at the crease and only tailenders Malinga and Muralitharan to come. “Murali” did come to the wicket, but only after Mathews (77 not out) and Malinga (56) shared a world-record ninth-wicket partnership of 132 runs, which allowed the veteran to hit the winning shot. It was sublimely sweet that the record-breaking spinner got to take his team home after all the abuse he had copped from fans Down Under throughout his career because of his bowling action.
SQUAD
Kumar Sangakkara (c/wk), Mahela Jayawardene (vc), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga.
KEY PLAYERS
TILLEKERATNE DILSHAN: For many years, Dilshan languished down in the middle-order before convincing former captain Mahela Jayawardene to promote him to the opener’s slot a couple of years ago. The promotion transformed the right-hander’s career and he has terrorised opening bowlers since. Dilshan does not only split the field, but also goes over the top on a regular basis. But his greatest strength is his ability to innovate, with the “Dilscoop” becoming a phenomenon the world over. If he gets Sri Lanka off to a couple of explosive starts, the co-hosts will be hard to beat.
MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN: Cricket’s most prolific wicket-taker in the history of the international game will be seeking one final hurrah at this year’s edition. As the only remaining active player of the 1996 championship-winning team, Murali also knows what it takes to win a World Cup. One of the greatest characters of the game with those bulging eyes, he is a legend among the people of Sri Lanka. The faithful supporters would love nothing more than to see their hero finish off his career in the best possible manner.
KUMAR SANGAKKARA: The captain is the axis around which the Sri Lankan innings rotates. Whether he walks to the crease after an early wicket or after a big partnership, Sangakkara knows just how to approach a situation. He possesses one of the most elegant cover drives in the game, but is also equally adept at playing powerfully off the back foot. Playing at home is another advantage as he has grown up on the slow and low conditions expected to dominate this tournament.
AT A GLANCE
Winners: 1996
Finalists: 2007
Semi-finals: 2003
First round: 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1999
FIXTURES
February 20: v Canada, Hambantot
February 26: v Pakistan, Colombo
March 1: v Kenya, Colombo
March 5: v Australia, Colombo
March 10: v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
March 18: v New Zealand, Mumbai