After their unexpected reverse in the T-20 exchanges the Lankan lads will be looking for reprieve when they take on the Kiwis in the opening game of the Tri-Series which will also involve India.
Sri Lanka lost the first T-20 game by three runs and multiplied it in the second and lost by 22 runs.
The Sunday Times inquired from the Lankan team manager Brendon Kuruppu what the team’s mood was after their double loss against New Zealand whom they beat without much effort in the real thing of cricket by also the same margin of 2-0. The Lankan manager replied: “This is nothing new and we have lost games before and always we have come back. Today (Saturday) the lads have got a holiday and we will meet only on Sunday as a team. However on Sunday some of the members of the squad will have a go at the New Zealand bowlers when they take them on a warm up game at the SSC grounds”.
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For this warm-up game the Lankans have included veteran Sanath Jayasuriya who has been performing in stutters and starts lately. Kuruppu described this as a good chance for the 40-year-old veteran to recharge his batteries. Kuruppu also added: “This is only an attempt to give Jayasuriya a chance of competition as he has been missing a lot of action as he has retired from Test cricket. Since arriving from London Sanath has only played eight games. The five ODI’s and the T-20 against Pakistan and the two T-20’s against New Zealand. One must remember that Sanath is already a member of the Champions Trophy squad and this triangular is only a precursor for that tournament.
For today’s game the name of Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Dinesh Chandimal who had some nifty innings in his initial exposure to international cricket has been included. The squad reads as – Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Udawatte, Thilina Kandamby, Lahiru Thirimanne, Gihan Rupasinghe, Farveez Maharoof, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando,
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Milinda Siriwardena.
Coming back in to Tuesday’s challenge Kuruppu lamented that Sri Lanka’s biggest worry was the non-performance of their middle order. He said: “Our batting revolves around the two openers, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara. We had it better in the Test matches with Thilan Samaraweera proving a huge asset, but, in the shorter version of the game we still have the problem. However as Thilan has matured out with a more positive approach we are also looking at him to see if he could fit into the side as the link-man, where he could take the tail along with him when the need arises.”
The Lankan team manager also added that veteran spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who is suffering from a groin strain may not be featured in the first game against Kiwis on Tuesday. The Lankan spin department is likely to be manned by Malinga Bandara and Ajantha Mendis who bowled reasonably well against the Kiwis during the two T-20 matches. |
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