Could the Lankans make a difference today?
Today is the imminent decider of the series. Lankans will come out today looking out for that elusive win, but so far in the two exchanges that they have had, it does not look as if the Lankans have the fire power in their bowling to curb the marauding Indians. The 3rd ODI will take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad at 1.30 p.m.
The Lankans selectors announced the changes for the fourth and fifth matches in the Lankan squad. Kumar Sangakkara, Suraj Randiv, Upul Tharanga and Dhammika Prasad have been replaced by Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Ajantha Mendis and Shaminda Eranga for the 4th and 5th ODIs. Yet the problem is how the Lankans are going to tackle the problem at hand this afternoon?
In the two games played so far Lankan bowlers proved that they lack the skills to outwit a batsman. Maybe in the first game there were two vital catches missed. In the second there was blatant misjudgment of a caught behind by the Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford. But, still they cannot be taken as excuses for an embarrassing bowling performance.
Five of the front liners in the Lankan bowling arsenal – Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga and Ajantha Mendis are not with the active squad at the moment for one reason or the other. Now Eranga and Mendis are coming in a bid to rescue the flagging attack. Also experienced Nuwan Kulasekera has been overlooked so far. This factor has proved to be a true eye opener, in the two matches played, with only nine wickets taken and three centuries off the Lankan bowling. One often wonders why the selectors forgot the name of leg spinner Jeewan Mendis who was performing creditably in the international T-20 circuit.
Though the Hyderabad skies are cloudy, rain is not expected.
Not only in bowling, Lankans seem to have problems in their batting too. Besides skipper Mathews, and the experienced duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, the other batters look woefully inadequate.
The selectors especially must be worried with the opening options of Kusal Janith Perera and Upul Tharanga. Both have batted badly and this factor has put undue pressure on experienced T.M. Dilshan.
Skipper Angelo Mathews said today “We have been going through this setback for over a year now. We have tried out many batsmen but yet to find a correct candidate to man the opener’s slot. We have a few options but what we are looking at is a guy who can deliver the goods with the World Cup around the corner. And then again we have an unfinished task here in India, to win the remaining games.
“We have not thought of using (Niroshan) Dickwella as an opener. The team management has not done any consideration from that perspective. Nuwan (Kulasekera) has been sitting out and he may come in the third game. But we cannot say if there are any changes for the third game as yet. Whatever we do, the plan is to go flat out and win and continue that trend,” the Lankan skipper asserted.
As a matter of fact, Lankans never have dominated a series on Indian soil in recent times.
In contrast the Indians who also have rested some of their regulars like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Buwanesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami, seem to be on the roll.
The Indian pace trio of Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma have looked potent and did not allow any leeway to Lankan batsmen either in the second power play or in the death overs. However Aaron who was injured in the first ODI was replaced by left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the second and was the most expensive among the Indian lot in the two games played so far. Though he captured a wicket, his ten overs were bowled at a costly 6.4 runs per over.
May be the Lankans were ill prepared for this tour and their hearts are not completely in it. But the fact remains this is an international series and the outcome is bound to reflect in the ICC rankings.
Sri Lanka (from): T.M. Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Angelo Mathews (Capt), Ashan Priyanjan, Seekkuge Prasanna, Thissara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lahiru Gamage, Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Chathuranga de Silva.
India (from): Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli (Capt), Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, Akshar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhawal Kulkarni, Amit Mishra, Stuart Binny.