Can Asia Cup winners produce some wonders at the biggest level?

(Poornama Edirisooriya writes)

The grand show is just about the horizon !

After the Asia Cup Win, Sri Lanka team is high in confidence

The Lions are in Kangaroo land for the grandest show of the shortest format of the game. The T20I World cup will be commenced on 16th of October 2022 and some exciting time is ahead of us. Even though the Island nation found some success lately, they have to play round one to qualify for the super 12 stage due to a lack of consistency in this format in the last couple of years and that put us below the automatic qualification scenarios just like in the WT20I 2021.

As everything has pros and cons, we can take it with a positive mindset. Some may worry about playing with some of the associates and lower-ranked teams, but we are going to have some good practice before the super 12s. Sri Lanka won their first practice match vs Zimbabwe and the second practice match vs Ireland was abandoned due to rain. The team reached Australia two weeks before the tournament and it will surely help players to climatize to the conditions. It is early summer in Australia and pitches are fresh after the winter that may need to keep in minds when you plan bowling attacks for the early matches. Pitches probably will tend to be bit tacky, But as the tournament progresses, more batting-friendly wickets can be expected and that is where our batting lineup which is relatively weak than our bowling lineup should find their peak.

Let’s dig into the squad. Sri Lankan selectors didn’t take many gambles on changing the Asia Cup victorious team except for the fast bowlers. Sri Lankan selectors added spearhead Dushmantha Chameera who didn’t play the Asia cup due to an injury and Lahiru Kumara who played his last T20I match in February 2022, along with Dilshan Madushanka and Pramod Madushan, both were very impressive in the Asia Cup. However, Binura Fernando couldn’t find a place in the 15 men squad even though bowled well in their last tour of Australia. Sri Lanka now has three bowlers who can click 145+ kph and skipper Dasun Shanaka was very fond of it as well in the media briefing held before the team left the island. It is a known fact that bowling plans should be changed according to the ground dimensions in Australia and sure the team is also aware of that.

 

Both Chameera and Kumara are back for SL after injuries

Spinners may play vital roles in grounds that have big boundaries in Australia. Having two of the top-ranked T20I spinners (Wanindu Hasaranga-3rd, Maheesh Theekshana-5th), Sri Lanka fancies their chances in the upcoming world cup. All eyes on star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, even included in ICC’s prediction on Best Performers in WT20I 2022, but equally Maheesh Theekshana can be a threat to oppositions. Both are in good form and Dasun Shanaka needs his two spin weapons on top of their game in Australia. Apart from them, Jeffry Vandersay is included in the 15 men squad and Praveen Jayawickkrama is with the squad as a stand-by player.

 

Sri Lanka's MVP, The All Rounder holds the key

 

Batting is the reason for most of the losses in the recent past and also the main reason we are playing in the First Round of the World Cup. In the Asia Cup batters found a way to produce collective match inning efforts and as a unit, the Asia Cup triumph may help our batting unit to gain much-needed confidence. Kusal Mendis found his best position in the lineup and he has delivered except two Pakistan Games in the Asia Cup. He played a brilliant inning as well in the last T20I of 5 match series against Australia and Mendis needs to be bit watchful in the first couple of overs. Mendis’ partner Nissanka is the only batter from Sri Lanka to appear in the top 10 T20I batting rankings and expecting his usual innings in Australia. Bhanuka, Shanaka, Wanindu and Chamika provide power and four of them are fixed at no 5 to no 8. Surely Sri Lanka will use Wanindu as a floater when needed. The main issue of the team remains as no 3 and 4 since Asalanka and Danushka failed to have a good run in recent matches. In the Asia Cup final, Dhananjaya de Silva played at 3 and played a vital and glorious inning when Sri Lanka was on the back foot. So he will start the tournament as no 3 or 4 and most probably Asalanka will be given the chance to find his form which will be key for Sri Lanka going to Super 12s. In Australian grounds with huge boundaries, you have to run well for your runs. And slogging might be not a good option all the time and batters need to target the shorter side of the boundary and should be wise enough about the bowlers that they a going to attack. Even in the media briefing, Chris Silverwood mentioned that and hope Sri Lankan batters are well prepared for the task.

 In the Asia cup final the major difference between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. That day, Sri Lanka’s exhibition of fielding was exceptional and got much praise as well. With the bigger boundaries, fielding will be tested, and hope Lankans will be able to replicate their fielding performance in the Asia Cup in World Cup as well.

While others playing competitive cricket, Sri Lanka had a break from international cricket after the Asia Cup. They had a training camp in Pallekele and Lasith Malinga joined the team as fast bowling consultant. Mahela Jayawardene has joined the team and it must be a great confidence booster for the team and Chris Silverwood who seems to be enjoying his role with the young Lions so far.

Twenty-two plus millions of people waiting until Dasun & Co. can bring joy again to the island nation just like they did a month and a bit ago. Congratulation !!!

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