Team Sri Lanka Preview For World T20

Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Muttiah Muralitharan (vice-capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welagedara, Chamara Kapugedara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chinthaka Jayasinghe

Winners of the 1996 ODI world cup, finalists of 2007 ODI world cup and 2009 T20 world cup, team Srilanka is a strong cricketing unit having a mix of individual brilliance and ability to play brilliantly as a unit the Lankan team always proves to be a tough opponent for any team at any venue.

As far as team’s performance in the twenty over cricket is concerned the team has been very consistent.

In the 2007 ICC T20 the Lankans managed to qualify for the super eights quite easily however in the super eights stage they were in a tough pool comprising of the Aussies and the top T20 team Pakistan.

Having lost both its super eight games to Pakistan and Australia respectively the team returned home empty handed.

However two years later in the UK the tigers were unstoppable. They cruised into the finals after playing some solid T20 cricket and overcame opponents like Pakistan, Australia, West indies, and beating the Windies again in the semifinal ensured them a deserving place in the final. However in the final they were outclassed by the champions Pakistan thanks to Razzaq and Afridi brilliance.

If we talk about the team’s chances in the upcoming world cup in the Carribean in my opinion the Lankans will be at the top of the game once again and their influential skipper Kumar Sangakkara will leave no stone unturned in making his team fight for the glory.

If we talk about the batting strength no doubt they have a very strong batting unit. And the note worthy thing is that their batting style is tailor made for 20 over cricket.

Having the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tilakaratne Dilshan opening the innings for them is a night mare itself for any bowling team. Both of them had a great tournament in the UK especially Dilshan who was simply superb and was declared man of the tournament for his brilliance. The match in which in which he didn’t performed was the final and the team lost that game.

Veteran Jayasuriya is always hungry to play and perform. No wonder this time we will see fire works from his bat.

Solid middle order is another strong point of the Lankans. Skipper Sangakkara and Jayawerdene are very experienced and they have regained their form in the latter part of the IPL. Kapugedera and Matthews are also very good T20 players.
As far as bowling goes Lankans look very balanced in terms of pace bowling along with the possession of quality spinners.

Malinga, Kulasekera, Pereira all have been impressive whenever they have played, however much will as usual be expected from the master Muttiah Muralitharan and also from Ajantha Mendis as spin always play a key role in a T20 innings
Latest sensation Angello Matthews will again be lookin to repeat his last time performances as he was impressive with both bat and bowl.
Team Srilanka is looking a solid unit and their skipper is the one who always leads by example he himself is a hard worker and expects his team mates do follow him. No doubt the Lankan lions will start their campaign with a roaring performance and will tear apart their prey

Key Players:
Tilakaratne Dilshan
Sanath Jayasuruya
Muttiah Muralitharan
Kumar Sangakkara
L asith Malinga
Angello Mathews

Strengths:
Explosive Openers
Quality Spinners
Malinga’s brilliant depth bowling

Weakness:
Depending too much on inform players