2007 Cricket World Cup Squad Preview - Sri Lanka

by user Alex Holowczak

The 1996 World Champions will be looking to win for the second time.

They have been drawn in Group C along with India, Bangladesh and Bermuda. They will be challenging India for the Group, but should safely advance to the Super Eight stage by beating their other two group opponents.

Mahela Jayawardene

Type: Batsman, Captain
Jayawardene is one of the world’s top batsmen. He will need to be the linchpin for the Sri Lankans during this competition, and if he performs he may inspire his team to do well.

Russel Arnold

Type: Batsman
A surprise, but I think good inclusion to this Sri Lankan side. Arnold has been solid for many years and can bowl a few overs of spin if needs must.

Marvan Atapattu

Type: Batsman (opener)
Another of the world’s finest, Atapattu has dropped down the order slightly recently to make way for younger players. It is likely to be his final World Cup, and he would like to go out on a high.

Malinga Bandara

Type: Bowler
A decent leg spinner, Bandara is the ideal understudy to Muralitharan, and he should be contending for a place in the starting 11.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Type: All Rounder, Wicketkeeper
Worth a place in the side for the dexterity of skills he can bring, Dilshan is a more likely batsman than anything else. He could be a match winner in many ways.

Dilhara Fernando

Type: Bowler
He needs to bowl well with inexperience in the bowling attack. May struggle against the very best.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Type: All Rounder (opener)
Jayasuriya has been one of the world’s best for a generation, but in his final swansong he will hope to repeat his form of 1996, when he was promoted to opener to blast away and get Sri Lanka off to a fast paced start. Could be key in this tournament with not only the bat, but his occasional spinners.

Nuwan Kulasekera

Type: Bowler
Kulasekera has struggled to convert a good first class career into a top international one, but was selected ahead of the proven Lokaurachchi for this event. A bold decision, that I don’t think was entirely accurate.

Farvees Maharoof

Type: All Rounder
Maharoof is a genuine aggressive all rounder, who prefers the bowling side. Has become a good One Day bowler, and is a useful late innings hitter if required.

Lasith Malinga

Type: All Rounder
An exciting fast bowler with an unorthodox slingy action. Could catch a few of the weak nations out, but against stronger nations he tends to get picked off. A bit inconsistent, he could either star or disappoint.

Muttiah Muralitharan

Type: Bowler
The best spinner in the world since the retirement of Warne, Murali is another with an unorthodox action. On spinner friendly wickets it could be all down to him to keep Sri Lanka in the game against stronger teams.

Kumar Sangakkara

Type: Batsman, Wicketkeeper
Sangakkara is a brilliant ‘keeper, and at Number 3 in the batting order is a superb batsman as well. He could be the star of the tournament for Sri Lanka. Second only to Gilchrist as a batsman wicketkeeper.

Chamara Silva

Type: Batsman
Another questionable inclusion. Silva will need to do a lot to justify it, since he hasn’t shone yet at all in his career. Not likely to play.

Upul Tharanga

Type: Batsman, Wicketkeeper
Tharanga has proven an aggressive, if not susceptive opening batsman. A guaranteed pick for this squad given his ability to keep wicket as well as bat.

Chaminda Vaas

Type: Bowler
Vaas is Sri Lanka’s best seamer, and although is getting old is still a vital part of the Sri Lanka squad.

Strengths

• Batting is solid on paper
• High quality keeper-batsman (and backup)
• Muralitharan and Vaas can win games on their own

Weaknesses

• Lack of depth
• Seamers have no real ability behind Vaas
• No recognised all-rounder other than Jayasuriya – could leave a long tail
• Unproven at the top level

Verdict

The Sri Lankans are unlikely to win their group, let alone the tournament. But in Jayawardene, Jayasuriya, Muralitharan and Vaas they have the star quality that can win them any game. Realistically, a Semi Final appearance will be a good tournament for Sri Lanka, anything beyond that will be fantastic. Super Eight looks like it could be all though, but you can bet they’ll challenge for more.

Icecool

1019 days ago

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I don't agree with the verdict. Even if they couldn't win the group that will not matter much as they will be playing with all the other teams in the super eight. I have a great feeling that they are going to win the world-cup this year. India cannot handle the pressure as well as Sri Lanka do.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1018 days ago

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Yeah, but if they lose to India in the group that loss gets carried forward. On paper they don't have as strong a team as the likes of South Africa, who might become new World Number 1s going into the World Cup. India are better on paper. That said, paper doesn't win tournaments.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

1014 days ago

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A lot will depend on the team performing as a whole instead of in bits and pieces as has happened often in the past. However, if they do click and they do have the potential for this (whitewash of England, Sri Lanka can go the entire distance. Completely disagree with the assessment of Chamara Silva. He has proved that he has got the technique, the temparement and the desire.

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

954 days ago

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Chamara Silva in my opnion will be the key to the success of Sri Lanka. Their main wekaness is lack of batting depth, particularly in the middle. Chamara is the only batsman of quality whi can come through for them in key moments in the middle order. I think he is a very good one.

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