Indian bash victims fight for pride
Angelo Mathews and Alastair Cook have certain achievements in common, as captains. Their teams, Sri Lanka and England, are coming into action after series thrashings by the same opponent, India.
Now it will be time to test the skills and recuperate, when they meet on Wednesday in the first of the seven-match One-Day International series at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium under lights.
The clash against England will be crucial for Mathews and his bunch of men after the Indian debacle.
The clash will be crucial for Mathews and his bunch of men as they are taking the field after nine days since the Indian whitewash.
The blemish in Sri Lanka’s effort was the way they handled themselves against India.
The Lankans made team experiments against India but what they have learnt out of that experience is the question at hand.
Sri Lanka lacked consistency in all departments, especially in bowling and fielding. The seniors as usual proved that they were the dependable lot. But as a unit they hardly clicked except in the final game which was a thriller.
These facts may affect the hosts but playing under home conditions, the Lankans have provided themselves with an opportunity to bounce back.
Mathews was optimistic at the pre-series press conference that he and his team could leave behind the nightmares they experienced in India and look at the England ODI series with a brand new mindset. Sri Lanka’s final squad of 15 men will be announced after the second practice game at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval today.
Seniors Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara and TM Dilshan will be obvious inclusions. What the selectors would do to fill in the opener’s slot and the middle order will be the greatest mystery yet to unfold. After failed tryouts the Lankan pace bowling attack will definitely make a contrasting change to give the Englishmen more pressure. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will be back in action but the decision on the return of off-spinner is still unknown.
Cook and his men on the other hand would not make things look easy for the Lankans. Though they suffered a 1-3 series defeat against the Indians back home, they had ample time since August to shape themselves out. Missing paceman James Anderson can be a setback but they are well equipped with a host of good bowlers and batsmen that could threat the Lankans.
Likewise the hosts, the visitors will make use of the only opportunity that they come across prior to the World Cup. They will not let the Sri Lankans dance at their own will despite playing host under totally different conditions from England and Australia or New Zealand where the World Cup is slotted to take place.
Under Cook’s captaincy England fields a squad that consists Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Treadwell and Chris Woakes.
The first two games will be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on November 26 and 29 before the teams travel to Sooriyawewa for the third game on December 3. They will return to R. Premadasa ICS on December 7. Both teams will go down to Pallekelle to play the fifth and sixth games on December 10 and 13 before the seven-match tour winds up at R. Premadasa ICS on December 16.