World Cup 2015: Zeroing in on final fifteen
View(s):There is one undeniable notion that grips every top cricket playing nation. Wittingly or unwittingly they have braced themselves into this four-year cycle while all their future plans, retirements and evictions are done with this grand event in mind. Ladies and gentlemen, it is described as the ICC World Cup, which takes place every four years after it was baptised in England in 1975.
Initially it was brought on to give cricket a new lease of life after the then authorities feared that the game had lost its fire in the belly, and the move did inject the expected impetus and ever since it has gathered momentum.
During the forty-year history of the ICC Cricket World Cup, there have been some noteworthy editions that helped the game to burst the seams of the generally expected norms. Generally in the FIFA World Cup, a dark horse taking away the glory is rare. Even in rugby it is the same. But, in 1983 when India beat the West Indies and in 1996 Sri Lanka beat Australia in the final a new aura was created. Those two results helped people believe in the clarity of the game of cricket. A team good enough on that day or to be more precise – during a given tournament — could garner the strength to topple even the strongest sides in the world even at their full strength.
Besides, these results also made the huge populace of the Indian sub-continent slide more towards the game and thus help the game grow richer in the region and as a result the power centre also moved towards Asia from its traditional Lord’s pedestal.
Though Sri Lanka were admitted to the top rung in 1981 and played its first Test in 1982, they really managed to break the peer barrier only in 1996 after they won the World Cup, beating Australia in the final. This brought in the expected changes into Sri Lanka’s cricket. The Lankan cricketers began to believe in themselves and their inherent abilities. At the same time, the rest of the world which treated Lankan cricket as an intruding nuisance, where they were obliged to be courteous just because the Lankan were brought up on par with them, began to respect and reciprocate rather attentively.
Thereafter, owing to internal bickering and bad management, the Lankans were kicked out of contention in the first round in their title defence in 1999, but ever since they have marked their presence effectively at this world event by entering the semi-final stage in 2003 and the finals in 2007 and 2011.
At the inaugural World Cup, the Lankans made more than a few eyebrows raised when they flayed the feared Australian attack that comprised Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson to the tune of 276 for 4 in 60 overs in reply to the Australian total of 328 for 5 made in 60 overs. This was their first show in the big league, yet, still they were only associate members of the ICC in 1975. This means they always had the eye for the big occasion and once they established themselves in the big league, they made sure that they gave a good account of themselves where it really counted.
Turn of this week, Sanath Jayasuriya and co. announced the interim squad of thirty players which would be registered with the ICC for the 2015 rendition of the world cricket spectacle. Though only 15 players would finally make the trip down under the Lankan selectors would have to make their choices from this announced squad of thirty players.
There is no argument and the nucleus of the Lankan magic lies in the top five of T.M. Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herat. Of the five players mentioned only Herat missed the World Cup final last year, as there was this mysteriousinclusion of Suraj Randiv at the final moment. Finally, it were the bowlers who let the Lankan cause down and Sri Lanka played two off spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan and Suraj Randiv and got another five overs off part time off spinning veteran T.M. Dilshan.
However, this time around, the Lankans seem to have found a settled top six in their order with the selectors encouraging explosive Kusal Janith Perera to dabble in his own game. However Kusal Janith recent bad run with the bat has now prompted the selectors think twice. If so experienced Mahela Jayawardena also could be a close contender to this slot. The rest of the top six reads – T.M. Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne and skipper Angelo Mathews. However, in the list of thirty there are also two more openers in Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga.
The all-rounders slot will be weighed between the two utility players in Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis and we at this end cannot see the selectors leaving behind either of them from their final fifteen. A lot will depend upon the all-rounders. Especially in this series Jeevan Mendis with his wily leg spinners and lusty hitting in the middle order has proved that he had polished a lot of his rough edges while playing in the World T-20 circuit and has been playing a pivotal part of Sri Lanka’s success against England so far.
In the spin department as the selectors have the support of Dilshan, one cannot see any other being included other than Sachithra Senanayake and Rangana Herat in the final fifteen. Also in the reckoning are leg spinner Seekuge Prasanna, off spinners P.H.T. Kaushal and Dilruwan Perera and left arm chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan.
Being fully fit, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal and Dhammika Prasad are almost certainties; the only concern is that Shaminda Eranga has not been bowling well in spite of the early promise in his career.
The duties behind the stumps will be handled by Sangakkara if he is in the playing eleven, but, as his stand-by the lookout will be focussed upon Dinesh Chandimal’s experience and promise or Niroshan Dickwella’s worth as a wicket-keeper batsman.
