With confidence regained, Sri Lanka aim higher at T20 WC
Coach Chris Silverwood and skipper Dasun Shanaka putting the final touches at a training session prior to the teams departure
Sri Lanka will start their World Cup campaign this month with confidence, on the heels of their surprise victory at the Asia Cup last month. Risking a first round exit after their humiliating loss in the tournament opener to Afghanistan, Dasun Shanaka led the 2014 champions to the title, winning all remaining five encounters. It was a remarkable victory that won public confidence back. This could place the players under pressure ahead of the World Cup as expectations are at fairytale high but coach Chris Silverwood views it in a positive light.
“The fact that everybody’s behind us, the nation is behind us, and we’re out there trying to bring a smile back to everybody’s faces, for me it’s a positive,” said Silverwood, who has had a remarkable first six months into his two-year contract with the team.
“Something we can use as energy, and something we have used as energy in the dressing room already.”
Flanked by his captain Dasun Shanaka, officials from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the team sponsor, Silverwood spoke at his final media interaction before the team left early Sunday morning to Melbourne. It is two weeks before their opening fixture against Namibia on October 16.
A four-day training session this week focused on developing their skills while the extra days before joining the ICC-sponsored World Cup programme will help players acclimatise to conditions. The Sri Lanka skipper said focus has now shifted completely to the World Cup.
“In the camp (in Kandy) every player put in a good effort. I was worried that there would be some guys who’d be a bit relaxed after winning the Asia Cup, but it wasn’t like that,” he said.
“Everyone practised with even more intensity than usual, and I’m confident that we can put in good performances at the World Cup.”
“If we make the right decisions on the day and execute our plans, I’m certain we can come out victorious. The confidence level is definitely higher [than at the last World Cup], but my concern has always been the process. Even at the last World Cup, I felt we had the talent to at least make the semi-finals. The important thing is your ability to play and deliver on the day,” he said.
Before their opening fixture, Sri Lanka will also play two warm-up games—Zimbabwe on October 10 at the MCG and Ireland on October 13—at the same ground. This will give them a chance to get a measure of the conditions in Australia and how well they can execute their plans.
“We have a couple of warm-up games before the Namibia game,” he continued.
“We’ll play match scenarios amongst ourselves before that to make sure we can control the environment that we’re training in. We’re actually very specific about what we’re trying to train. For example, we did a Super Over up in Kandy, which is all in good fun, but it highlights where it can be a bit chaotic in the Super Over. It happens very quickly, and we have to make sure we keep a level head.”
“Then the dimensions of the grounds in Australia—they have some big grounds—we’ll have to learn to cope with them. We have to make sure we get the distance right off the boundary to cut the angles down and get the guys used to doing that.”
Sri Lanka team is bolstered by the return of fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara and, with Dilshan Madushanka in the mix, can boast of three seamers capable of speeds of above 140kmp—a luxury that Shanaka will enjoy on pace bouncy wickets in Australia.
“Both Lahiru and Dushmantha were a part of our camp, and they both managed to complete their bowling quotas without an issue. I think they’re well prepared ahead of the World Cup,” Shanaka added.