It’s going to be another ’96 for Sri Lanka!

Will it be a Sri Lanka-Australia final come April 28? And can Sri Lanka lift the cup? Marisa de Silva speaks to some cricket fans

The World Cup final is around the corner, and cricket-loving nations have been infected by a great bout of cricket fever once again! Even though the tournament was turned upside down by the many unexpected surprises that were thrown in along the way, like the fall of the two Asian cricketing giants India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka having survived a few anxious moments seems now on track to make it to the final.

With two unsuccessful World Cups behind us, many believe this is our best chance of reliving our 1996 World Cup triumph and what a well deserved send-off it’ll be for our outgoing veterans who may not be around come the next World Cup.

With strategy, team selection and everything connected with cricket being hotly debated in offices, homes and on the bus, we asked people for their predictions, how they see the drama unfolding this week.

Sri Lanka World Champs

Cyril de Silva (60), Human Resource Consultant: “It’ll definitely be a Sri Lanka/Australia final and Sri Lanka will win! We have a ‘surprise package’ awaiting the Aussies and we can use it to our advantage. Even though they’ve played the likes of Murali and Vaas before, Murali has adopted a slightly new technique and Vaas is at his peak right now, so it’ll be good that they have no idea what to expect. What will also go our way is the “shock factor” as they haven’t faced Malinga at all in this series. So, with our three trump cards and if “Sana” gets going, we should sail through!”

Chula Fernando (31), copy writer: “It’ll be an Australia/Sri Lanka final but, we will win because we really want to win. Aussie don’t really want to, neither do they need to, as they’re still very much the best team in the world. Keeping our three main bowlers out of the Aussie match was quite a good move, especially against an opponent like the Aussies, as cricket is as much a psychological game as it is a physical one.”

Yohani de Soyza (20) student: “Aussie vs. Sri Lanka finals and Sri Lanka will win.
I think that if we play properly with our full team strength we can beat anyone on our day. Australia has been playing so well so far they are bound to slip up sometime and they will, against us. I just think our guys are quite confident about winning the Cup or perhaps I’m just being very patriotic....I can’t quite figure out which it is.”

Mahesh Senaratne (26), stockbroker: “We’re going to win because our bowling attack is currently the best of all the teams in the World Cup and we can even defend quite average totals. Also, by the time of the finals in Barbados, the pitch would have settled down after the initial games, so Sanath should be able to play well on it, especially as he is generally a “big game” player, plus it’s his final World Cup. Also, Mahela being back in form is really great because when he's in form he generally scores in almost all the matches. Murali also does well in finals and actually we're only behind Australia when it comes to percentage wins in finals.”

Sunil Pieris (45), senior software consultant: “It will definitely be a Sri Lanka/Australia final and we’ll win because Sri Lanka is the only team that has the talent to beat Australia right now.”

Dakshitha Devapura (17), student: “We will take the Cup home for sure, because, we are in very good form at the moment and can be quite unpredictable. Our guys are playing smart cricket; something they hadn’t been doing much of lately. It’s also quite obvious that the selection in the Aussie game was a tactical move, so we shouldn’t have any problem winning.”

Thilanga Perera (25), shipping executive: “It will be a Sri Lanka/Aussie final and we will win obviously because we are performing at our best and everyone’s at their peak right now.”

Aussie Hat-Trick Victors

Natalie Skorczewski (26), ex-pat working mother in the United States: “Unfortunately I’d have to say Australia will take home the World Cup. They are mentally much stronger than our team and so are more likely to be the champions. However, if we do pull off a 1996, it would be truly out of this world.”

Ahmed Sanoon (35), Purchasing Manager: “It’ll be either an Australia vs. Sri Lanka/South Africa final and Australia will win, simply because they’ve proved their consistency time and again. They are also a professional and well organised team. Although our bowlers have put up a good fight throughout the series, our batsmen more often than not, have not been able to deliver the goods!”

Ray (23), radio personality: “Australia will comprehensively beat anyone in the finals because they have the capability to thrive in pressure situations and are balanced, capable and well rounded as a team.”

Nalin (40), taxi driver: “I’m sad to say it but, it just might be Australia again, as they’re the only consistent team at the moment.

“Even though our bowling attack is quite strong, our batsmen are unpredictable. Usually if the top order fails to perform, the rest of the team tends to follow suit and fall like skittles, therefore, it’s most likely that Australia will win.”