Sri Lanka can bank on heavy seam attack
Sri Lanka will bank heavily on its four-man seam bowling attack to make the 2024 ICC Men’s World Cup a memorable success, opines Anusha Samaranayake, the newly appointed fast bowling coach of the Khettarama High Performance Centre.
Samaranayake, who previously worked with Sri Lankan fast bowlers before his controversial removal, believes the team is high on confidence and has the potential to make a significant impact in the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
Anusha Samaranayake,national fast bowling coach
“Our preparations for the T20 World Cup have been good,” said Samaranayake.
“Of the four frontline fast bowlers, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, and Nuwan Thushara played in the recently concluded IPL. That experience will be valuable for them in the World Cup. We know that the pitches in the USA will be slow, and the matches will be played on drop-in pitches, which tend to get slower as the day progresses.”
“In previous years, we have had good memories in the West Indies. So, I think the wickets will be suitable for us as the tournament progresses. As a team, we have three good all-rounders and four fast bowlers, giving us a decent chance of a successful tournament,” Samaranayake said in an interview with the Sunday Times.
Dilshan Madushanka, the fourth seamer, missed out on the IPL due to an injury despite being picked by Mumbai Indians, following a remarkable 50-over World Cup.
Although Sri Lanka will play all their group stage matches in venues where they have no prior experience, Samaranayake said the coaching staff and players have a fair knowledge of the pitches they will encounter. He also noted that the fast bowlers have enough experience to adjust their game plans according to the weather and ground conditions.
“In T20 cricket, bowlers are always under pressure from opposition batters. They need to be mindful of bowling according to the match situation. Bowlers cannot predict a length in T20 cricket; they should read the batter’s mind and observe the areas of weakness on that day,” he said.
Samaranayake also emphasised the importance of maintaining composure during major tournaments. He stressed that bowlers should be able to change their roles according to the match situation and highlighted the importance of pace variation in the final overs.
“The ability to bowl under pressure develops with experience. Mastering death bowling in practice before executing those deliveries in crucial match situations will be a key factor in Sri Lanka’s campaign,” he pointed out.
Samaranayake is confident that the bowling unit will execute the plans the coaches have set in the last few months leading up to the tournament.
“Madushanka’s speed and swing can help him take wickets with the new ball. Matheesha can make an impact with the old ball given his square-arm action and yorks. We also have the experienced Dushmantha Chameera, who has the variations to bowl according to different oppositions. Unlike in bilateral series, major tournaments require different strategies to counter different teams,” he explained.
Samaranayake feels that Chameera and Pathirana should be used as the death bowling combination to address Sri Lanka’s longstanding death bowling issues.
“There are two strategies in death bowling — one is to focus on reducing runs to frustrate opposition batters, and the other is to bowl with an attacking line and length to get wickets. I think the best combination for the last four overs is Chameera and Pathirana,” he noted.
To address the batting woes, he suggested that batters work closely with analysts to understand the statistics of previous matches at the venues.
“Throwing wickets in the power play increases the dot ball percentage. If the top-order batters understand and manage this, Sri Lanka could be a contender for the semifinals,” he asserted.
This will be the first time Wanindu Hasaranga leads Sri Lanka in an ICC tournament, entering as the top all-rounder in the ICC Rankings. Samaranayake is confident that Hasaranga will contribute significantly as an all-rounder and expects senior players in the likes of Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka to assist him on the field. Alongside Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana will also be a threat to opposition teams.
Sri Lanka is placed alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Netherlands in Group ‘D’. Samaranayake warned against complacency, noting that no team should be underestimated in T20 cricket. However, he acknowledged that South Africa and Sri Lanka are the favourites in the group while pointing out that fielding is a key component in winning major tournaments. With the arrival of fielding coach Upul Chandana, standards have improved significantly, boosting confidence for Sri Lanka ahead of the 20-team tournament.
Samaranayake commended Pakistan legend Wasim Akram for conducting a two-day workshop and working closely with the young fast bowlers and coaching staff. Akram provided insights into the conditions and challenges the bowlers can expect during the World Cup.
It’s been a decade since Sri Lanka won the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, and Samaranayake hopes to see Sri Lanka qualify for the semi-finals along with India, Australia, and one of either England or New Zealand.
“Hopefully, this tournament will showcase players who will drive Sri Lankan cricket forward,” he concluded.