It’s hard not to like Sri Lanka. Laidback old-world decency on and off the pitch combined with a wealth of unorthodox cricket pioneering makes for compelling viewing. After India and Pakistan took the 2007 and 2009 trophies respectively, Kumar Sangakkara’s men will be hoping to become the third subcontinental nation to grab the World Twenty20 title.
Last year the Lankans’ road to the semifinals was free-flowing, if not altogether smooth. Tillekeratne Dilshan’s astonishing scoops over the keeper’s head were the story of Sri Lanka’s tournament, but there were other contributors: the composed middle order firm of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene stood up when it mattered, Isara Udana’s slower balls contrasted Lasith Malinga’s screeching swingers, while electric all-round contributions from Angelo Mathews supported the wily spin bowling of Murali and Mendis–the latter in particular looking near his best.
This is a slightly different side that makes its way to the Caribbean. Sangakkara is an articulate intelligent captain and his batting, like that of his deputy and lifelong chum Mahela Jayawardene, borders on the aristocratic with its elegant fluency. The old firm of Murali will be hoping to exploit the turn on the dry pitches, and Ajantha Mendis’ carrom-style spin may be ideally suited to the conditions. Nuwan Kulasekara peppers his new-ball accuracy with lethal cutters, while Malinga’s searing pace and impressive disguise is a handful for any opposition.
Also present is the promising left-arm pacer Chanaka Welegedera, who has generally impressed in his international outings, and the hard-hitting Thissara Perera has shown on a few occasions that his blasting–and less spectacular but capable medium-pace–can make a heady difference in a few overs. Suraj Randiv has impressed with frugal off-spin, and Chamara Kapugedara can belt the ball in the middle overs. Mathews is an all-rounder of genuine promise, with his compact, aggressive middle-order position and his unspectacular but studious line-and-length bowling.
A variety of youngsters includes Chinthaka Jayasinghe (only academically–he’s 31) and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal, who has a slim opportunity to keep if Sangakkara is either injured, or opts not to. Tillekeratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya make for an explosive pair–one nimble and sprightly, the other an uncompromising basher–but it’s likely that this year the aging Jayasuriya (40 years old) may sit out a few matches, or be pushed lower down the order. Whatever the case, he’s almost certainly one of the only acting politician-cum-sportsmen (Imran Khan started politics after retirement) on the international scene–certain strange for an unassuming and modest chap. The sturdy left-hander has shown, though, that cricket isn’t just a young man’s game.
Sri Lanka will consider themselves favourites against similarly spin-heavy Zimbabwe–though it’s an unpredictable game–and will eager for revenge against New Zealand, who took them out 2-0 last summer, in the tournament’s curtain-raiser.
Group: B, v New Zealand and Zimbabwe, Providence, Guyana
Watch out for: Reports of decoding the Ajantha Mendis code are largely exaggerated. The silent off-spinner still has enough to fox some of the world’s best batsmen, particularly on supportive pitches. He was last tournament’s third-leading wicket-taker as well.
