Chris Silverwood will be key for Sri Lankan upset – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka will bank on coach Chris Silverwood’s innermost knowledge of England’s batting weaknesses in a bid to upset the favourites at the SCG.
Silverwood was the former England coach until the disastrous Ashes tour last summer in Australia, where he was relieved of his duties after returning home with very little happy stories to write about.
At the helm of a younger, relatively inexperienced Sri Lanka side who are currently gaining a reputation as a dangerous proposition to anyone on their day, his direction could be crucial to a Lankan upset.
From a personal perspective, he has a point to prove to his former employers that the hiccup against Australia was not the end all of his ability to handle the reins.
Sri Lanka has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the semi finals after a successful Asia Cup triumph. But beating England is key to any further aspirations.
The Lankans will need to map out their strategies with a focus on curbing the run hungry England batting while seeking to counter one of the most dangerous bowling attacks in the competition.
Sri Lanka themselves possess a strong bowling line up with two lethal spinners in Wanindu Hasarsnga De Silva and Maheesh Theeksheena, backed by menacing paceman Lahiru Kumara and off spinning Dhananjaya De Silva that can exploit the SCG track.
But their batting has been brittle and inconsistent so far and their fielding bordering on atrocious.
How they progress from here depends heavily openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis who started well but have fallen in a hole in the past few games.
Their start will be crucial.
Dhananjaya De Silva Bhanuka Rajapakse, Charith Asalanka, Skipper Dasun Shanaka and Maheesh Theeksheena shoulder the rest of the responsibility to bring stability to a middle order that has not shown anything of notice in the competition so far.
Containment and a positive mindset will be on the minds of Dasun Shanaka and his men if they are to stay competitive and not get blown out of the water. They need to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and play it like it was a final.
In relative terms, England look set to challenge the other favourites. But unlike pre tournament predictions, the closing gap between all teams see Australia, India, England and even New Zealand unsure of making the final four until the results of the last round unfolds.
It has been one of the most pleasing and exciting World Cups due the fiercely competitive matches from all teams, and the unseasonal weather in Australia contribution in no uncertain terms to give the lesser teams a chance of progressing beyond their expectations.
Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and Afganistan have been a breath of fresh air in this respect and it certainly augurs well for more competitive world game.
From a Sri Lankan perspective, they have lifted their status in the to a level of confidence and unpredictability, and their fortunes are steadily turning the graph in a northerly direction.
