It was 96 world cup and India was in the semifinals..all fingers crossed and the match was held in INdia’s lucky venue the Eden gardens..India chaisng a decent target of 250 was off to a flyer thanx to Sachin and when it seemed to be crusing a young off spinner bought about to the dismissal of Sachin and there went india’s hopes..The Srilankans had arrived and with a bang..after that it has a beena high for the lankans though they have been going thru a lean patch in the recent times..
The Srilankans who gained test status has improved rapidly in a the lst decade to the extent that it won the world cup in 1996 and that too with relative ease without losing game in the entire competion..For the next three years they were unbeatable side and a formiddable test opponent until Jayasuriya took over the reigns..bad captaincy and bad management has led to the decline if Srilankans in the recent times..let us go about analysing the team’s chances in the world cup..
BATTING:WAS their strength.i stress the word WAS as it longer remains that way..Jayasuriya has been reckoned as a dangerous batsmen but bowlers have done their homework against him and he no longer instills the terror in the bowlers he once used to..though can be if luck favours him..he has a steady opening partner in Attapattu who is a compact batsmen..perfect technique, strigh bat, high elbow are all seen in his shots..can rise thetempo if the situation demands but not a batsmen who blasts the bowlers rught from the word go..Mahela jawardene their most talented batsmen has been their most inconsistent perfomer too..wonderful player to watch but he lacks that killer instinct and so do all the lakan players..Arnold and all are good players but then when competing in a tournament as big as world cup you have to have a more reliable middle order..
Bowling:This has to be their best department with the perfect combination of experience and young talent..Chamindaa Vaas the old war horse is still going strong and can be the meanest of bowlers not giving away anything..and of course there is Murali who is right up there when it comes to taking wickets..a great fielder and pretty useful batsmen he is a great cricketer..and the fiery Fernando who bowls with real pace and can rattle the batsmen..truly a bowling side to watch out for..but the bowler you have to watch out for is Murali just becoz of the variety he has got..simply the best..
Fielding:hey rae not the best of the fielding sides but dav whatmore has definitely improved the standards..they dive around like rugby players..really a vast improvement.indians have to take a leaf out of their book in this aspect..at least they are making some effort to improve..
Players to watch out for:Jayasuriya, jayawardena, Murali
it is a good team but am afraid it won’t make it to the final..but then ona spinning track and murali on his day..well you just can’t say anything..can you??