Sri Lanka Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: TSR presents Sri Lanka’s likely Playing 11 for their 1st match vs New Zealand
Advertisement
Sri Lanka have lost their last 5 of the 6 ODI series (including the 2018 Asia Cup). The lone series which they had won was against the lower-ranked Scotland side in a 2-match series, one of which was washed off due to rain.
They have tasted defeat against teams like South Africa, New Zealand, England since the past year, and are is a state of absolute disarray. They have a new captain in the form of Dimuth Karunaratne, who has just played one ODI since the 2015 World Cup.
Moreover, they have fielded as many as 57 players, 28 of which are debutantes since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and retirement of their senior pros- Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena.
They also lost their two Warm-up matches South Africa and Australia ahead of the World Cup.
Sri Lanka Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup
Top Order
The Sri Lankan team have picked as many as 5 all-rounders in their side who will provide most of the batting services for them. With Avishka Gunaratne injured during the first Warm-up match against South Africa, chances of him featuring in the Playing 11 are rather bleak. Hence the experienced Southpaw- Lahiru Thirimanne and their rookie skipper, Dimuth Karunaretne are expected to start the innings against New Zealand in their opening encounter on June 1. The Southpaw also scored a half-century (56 off 69) in the second Warm-up match against Australia, at the opening slot.
The wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Perera will walk in to bat at no.3. With scores of 0(2) and 12(19) in the Warm-up matches, he might not inspire confidence at the moment, but with the aggressive brand of Cricket he plays, he can drift the game away on his own on his day.
Middle-order
One of the most experienced servants of Sri Lanka Cricket, and former captain, Angelo Mathews will be an automatic selection for the Lankans at no.4 or no.5 . He has been consistently out of the side owing to injuries, and has played only a single ODI in 2019 so far against Scotland. The last full series he played was against South Africa in July 2018, where he averaged 78.33 in a 5-match ODI series at Home.
The other batsman at the middle-order would be the other wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis. He averaged 66 and 40.40 in the previous two ODI series against Scotland and South Africa, and there is no better alternative for the selection panel but him at no.4 or 5.
The other batsmen down the order do not inspire much confidence. Barring all-rounder Thisara Perera, there is neither any experience nor a unique outstanding talent that can give a scare to any of the 9 teams. All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva has been around the team since 2016, and has the experience to bat alongside Thisara at the lower middle-order. He really looked good with his 43 off 41 against Australia in the Warm-up game.
Bowlers
The fast bowling department will be led by the veteran bowler, Lasith Malinga. Considering the important role spinners will play during the middle overs, Jeevan Mendis’ experience will have to be backed up either by Jeffrey Vandersay or Milinda Siriwardana.
This means that alongside Malinga, it will either be one amongst Suranga Lakmal or Nuwan Pradeep who will bowl for Sri Lanka, with Thisara Perera being the third pacer. Lakmal has been good for Sri Lanka off-late, and with his ability to swing the ball both ways, he should be picked ahead of Nuwan.
Sri Lanka Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup
Kusal Parera (Wk), Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardene/ Jeffrey Vandersay, Thisara Parera, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal.
