India take on Sri Lanka today
Sri Lanka have every reason to employ three pace bowlers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium when they take on defending champions India in the Asia Cup today.
On Sunday, Bangladesh used Shahadat Hossain alongside Shafiul Islam and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza against Pakistan. Though two of the three seamers weren’t given the full quota and bombed with the older ball, it still made sense to the Lankans, who will once again look to stop the legend Sachin Tendulkar’s much-awaited 100th international hundred.
“We haven’t decided it yet but I think any team will play three quicks with the Powerplays these days,” said bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake yesterday.
“Of course with the new balls from both ends means that taking three is necessary though reverse swing is still there; the Pakistanis did it last night.
In Dhaka the weather is dry right now so it is possible, though it is not like those days with one new ball,” added the man who used to be the Tigers’ bowling coach for a couple of years after joining in 2008.
The four participating teams, coaches, match officials and organisers were all holed up in the team hotel making it certain that both Indians and the Sri Lankans went into the game without any training.
“It is dissapointing but what to do,” he said. “We are thinking of going a little early tomorrow [Tuesday] to practice. Though everyone has been playing a lot of cricket, still we’ll go in the morning but we understand there is a problem today [Monday].”
Ramanayake will be working with a line-up of fast bowlers that include Angelo Matthews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera.
It is likely that skipper Mahela Jayawardene will be keen to go with Kulasekara, Malinga and Maharoof if Matthews is not fit to play. The fiery Malinga will also be under some scrutiny after some up and down performances.
Ramanayake, the mentor of the 28-year-old paceman with the most famous round-arm action, believes that the protégé will return to form in time.
“In Australia there was not much reverse swing so he struggled a bit. I hope he’ll learn new tricks. He’s okay; everyone can have a bad game or two when you play eleven games in such a short time,” he said, adding that the presence of younger players have had a positive impact.
“The youngsters are doing well and winning matches. It is a good sign, there are more young players in the team and with Mahela as the captain, and it is a big difference. They have done well in South Africa and Australia,” said Ramanayake, who has played 18 Tests and 62 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1986 and 1995.
India too can go with a pace-based attack as they have Ashok Dinda, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan and Vinay Kumar, with either of Ravi Ashwin and Rahul Sharma taking the spinner’s spot.
SQUADS
SRI LANKA: (From) Mahela Jayawardene (Captain), Angelo Mathews (Vice-captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Ferveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Kumar Sangakkara (Wicketkeeper), Sachitra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne.
INDIA: (From) MS Dhoni (Captain & wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli (Vice-captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashok Dinda, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rahul Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Manoj Tiwary, Vinay Kumar.
Bangladesh Television and NEO Cricket will show the match live from 2:00pm
-With The Daily Star input
