Confident Australia look to extend lead (Preview)

It doesn’t take long in cricket for scenario to change. In the two match twenty-20 series, an inexperienced Australia proved to be no match for the hosts, Sri Lanka. The Cameron White led side was battered in the first game by Sri Lankan skipper Tilkerratne Dilshan who took all Aussie bowlers to the cleaners setting up virtually an impossible target for the tourists to achieve. In the second game, it was turn of Australian batters to be on the receiving end. Ajantha Mendis’s mystery couldn’t be decoded as Aussies were whitewashed comfortably.

Having an army of quality spinners and slow home pitches to suit them, Sri Lankan started as favourites for ODI series. But first ODI has proved to be a total contrast to popular predictions.

The return of senior batting trio of skipper Michael Clarke, his predecessor Ricky Ponting and reliable Michael Hussey to the ODI setup bolstered the middle order. And it showed when target of 192 was chased down successfully to go 1-0 up in the five match series. Ponting and Clarke displayed altogether a different approach to the spinners using their feet skillfully and seeing their team through after Shane Watson had attacked Lankan pace bowlers mercilessly.

It was left arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who set up the win though. His six-wicket haul earned by a mixture of pace and slower ones on a slow Kandy surface took stuffing out of the home team batting lineup. For Australian side that relies heavily on pace it was a good omen. Their premier fast bowler having a good spell early on the tour should spring up confidence in other pacers that they can do well on spin friendly Sri Lankan pitches.

Under Clarke’s stewardship, Aussies looked more assured of themselves: a total contrast how they fared in shortest format. All of a sudden bowling looks menacing and batting looks very strong.

This alone, however, doesn’t guarantee Australia of rolling over the home team. Sri Lankan spinners are still a threat. A good show by Lankan batters would mean more runs for spinners to play.

Unfortunately for Sri Lanka that wasn’t the case at Kandy. Majority of Lankan batsmen appeared to be in twenty-20 mode leading to their dismissals. Even batsmen of Mahela Jayawerdena and Kumar Sangakkara’s stature combusted to reckless stroke-making and aided Australia to keep the home team down to a below par score. To be honest, some of them didn’t have answer to Johnson’s heroics.

For Sri Lanka to draw level, their batsmen need to come out of twenty-20 mode and concentrate on building an innings rather than going for everything early in the piece. Spin assisting pitches, yes, but Hambantota does have a lot of runs if batsmen are prepared to grind it out upfront.

The Dilshan led side had a refreshing piece of news in their lead up to second match. Their ace pacemen Lasith Malinga who missed twenty-20 series and first ODI due to an injury has been declared fit to play second. His return should add venom and variety to pace attack. His ability to bowl fast, slower ones, yorkers, and get ball to bounce above the chest consistently should make it difficult for Australia to score freely against him.

Clarke and team management will be keen to wrest initiative and go 2-0 up. But the home team will feel they have got the kind of arsenal and home conditions to match Aussies at Hambantota.

Sri Lanka Squad: T  Dilshan (C), Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Jeevan Mendis, Chamara Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Isuru Udana, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Malinga Bandara, Sachithra Senanayake.

Australia Squad: Australia: Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (C), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Doug Bollinger.