High voltage encounter on cards
Aussie keen to decode SL spin mystery
Preview
Group A match
Australia versus Sri Lanka
Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Start Time: 14:30 (IST)
With majority of games involving minnows as one of the teams, matches in the world cup have turned out to be dull and lop-sided affairs. But the fixture of the tournament has some potential super matches in store for the fans. Saturday’s encounter is what fans wait and talk about before days and weeks. World cricket’s two of the fiercest heavyweights-Sri Lanka and Australia- will be sweating it out to take a step towards the cup glory.
A victory in this game will not only boost the confidence but will almost seal a place in the knock out stages.
Australia are yet to lose a game in this world cup with their fast bowlers helping two comfortable wins once each against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. Same can’t be said of Sri Lanka as it dropped two crucial points against Pakistan but had easy wins against minnows, Kenya and Canada.
The two teams have developed intense rivalry, over the years, and same would be witnessed a high voltage world cup game on Saturday. It will be Sri Lanka, though, that will be start as favourites with home conditions to play with and jam packed Premadasa crowd backing them to the hilt. Encounter can be billed as duel between Australian batsmen and Sri Lankan spinners.
Australian fast bowling line-up, however, has an edge over Lankans fortunes of home side will depend on how they cope up Aussie pace battery.
Sri Lanka
One of the joint hosts of the tournament, Sri Lanka have played good cricket in patches and would need to bring their A game into play to maximize their chances of winning against Australia. Batting, as always, would revolve around two senior pros-Mahela Jayewardene and skipper Kumar Sangakara- and will have hold the fort on Saturday as well.
Openers appeared to have got back the fluency that was missing in earlier matches in the last match and Dilshan in aggressive form augurs well for home team. Team management, however, would want lower middle order batsmen to contribute and onus will be on Thilan Samaraweera, Mathews and Chamara Silva to answer the call.
Bowling looked not threatening in Lasith Malinga’s absence in first two games but return of Malinga with a super performance against Netherlands has given edge to fast bowling unit. Real Sri Lankan strength is in their spin department with Muthaih Murlitharan and Ajantha Mendis likely to trouble the Aussie batting line-up on a spin friendly Premadasa pitch.
Squad: K Sangakara Capt & Wkt), M Jayewardene, Tilkeratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapudegera, Chamara Silva, Thisara Perrera, Muthaih Murlitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekra, Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga
Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Australia
Off late, there has been too much of dependence on inform Shane Watson and Saturday’s big stage provides an opportunity for other batsmen to showcase their talent. Brad Haddin looked to be getting back into form against New Zealand by scoring an aggressive half-century and alongwith Watson would like to give a strong platform to the middle order.
Ricky Ponting is slow and steadily coming back into his grove but is yet set world on fire in this tournament. He needs to get his game right to lift the team in this crucial encounter. Michael Clarke and big Cameron White will have a job to thwart Lankan spinners from getting into their zone in the middle part of the innings. Lower order batting is very strong with David Hussey and Steven Smith capable of scoring quick runs in the end overs.
It is fast bowling battery of Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson that has given Australia edge over other teams. All three teams have taken wickets and importantly are looking fit enough to last the distance in the tournament.
Johnson, in particular, has been impressive and notably accurate troubling batsmen with his pace and direction. Real test of Aussie spinners-Smith and Jason Krejza-will come tomorrow against some of the world’s best players against spin bowling. Both will do well not to let Lankan batsmen to dominate them.
Squad: Ricky Ponting (Capt), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Callum Ferguson, David Hussey, Cameron White, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait
Coach: Tim Neilson
© eContent.in
