Team Sri Lanka – Does not just have enough...

The Sri Lankan squad for the world cup is as follows –

Mahela Jayawardene (captain)

Kumar Sangakkara (vice captain)

Sanath Jayasuriya

Chaminda Vaas

Muttiah Muralitharan

Marvan Atapattu

Upul Tharanga

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Dilhara Fernando

Russel Arnold

Mohamed Farveez Maharoof

Lasith Malinga

Malinga Bandara

Chamara Silva

Nuwan Kulasekara

The squad contains an amazing mixture of very elderly statesmen and the very young and inexperienced rookies. While that coupled with Sri Lankan renaissance post ‘the Indian whitewash’ is a factor to rejoice, this team still does not have the ‘IT’ factor that enabled Ranatunga’s boys to take the trophy.

Let’s analyze the individual disciplines -

Batting –

The batting mainstay without doubt is going to be the ever so dangerous Jayasuriya. This being his last world cup, he would so desperately want to finish off in style. Tharanga as his partner has loads of talent. The middle order oozes with class and ability in Attapattu, Jayawardane and Sangakkara. The lower middle order can be destructive towards the end with the likes of Arnold, Dilshan and Chamara Silva. The tail too can wag with Maharoof and Vaas more than capable of belting the ball into the stands.

Bowling –

The Bowling attack has amazing variety. The ever so dependant Vaas is always dangerous. The slinging Malinga can cause serious damage with his pace and deceptive action. Fernando and Kulasekara are good too. Maharoof is a very able bowling all-rounder. Murali is without doubt the best off spinner in the world. Bandara is fast turning out to be an amazing leg spinner. Jayasuriya, Arnold and Dilshan can all bowl those crucial middle overs with great effect.

Keeping –

Sangakkara is the wicket keeper batsman and what an options it is to have. He would be easily rated as the most correct and classiest wicket keeper batsman ever (along with Andy Flower). Tharanga would be the backup option in case of emergencies.

Fielding –

The Sri Lankan side have improved tremendously as a fielding unit under Moody. They do not have start fielders like many other teams, but as a complete unit, they are among the best. Dilshan and Arnold are exceptional within the circle. Jayasuriya, inspite of his age, is always prowling on the leg side. All others are very safe at both ground fielding and catching.

My First Playing Eleven –

Jayasurya

Tharanga

Attapattu

Sangakara

Jayawardane

Arnold

Dilshan

Maharoof

Vaas

Malinga

Muralitharan

This line-up not only has amazing depth (Vaas is batting at 9), but also very good variety in their bowling attack. Vaas and Malinga could open the attack with Maharoof as back-up. You then have Muralitharan and Jayasuriya providing contrasting variety of spin attacks with Arnold and Dilshan as back-up options. Bandara would be unlucky to miss out, but then you only need so many spinning options.

It’s been a good 10 years since the Lankans shocked the world by winning the world cup. Doing it again, could be the perfect farewell to some of their greatest ever players viz. Jayasuriya, Attapattu, Vaas and Muralitharan.

But can they do it… That’s a big unanswerable question.