Sri Lanka determined to perform well

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: Sri Lanka team manager, Anura Tennekoon believes that the team could adapt to 'gelling together' quickly at any given time would hold the key in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

Sri Lanka will feature in the tournament opener against New Zealand on April 30 (Sri Lanka time 10.00 pm) at the Providence Stadium, Guyana in an extravaganza that will see the scenario shifting from the sub-continent to the West Indies.

The final is scheduled to take place on May 16 at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown Barbados.

Pakistan are the defending champions and Sri Lanka the runners-up. The last tournament was held in June 2009. After a hectic Indian Premier League (IPL) which lasted well over a month, the Sri Lanka team left last night to the West Indies. Sri Lanka is in group 'B' with New Zealand and Zimbabwe. The Lankans will take on Zimbabwe on May 3 in Guyana prior to the next stage which begins on May 6.

Anura Tennekoon the former Sri Lanka captain and the manager of the team, was quite optimistic that the Lankans could fare well, as they field a team of youth and experience.

Uncapped Dinesh Chandimal will get a chance to prove his capabilities after a good home season while Thisara Perera has already impressed everyone with his allround efforts. Angelo Mathews another allrounder, bowled Sri Lanka into the final defeating the West Indies of the last T20 World Cup held in England.

"Twenty20 games are very unpredictable because just one over could completely change the complexion of a game, and it is very difficult to comeback because of the short nature of the game. So an unfancied side could easily upset a side on that day."

Unlike the IPL, this tournament generates more interest and enthusiasm among the players and spectators as the competition is between countries. So, the players are bound to give their best, which makes the tourney high in quality and more competitive," said the former captain Tennekoon. Besides, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the players of the other countries have been scattered representing various teams in the IPL and had not got the opportunity to play together as a team. So the team that could 'gel' together quickly should have the advantage while performing, said Tennekoon.

When asked whether this version of the game would one day take over from the Test and ODI versions, Tennekoon answered in the negative. "Twenty20 version of the game has become very popular by the day mainly due to the time factor. Because people, at times, can't afford to watch even a 50-over game. This shorter version lasts three hours and it is so full of action like a top game of tennis which goes on for a couple of hours."

"With the T20 in full force there has been a definite improvement in the skills of the players, particularly the fielding aspect. Because one has to be very quick on the field and throw oneself around to save runs and we have also seen some amazing catches taken as well."

"From the batting point of view, it has improved the skills of a player to improvise shots and also to go after every ball so that there will be a very few 'dot balls'. As for the bowling, the bowlers have to be innovating all the time looking for different bowling options and overall from the skill point of view there have been lot added to the game."However, Tennekoon was not in favour of introducing this form of the game among the juniors.

"It is much better that a junior cricketer starts with the orthodox style of the game, that he gets the rudiments and skills properly and thereafter develop into the shorter version of the game."

Sri Lanka squad:

Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welegedera, Chamara Kapugedera, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chinthaka Jayasinghe.

Officials: Anura Tennekoon (Manager), Trevor Bayliss (Coach), Stuart Law (Assistant coach), Tommy Simsek (Physiotherapist), Jade Roberts (Trainer), Sanath Jayasunera (Computer Analyst), Lal Thamel (Masseur), Chandika Hathurusinghe (Shadow Coach), Ashantha de Mel (Selector on tour).