Five veterans not in team ....:

‘New look’ Lankans off to Ireland for ODI’s

By Ranjan Anandappa

Sri Lanka’s Cricket Tour of England: The ‘first leg’ of Sri Lanka’s Cricket Tour of England, the two ODI’s played in Ireland is no doubt going to be a crucial one for the Lankans and will certainly not be a walk in a moonlit park. Sans five of their seasoned players, namely former skippers Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillkeratne Dilshan along with T20 skipper Lasith Malinga and ace leg-spinner Rangana Herath whom the selectors have opted to rest for this part of the tour.

The Sri Lanka team left on last Friday to Ireland to play two ODI’s in Dublin and will later proceed to the United Kingdom to feature in two Tests, five ODI’s and a solitary T20.

The Sri Lanka ODI and Test squad to England are still to be named.

Angelo Mathews will be playing his first Test match in England and there too as the captain of the side. He admitted that the tour is going to be a huge challenge for him as the conditions differ very much from the one’s in the sub-continent.

Getting acclimatised to the English conditions is the main thing and he was confident that it could be done quickly, specially in time for the two Test series.

The two Tests over a month later on June 12-16 at Lord’s and the second Test from June 20-24 at Headingley,Leeds.

The Sri Lankans are certainly doing their home work to face the challenges in England. Instead of the ‘Kookkabura ball’ which is been used, they have switched on to use the ‘Duke’ brand ball which is used in England. The ‘Duke’ with the seam more prominent than the ‘Kookabura’ helps the fast bowlers with the swing and the cut. The practice pitches too prepared at the R. Premadasa Stadium nets are ‘green tops’ and the practice schedules too have been changed to begin around 8.00 am with a bit of dew on the surface.

The Sri Lanka skipper Mathews was happy with his batting form during the Asia Cup and the World T20 tournaments striking at the right time when the side needed him most. He hoped to continue his consistency with the bat during the tour.

The youngsters have rallied round him and with the backing of the senior players. Mathews was confident of a good performance against the Englishmen.

Youngsters given the nod

The selectors have quite rightly given the opportunity for some aspiring youngsters to stamp their class while playing Ireland, may be with the 2015 World Cup in mind. Kusal Janith Perera who looks a replica of Sanath Jayasuriya while batting and experienced Upul Tharanga should open the batting in the absence of Tillkeratne Dilshan. Then there is Ashan Priyanjana, Kithuruwan Vithanage and Chaturanga de Silva who will have to produce something worthwhile if they are to find a permanent place in the side. Chaturanga de Silva looks an useful all-rounder who could fit into Rangana Herath’s ‘shoes’ as a left-arm spinner and more than useful middle-order batsman.

Ashan Priaynjana and another left-hander Kithuruwan Vithanage have represented the country on previous occasions, but both are still to cement their places in the side as they have been in and out of the side.

Niroshan Dickwella, after representing the Sri Lanka Under 19 team who also became the Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year a couple of years ago, has got the opportunity to represent the country at the highest level.

The two ODI’s played in Dublin, Ireland will be on May 6 and 8 and they should be a stiff competition as the Irishmen are fully geared for the occasion and aware that the conditions are firmly in Ireland’s favour during this part of the year. The Sri Lankans reveled in the sub-continent for over a month by winning the Asia Cup and the World T20 title with the conditions ideally suiting them.

Ed Joyce Ireland’s top batsman

Ireland’s star batsman the 35-year-old Ed Joyce who is also a professional playing for Sussex, has been in top form this season with three centuries and has helped his county Sussex to top the County Championship.

In an interview with the BBC has said that the Sri Lankans may not find conditions easy in Ireland in early May.

“I am convinced we have a real chance of beating Sri Lanka as they won’t relish the conditions we are likely to face in early may in Dublin” said Ed Joyce.

“As a player you want to test yourself against the best and Sri Lanka certainly come into that category.”

Joyce struck his first ODI hundred for Ireland against Pakistan in 2013 but Ireland lost that match.

“I have only played one international match against Sri Lanka during the 2007 World Cup,so I am really looking forward to the challenge of facing some of the world’s best bowlers.” he said.

The Irishmen are coached by West Indian Phil Simmons and the selectors have stuck to the 13 man squad which took part in the World T20 tournament recently concluded at Bangladesh.

Many are playing in the English County circuit like skipper William Porterfield (Warwickshire), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Neil O’Brien (Leicestershire), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Gary Wilson (Surrey) and Kevin O’Brien make the Irishmen a very competitive outfit.

Sri Lanka’s ODI squad to Ireland:

Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne (V. Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjana, Kithuruwan Vithanange, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachitra Senanayake, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suranga Lakmal, Dammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella.

Ireland squad: William Porterfield (Captain), (Warwickshire), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), Kevin O’Brien,(Railway Union), Niall O’Brien (Leicestershire), Andrew Poynter, (Clontarf), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey).