World Twenty20 showpiece to fan wings

From Elmo RODRIGOPULLE in London

The International Cricket Council has left no stone unturned to see to the success of the Second Edition of the Twenty20 World Cup even bettering the recently concluded Indian Premier League conducted in South Africa.

Al 12 teams have arrived in London and are hard at practice,determined to lay their hands on the trophy that was won by India at the last time of asking in South Africa.

As for the Sri Lankans they have already got down to action at Trent Bridge in Nottingham where they will have to beat either Australia or West Indies before further progressing in the tournament.

The Lankans play their matches on June 8 and 10 and have ample time to prepare and adjust to the conditions which will be on the cold side although it is summer time here.They have two warm-up games.

New kid on the block Kumar Sangakkara who is having his first fling as full time captain has a big responsibility on his broad shoulders.It is paramount that he reads situations well,strike it consistently rich with the bat and lead from the front. Sangakkara from the time he sported the Sri Lanka cap has been an example and his rich harvest of runs in all versions of the game has been phenomenal. His work behind the stumps have always been top class and is in the class of South Africa”s Mark Boucher.

He has the temperament,and although technique is thrown to the wilds in this style of game, he has the ability to innovate, make runs and show the way to his team mates. He has a shrewd cricketing brain and there is no reason why he should not emerge as the best captain of the tournament.

He will be looking to the experience of elder statesman Sanath Jayasuriya, former skipper Mahela Jayawardena, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Indika de Saram, Chamara Silva and Farveez Maharoof when striking.

Dilshan although he did not open in the IPL Twenty20, came down the order and was the most successful Sri Lankan player. His aggressive approach was a treat to watch and the excellent knocks he produced every time he took strike was amazing.

Sanath Jayasuriya will be determined to make amends for his failure in the IPL. By his standards he did not have a satisfying tour. He is supremely fit and has the strokes to come good.If he succeeds and gives the Lankans a strong start with Dilshan, then half the battle could be won.

The other experienced batsman Mahela Jayawardena was nicely slipping into form when he suffered a muscle damage. He has now recovered and with no burdens to shoulder as captain will be free to deliver. Indika de Saram must not be neglected. He has been ignored for far too long and must be persisted with so that he cold regain his confidence and play the strokes he is capable of.

It is a pity that Maharoof has not lived up to expectations and made his presence felt as an allrounder. Strongly built and able to use the long handle, he has not made it his business to play the way we know he can. He is ideal material for this style of game and the captain will be stressing on him the need to succeed.He was not given many games in the IPL.

On paper the batting looks lean, while the bowling department looks stronger. Leading the attack will be slinger Lasith Malinga who has now recovered from injury and is now bowing at his best.

His toe crushing yorkers bemused many batsmen in the IPL and if he can control it a bit more should flatten many a batsmen”s wicket. He will be the paceman to watch in the tournament.

Muttiah Muralitheran can be relied on to produce the spin that will mesmerize the opponents. He had batsmen who fronted up to him South Africa non plussed. None could really master his doosra and should be among the wickets.

Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis seemed to have been mastered the way the batsmen launched into him. This is a “come or go Chicago” game where batsmen blindly throw their bats because it is runs that is required and not how they come and so Mendis had been at the receiving end.

Jayasuriya will also have to make his spin count. He can bowl economically and Sangakkara will be looking to him to vary and curb the batsmen.He must not lose his cool but keep it wicket to wicket and then success should come.

The wicket in Trent Bridge, Nottingham where Sri Lanka will be playing has been known to favour spin and if this is the case then Muralitheran, Mendis and Jayasuriya will be hard to play. The Aussies and West Indies don”t have spinners who can match the Lankan triumvirate.

In this game, like in the 50 over game, fielding must be first class. There”s no place for the butter fingered. In addition the ground fielding too must not leave room for batsmen to turn singles into twos and threes.

The Lankans are training assiduously and if they can play true to form, there is no reason why they should fly back with their collars up, heads held high and proudly holding aloft the imposing ICC Twenty20 Trophy which is in the possession of the previous champions India.

I will be at the scene describing the action for readers of the two leading newspapers in the country the ‘Daily News’ and the `Sunday Observer’. Stay with the two papers.