Theekshana Boost for Sri Lanka as they Prepare for Pakistani threat in Hyderabad

Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad - ICC Men's CWC 2023; Match Preview

Pakistan began their CWC 2023 campaign with a comfortable victory against the Dutch at the same venue while Sri Lanka suffered a huge loss against South Africa although they did give the chase of 429 a fair fight till the end.

Pakistani batting looked in superb touch in the warm ups but the top order was woefully exposed in their opening match against the Dutch. Fakhar and Imam were both disposed of early along with the mercurial Babar Azam. It was the youngster Saud Shakeel along with Rizwan who steadied the ship and with late cameos from Nawaz and Shadab helped Pakistan to a decent total. How long will Pakistan stick with Fakhar Zaman remains to be seen. Iftikhar also remains a threat in that middle order.

Bowling remains the stronger suit of Pakistan even with Naseem out. Shaheen Shah and Hasan Ali remain a potent threat with the new ball while the pace of Rauf becomes a crucial factor in the middle and closing overs. Shadab is still struggling for rhythm and he went for runs even against the Netherlands. The 20 overs of spin remains their weak link.

Sri Lankan batting which was torn apart by Siraj and Bumrah in the Asia Cup Final came roaring back against the Proteas in the opening game in Delhi. Kusal Mendis lit up the night with his clean hitting while Asalanka and Shanaka also contributed quick runs. The form of Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order remains a small worry while Sri Lanka will also want Kusal Perera to provide a breezy start like he did in the Asia Cup taking Shaheen Shah Afridi on. Dananjaya de Silva seems a misfit at number 6 but Sri Lanka are expected to stick to him for the time being.

Sri Lankan bowling suffered at the hands of Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram with all of them smashing 100's but the return of Theekshana will give the Lankan bowling much needed lift. I hope Kasun Rajitha will make way for him. Pathirana might also be replaced with Lahiru Kumara after being very expensive in the opening game. He was also erratic with his line and length. Wellalage, even though he went for runs, looked the best bowler in Delhi so should keep his place.

Key Battles: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Babar Azam Vs Dunith Wellalage

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis Vs Shaheen Shah Afridi

Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka Vs Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan

Mohammad Rizwan Vs Maheesh Theekshana

The two teams were involved in a last ball thriller in the Asia Cup where Asalanka took the Lankans over the line. Sri Lanka has never beaten Pakistan in an ODI World Cup game till date so that's one record that the Men in Blue will be looking to change.

Probable Pakistan XI

Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali

Probable Sri Lanka XI

Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madhushanka, Lahiru Kumara

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

Babar Azam

Kusal Mendis

Haris Rauf

Maheesh Theekshana

Charith Asalanka

The match will start at 02.00 PM IST (streamed live on Disney plus Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

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Who do you think will come out on top in this clash of the Asian Giants?

Sri Lanka and South Africa Clash at Kotla to get their CWC 2023 Campaign Underway

Sri Lanka Vs South Africa, Kotla, New Delhi - ICC Men's CWC 2023; Match Preview

Sri Lanka only made the ICC Men's CWC 2023 after winning a gruelling Qualifier Tournament. They also reached the final of the recently concluded Asia Cup but were battered by India in the finals. South Africa are coming off a come from behind 3-2 series win against the Aussies.

Sri Lankan batting has left a lot to be desired recently beginning from their abject collapse in the Asia Cup final. They will hope dashing opener Kusal Perera is fit to start else Dimuth might open who is a waste of space in this format. Nissanka needs to carry on and play a long innings. Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka shore up the middle order and have all been in good form recently. Dasun Shanaka needs to step up with the bat after a string of low scores recently.

The bowling too has had its ups and downs with the injuries not helping either. Hasaranga and Chameera are out and Theekshana has just joined the team after coming back from injury. Two out of Kumara/ Pathirana/ Madhushanka will probably start along with the young sensation Wellalage. Dasun, Dananjaya and Asalanka need to chip in with the ball as well.

The Proteas batting has looked very good with QDK and Bavuma making big runs against Australia while Markram, Klassen and Miller scored heavily in the series as well. Van der Dussen is likely to slot in at number 3. 

The Protea bowling line up like a little thin, at least on paper. Rabada and Ngidi should start along with the tall left arm pacer Marco Jensen. Maharaj and Shamsi should be their spin options with Markram more than capable to chip in with the ball as well.

Key Battles: Sri Lanka vs South Africa

Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka Vs Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi

Temba Bavuma Vs Dilshan Madhushanka

Heinrich Klassen and Aiden Markram Vs Dunith Wellalage

With each game likely to be very important in order to secure a semi final spot, this match already becomes very important for both South Africa and Sri Lanka. A slip up here and tougher tests in England, Australia, India await. Both teams will want to start with a win to ease into the long tournament.

Probable Sri Lanka XI

Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha/ Dilshan Madhushanka, Lahiru Kumara

Probable South Africa XI

Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Marco Jensen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamshi

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for Sri Lanka v South Africa at Kotla, New Delhi

Kusal Mendis

Quinton de Kock

Charith Asalanka

Dunith Wellalage

Marco Jensen

The match will start at 02.00 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will come out on top in this mouth watering clash?

Indian Cricket Team Schedule, Venues and Dates for 2023 Home Season Announced

BCCI announced a packed schedule for the Men in Blue from January 2023 till March 2023 with Sri Lanka, New Zealand & Australia slated to tour India. The Indian season will begin with a T20 series against the Lankans at Mumbai. The much awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy will begin on the 9th of March in Nagpur.

It will be interesting to see if India sticks with Rohit as captain and Dravid as the coach, both of whom have been under fire recently with India having fared poorly in Asia Cup 2022, WT20 2022 and now having lost the ODI series in both NZ & Bangladesh.

Team India Schedule from January 2023 to March 2023

Sri Lanka Tour of India

3 January – 1st T20I, Mumbai

5 January – 2nd T20I, Pune

7 January – 3rd T20I, Rajkot

10 January – 1st ODI, Guwahati

12 January – 2nd ODI, Kolkata

15 January – 3rd ODI, Trivandrum

New Zealand Tour of India

18 January – 1st ODI, Hyderabad

21 January – 2nd ODI, Raipur

24 January – 3rd ODI, Indore

27 January – 1st T20I, Ranchi

29 January – 2nd T20I, Lucknow

1 February – 3rd T20I, Ahmedabad

Australia Tour of India

9 to 13 February – 1st Test, Nagpur

17 to 21 February – 2nd Test, Delhi

1 to 5 March – 3rd Test, Dharamsala

9 to 13 March – 4th Test, Ahmedabad

17 March – 1st ODI, Mumbai

19 March, 2nd ODI, Vizag

22 March – 3rd ODI, Chennai

What tour are you most excited for?

England search for win against Sri Lanka as semi final beckons, Australian hopes lie with the Asian Champions!

England vs Sri Lanka at Gabba in Brisbane: Nov 05, 2022 - Match Preview

This has what the group of death has finally come to, with New Zealand having already qualified for the semi finals (most likely taking the top spot) while England need to win their last game against Sri Lanka to qualify & Australia will proceed if Sri Lanka beat England.

Sri Lankan batting has left a lot to be desired in the super 12 stage with Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka both failing repeatedly to give good starts. Dhananjaya de Silva played himself back into form with a brilliant half century against Afghanistan while Bhanuka has looked their most competent batter out there everytime he's walked out to the center. Sri Lanka will need a complete performance from the batting unit if they're to challenge the strong English line up.

The bowling too has had its ups and downs with the injuries not helping either. Hasaranga and Theekshana will remain the key at SCG while Sri Lanka might look to bring in Vandersay too for this last game of the World Cup for them.

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales finally found their hitting range against New Zealand in the last game with both smashing 50's. The middle order muddle is yet to be solved for England though with Malan, Brook, Stokes all looking short of runs and form.

The bowling unit of English, unlike their batting, has been functioning like a well oiled machine. Wood and Woakes have provided the pace while Curran looks like a upgraded version of himself nailing yorkers at death. Rashid and Livingstone have been performing the spin duties relatively well.

Key Battles: England vs Sri Lanka

Mark Wood vs Kusal Mendis

Maheesh Theekshana vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Wanindu Hasaranga vs Dawid Malan and Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone

The weather in Australia looks to have finally cleared with another gorgeous day in store for cricket at the Sydney Cricket ground. The hopes and dreams of both England and Australia lie on the result of this game. Sri Lanka, although out of the tournament, would want to finish on a high and with no added pressure might finally pull that victory off which eluded them against both Australia and New Zealand earlier.

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Probable Sri Lanka XI

Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Madhushan, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for England v Sri Lanka at SCG, Sydney

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Wanindu Hasaranga

Jos Buttler

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will join New Zealand out of the group into the semi finals? Will Sri Lanka come to the help of the hosts or will England prevail?

The Highest Run Getters and the Highest Wicket takers in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022

The Highest Run Getters and the Highest Wicket takers of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 till now

Highest RUN Getters T20 World Cup 2022

1. Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)- 180 in 6 innings

2. Max O'Dowd (Netherlands) - 153 in 5 innings

3. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) - 145 in 5 innings

4. Virat Kohli (India) - 144 in 2 innings

5. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) - 137 in 5 innings

Highest WICKET Takers T20 World Cup 2022

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) - 10 wickets in 6 matches

2. Bas De Leede (Netherlands) - 9 wickets in 5 matches

3. Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka) - 9 wickets in 6 matches

4. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) - 8 wickets in 5 matches

5. Blessing Muzarbani (Zimbabwe) - 7 wickets in 5 matches

5. Sam Curran (England) - 7 wickets in 2 matches

Who do you think will lead the charts in the upcoming days?

Some Magic Moments from ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 has been marred by rain but it has provided some very good matches being played on very good surfaces. The toss has not mattered a lot and good cricket has been required to win matches.

Let us look at some of the best matches that have been played so far!!

Namibia vs Sri Lanka - Simonds Stadium, Geelong

Namibia defeating Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka in the first match set the tone for the World Cup! It was a total capitulation by the Asian Champions against a spirited Namibian side.

Scotland vs West Indies - Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Scotland repeated Namibia's feat on the second day defeating 2 time World Champions West Indies. Again, it was a comprehensive victory by Scotland and would later prove pivotal as West Indies would crash out in the qualifier stage after the Irish would trash them again 2 days later.

New Zealand vs Australia - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

New Zealand weren't given much of a chance on the opening day against hosts and current champions Australia but Finn Allen and Devon Conway came out and launched a blitzkrieg against Aussie bowlers, one they would never recover from and crash to an 89 run loss in their first match.

Pakistan vs India - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

India and Pakistan squared off at MCG in front of a packed 90,000 racous crowd. Young Arshdeep nipping out Babar and Rizwan, Ifthikhar counterattacking 50, Haris Rauf 2 quick wickets - the match provided magic moments at regular intervals but the last ball finish left everybody stunned as Virat Kohli snatched victory from jaws of defeat by timing his acceleration to perfection.

Ireland vs England - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

MCG was again to be at the center of a wonderful game when Ireland defeated England a few days later in a match decided by DLS method. Ireland showed tremendous grit to first put up a big score under cloudy conditions and later picked regular wickets of a star studded English batting line up before the heavens opened up and sent Irish fans and players into delirium.

Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - Optus Stadium, Perth

You can count on Pakistan to provide regular hum-dingers! They were at it again in their second match when they faced Zimbabwe at Perth. Chasing 131 to win, they seemed to be in control at 88/3 in 13.3 overs but they kept losing regular wickets from that point onwards to lose the game by 1 run. Zimbabwe bowlers gave nothing away and their fielding was top notch. Special mention to Sikandar Raza who snared 3 important wickets to derail the run chase!!

Looking forward to more good cricket over the next few weeks!! Any more matches stand out to you?

New Zealand and Sri Lanka meet in a crucial Group 1 encounter at SCG

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka at SCG in Sydney: Oct 29, 2022 - Match Preview

Group 1, which was rightly called the Group of Death, is proving harder and harder to call with each passing day as upsets and rain have created havoc. New Zealand had their last game against Afghanistan washed out so they will be keen to get on the field against the Lanka Lions. Sri Lanka would welcome the SCG pitch and conditions as well after their last outing against Australia at Perth didn't go according to plan.

Finn Allen and Devon Conway started like a run away train against Australia and the middle and lower order ensured that the black caps posted a daunting 200 score in their opening game. All batters got a decent hit out in the middle.

They left out Michael Bracewell out of the side at MCG but might decide to bring him in as Sydney favors spin generally. Santner, Sodhi are already there doing the job for them in the spin department. Boult and Southee continue to move the ball and pick wickets as and when they deem fit while Lockie Ferguson provides extreme pace. It's a nicely balanced bowling attack that New Zealand have right now.

Sri Lankan batters struggled at Perth apart from Asalanka who looked at home while Nissanka hung around for a scratchy 40. But their batters would be looking forward to batting on a friendly SCG track where big runs have been on offer so far in the World Cup.

Binura Fernando injury means that Sri Lanka would be again requied to make changes to their playing XI, they have a few options which they can fall back on. Vandersay can come in to join Hasaranga and Theekshana or they may bring in Madhushan or Rajitha. Hasaranga had an off day at Perth but I expect him to bounce right back against the Kiwis.

Key Battles: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka

Lahiru Kumara vs Finn Allen and Devon Conway

Trent Boult and Tim Southee vs Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka

Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana vs Glenn Philips and Kane Williamson

This is such a crucial match for both teams, it feels like a sure knock out match. The winner of this game should have enough breathing space to get to the semi finals. Weather at Sydney looks to be bright and clear too so it's all too play for.

Probable New Zealand XI

Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Kane Williamson, Glenn Philips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi

Probable Sri Lanka XI

Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madhushan/ Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for New Zealand v Sri Lanka at SCG, Sydney

Wanindu Hasaranga

Maheesh Theekshana

Ish Sodhi

Devon Conway

Kusal Mendis

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will come out trumps in Sydney?

Australia meet Resurgent Sri Lanka at Perth in a Mouth Watering Clash!

Australia vs Sri Lanka at Optus Stadium in Perth: Oct 25, 2022 - Match Preview

The hosts of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and current champions, after losing their opening game New Zealand comfortably, face a resurgent Sri Lankan side in an important Group 1 clash at Optus Stadium in Perth. The two sides met recently in a 3 match T20I series in Sri Lanka which was closely contested but the Australian side won 2-1. Australia have won only 1 out of their last 5 T20I matches while Sri Lanka have won 4, including the Asia Cup final!

Even, with the above recent stats, Sri Lanka start as massive underdogs in Perth with their fast bowling resources having depleted with both Chameera and Madhushanka injured.

Warner and Finch are set to open for Australia once again with Marsh, Maxwell and Stoinis to follow. Tim David and Matthew Wade bulk up the finishing duties for the men from down under. The only change they might consider from the opening game is maybe give Cameron Green a run ahead of either Stoinis or Tim David. But I doubt the Australians would make drastic changes based on one loss.

The 3 pacers, Starc, Cummins & Hazlewood, literally pick themselves and should be a lethal force at Perth while Zampa is likely to be the lone spin option. 

For Sri Lanka, Nissanka missed their last game due to a groin niggle but that was only precautionary. He should slot straight in with Dhananjaya and Asalanka moving a place down at 3 & 4 respectively. Bhanuka Rajapakse and skipper Dasun Shanaka who played that blinder last time these sides met in Palekelle and Wanindu Hasaranga will have to provide support to the top order if Lanka are to triumph Australia at this venue.

Lahiru Kumara and Binura Fernando should be the pace bowlers that Sri Lanka played against Netherlands but they have Kasun Rajitha in their squad now. I doubt if they change that winning combination though. It will be intriguing to watch Hasaranga and Theekshana ply their trade on the pacy and bouncy Perth pitch.

Key Battles: Australia vs Sri Lanka

Lahiru Kumara vs David Warner and Aaron Finch

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood vs Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka

Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana vs Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell

The pace and bounce at Perth was there for all the see when England played Afghanistan here a couple of nights ago. The fall was flying off the pitch. It will not be easy for the Lankan batters to face high quality pace attack of Australia but as Afghani spinners showcased during the English chase, it wasn't easy to face spin here either. A fascinating battle of tact, wit and street smart cricket lies in store for us. The match is very important for Australia since they've already lost their opening tie and they'll look to come back strong. Sri Lanka on the other hand, don't really have much to lose here, they are in great form and they'll look to give it their all to cause a flutter down under.

Probable Australia XI

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade,  Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Probable Sri Lanka XI

Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for Australia v Sri Lanka at Optus Stadium, Perth

Mitchell Starc

Josh Hazlewood

Wanindu Hasaranga

Maheesh Theekshana

David Warner

The match will start at 04.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Can Sri Lanka conjure something special in Perth? Will Australia get back to winning ways?

Sri Lanka face must win UAE test in Geelong!

Sri Lanka face UAE in the second match of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia to put their campaign back on track after having lost the opening game to a spirited Namibian side.

Sri Lanka should be relatively confident but the loss in the opening game has surely put a spanner in their works and the loss of West Indies yesterday to Scotland has shown that no game can be taken lightly.

The spin twins will once again hold the key for Sri Lanka but it might be time to unsettle UAE with pace of Chameera and Kumara both. If Binura Fernando is available for the match, then he should start in place of Madhushan.

The place of Dhanushka Gunathilakha is also under scrutiny with him having failed in the Asia Cup and in the first match here. Asalanka needs to start over him.

United Arab Emirates have been driven by Junaid Siddique, who took 5 wickets in the warm up match against the Windies & then picked another 3 against the Netherlands in their opening game. The opener Muhammed Waseem has also been in good form scoring 69 & 41 in the two games so far.

The drop in pitch in Geelong proved to be slow and difficult for run scoring in the opening two matches, so bowlers will have to use change of pace and with shorter boundaries bowl to one side of the pitch.

Top Fantasy Picks from Sri Lanka v UAE

Sri Lanka

Mendis, Nissanka, Theekshana, Hasaranga

UAE

Waseem, Junaid, Zahoor

Key Battle

Sri Lankan spinners v UAE batsmen

How UAE batsmen handle the Lankan spinners will be the most important battle in this match, one that will most likely decide the outcome of the match.

Junaid Siddique v Sri Lankan batsmen

Siddique is very similar to Frylinck who wrecked them in their opening game, so he will be a big weapon for the UAE side.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Chameera, Kumara/ Binura

UAE: Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Chundangapoyil Rizwan, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Aayan Khan, Kashif Daud, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan

The match will start at 1.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 2)

How do you see the match panning out?

Asian Champions Sri Lanka to take on Namibia in T20 World Cup Opener

So the big day has finally arrived with Sri Lanka taking on Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia to kick start their campaign!

Sri Lanka would be confident and raring to go but face a Namibian side that will be looking to impress once again after a stellar showing in the last edition.

They squared off in the qualifier stage in the T20 World Cup last year and Lankan Lions trumped Namibia easily.

Theekshana and Hasaranga proved too much for them as they folded for 96 batting first and Sri Lanka then chased down the total with ease.

The spin twins will once again hold the key for Sri Lanka especially as news is coming out that the impressive left arm pace bowler Madhushanka suffered an injury scare in their last practice session.  That could mean a coming together of last year's combo of fast bowlers for Sri Lanka - Dushmantha Chameera & Lahiru Kumara.

The batting is fairly settled with Asalanka making way for the multi faceted Dhananjaya De Silva at least to begin with. Kusal Mendis and Rajapakse will be the driving force for them as far as the strike rates are concerned.

Namibia will rely on their skipper Gerhard Erasmus along with all rounders Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit & the ever present David Wiese. Trumplemann, the left arm pacer, who impressed last year will be looking to put on another good showing.

Geelong is a very funnily shaped ground with some sides as small as 51 m. Bowlers will have to keep their line and restrict the batsmen to one side of the ground.

Top Fantasy Picks from Sri Lanka v Namibia

Sri Lanka

Mendis, Nissanka, Theekshana, Hasaranga

Namibia

Erasmus, Smit, Frylinck, Wiese

Key Battle

Sri Lankan spinners v Namibian batsmen

How Namibian batsmen handle the Lankan spinners will be the most important battle in this match, one that will most likely decide the outcome of the match.

Sri Lanka v Namibia Probable XI

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara

Namibia: Stephan Baard, Lohandre Louwrens, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo

The match will start at 9.30 AM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports)

How do you see the match panning out?

T20 2022 World Cup, Group A Preview: Sri Lanka, Namibia, Netherlands & UAE

Sri Lanka, Namibia, Netherlands and UAE will contest Group A in the first round of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the right to reach the Super 12 stage.

Sri Lanka

Asian powerhouse, Sri Lanka start the campaign having to play qualifiers for the second consecutive edition of the ICC WT20. They will be buoyed by the recent success having win the coveted Asia Cup last month and will look to top the group A & then impose a challenging march towards the world title. Sri Lanka have also hired the services of WT20 winners Mahela Jayawardene & Lasith Malinga which should help them immensely.

Favorites to top the Group, the young Lankan side will rely on Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis to give them a steady start. Rajapakse and skipper Shanaka will look to close the innings out with their big hits.

Hasaranga and Theekshana will shoulder the bowling attack having done exceedingly well in the last 10-12 months. Chameera & Kumara are back after lengthy lay offs but the surprise package might be the left arm pace of Madhushanka known to swing the ball prodigiously.

Namibia

Namibia, defying odds, progressed to the Super 12 stage in the last edition of the T20 World Cup by defeating Ireland & Netherlands.

They will be looking to repeat the feat and have already defeated Ireland again in their first warm up match to lay down the marker. 

They have an experienced squad led by Gerhard Erasmus. All rounders Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit & the wily old David Wiese give their middle order an impressing look. I was very impressed by their opening left arm quick Rubel Trumplemann too!

Looking forward to seeing them again for the second time!

Netherlands

Having been on the cricket scene for a long time now, Netherlands are on a somewhat downward slope. They lost all 3 matches in their qualifier last edition and bowed out without a fight.

They've lost their warm up match against Scotland and will be looking to quickly turn things around if they are to get past the qualifier stage this time.

They have enough experience shoring their squad with openers Myburg & Max ODowd looking to set the pace. Tom Cooper, Bas De Leede & veteran van der Merwe will need to make useful runs from the middle to lower order.

Klassen, Gugten, Glover will be their main bowlers with all rounder Leede & spinner Merwe completing the set.

Retirement of star Ryan ten Doeschate will surely have left a big hole in this side though and it'll take a special effort for them to get past the qualifier stage.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

UAE are back on the T20 World Cup scene after a long gap of 8 years and will be looking forward to get a scalp or two.

I was expecting them to roll over in their warm up match against West Indies but they first restricted the two time champions to 152/9 before making a spirited chase losing by only 17 runs in the end.

Junaid Siddiqui was the star with the ball taking a 5'fer while opener Muhammad Waseem made a sparkling 69 off 52 balls to keep them in the hunt till the end.

How they fare in high pressure actual matches remains to be seen.

T20 World Cup 2022 Qualifier Format

The top two teams will progress from the group after all four have played against each other once in the round-robin format, kicking off with Sri Lanka taking on Namibia on October 16.

All the matches will be played at Kardinia Park in Geelong.

The winners of the group will join current champions and hosts Australia, as well as Afghanistan, England, New Zealand and the Group B runners-up in Group 1 of the Super 12 stage.

The team who finishes second will join Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa and the Group A runners-up in Group 2.

Predictions from Qualifier Group A

1st Sri Lanka Q

2nd Namibia Q

3rd Netherlands

4th UAE

Do let me know what do you think about this group!

Click here to read about Group B Preview

Young Sri Lanka Face a Strong South African Side in Port Elizabeth

Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 1st ODI; Port Elizabeth - Match Preview

Sri Lanka were battered and bruised by a strong Protea unit as they slumped 0-3 in the test series but a young Lankan side played manfully in the T20I's that followed to give Sri Lanka their first ever series win in South Africa in any format as they won 2-1.

Now we come to the five match ODI series and with the Champions Trophy looming on the horizon, thus is an ideal opportunity for both sides to get their squads in order.

South Africa again appear far stronger on paper with quality players like Amla, De Kock, De Villiers and Faf du Plessis in their side not to mention Duminy and Rabada as well. Sri Lanka will be led by the veteran Upul Tharanga and he will be keen to showcase his captaincy skills against a tough opposition after he led Sri Lanka to the title in the recently concluded tri-series in Zimbabwe which also included West Indies.

Sri Lanka will hope that Dickwella will continue his stellar run and that the extremely talented duo of Mendis and De Silva convert promise into something substantial. Chandimal was the pick of Lankan batsmen in ODI cricket last year and he would want to continue his good form. South African bowling seems a bit light on paper as compared to their batting unit and Sri Lanka will want their batsmen to concentrate on building a long innings and put them under pressure in the slog overs.

I would also want Sri Lanka to play both Vandersey and Sandakan who can do the dual role of tying the batsmen down as well chip in with wickets in the middle overs.

South Africa will miss the pace of Lungi Ngidi after he was injured in the field in the last T20 so Parnell and Phehlukwayo might both get in along with Morris who returns from injury.

This South African side is a beast and they blanked the Australian's 5-0 recently at home in ODI's so it won't be easy for Sri Lanka but if the Lankans put on show the same grit and determination that they displayed when playing the T20 format then they have the calibre to surprise their much fancied opponents.

Rangana Herath all set for a Captaincy Debut!!

Rangana Herath, the amiable slow left spinner will captain Sri Lanka for 1st time at an age of almost 39 and it could not have happened to a nicer guy! I wish him all the very best as he leads the Lankans against the Zimbabweans in a two match test series starting today!!

DilScoopExit - Dilshan Announces His ODI & T20I Retirement

Tillakaratne Dilshan, one of the most flamboyant cricketers of recent times has announced his retirement from ODI and T20I cricket at a ripe age of 39. He was a gifted stroke-maker and did all that was asked of him on the field. He is the inventor of the famed 'Dilscoop' and his booming cover drives were a treat to watch. Despite his age, he remains one of the best fielders in the Lankan side. With Sangakkara and Jayawardena already hanging their boots in the recent past, Dilshan's exit will surely leave a big hole in the Sri Lankan side.

He will play his last ODI against Australia on the 28th of August in Dambulla and will finally bow out after playing the two T20I's scheduled for early next month against the same opposition.

He was a brilliant batsman, a canny off spinner and combined with his panther-like reflexes anywhere in the field, he was every captains dream - Dilshan you will be sorely missed! Thank you for all the memories, All the Best for your future!!

Kusal Mendis - The Rising Superstar of Cricket

I first saw Kusal Mendis play when he made his debut against the West Indies late last year. He did not have a special debut but from whatever little I had seen about this young man convinced me that he would go on to represent Sri Lanka for a long time in all the three formats of the game. Crisp straight drives, steely flicks, venomous cut and a free flowing youthful technique made him a joy to watch.

He occupied the vital number 3 spot left vacant by one of the all time test greats, Kumar Sangakkara and has left his own indelible mark by first playing a couple of attractive innings on the recently concluded tour of England. Lahiru Thirimanne, another young man with oodles of talent but one who has failed to make the cut at the highest level made way for the young Kusal and he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

On a treacherous Pallekele pitch which afforded assistance to both the spinners and the quick bowlers, playing against the number one ranked team in test cricket and facing bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, this 21 year old batsman played the innings of a lifetime as he lifted Sri Lanka from a precarious position to power them to a huge score. Considering that the Lankan first innings ended at a meagre 117 followed by 203 by Australia in their first dig and Lanka managed 177 (without Mendis's contribution of 176) and finally Australia in the last innings who were bowled out for just 161 - Kusal's 176 stands out like a beacon amidst havoc all around. He showed tremendous self confidence and assurance during his stay and got his runs at a fair clip. Yes, there was some luck involved here and there but on a pitch such as the one that the match was being panned out on, that is expected.

He reached his hundred with a slog swept six off the Aussie number one spinner, Nathan Lyon and did not celebrate like he had brought the house down. Measured and focused, he held his arms aloft and got back to doing his job again. The numerous post match interviews that followed displayed the same calm demeanour, and that was, for me, the hallmark of a great in the making. We see young men today celebrate like there is no tomorrow even after reaching a small milestone and here was this 21 year old kid having just led his team to a monumental victory displaying extreme maturity after having played one of the best test innings ever.

I hope that he can carry on from here and go strength to strength and delight cricket fans all over with his fluid technique and crisp strokes. At a time when Sri Lanka are struggling to find their feet as they cope with a slew of retirements of their all time greats, young men like Mendis and Sandakan must bring a smile to the Lankan supporters on whom the onus now lies to carry forward the legacy of the tiny island!

England Vs Sri Lanka, Investec Test Series - Team Sri Lanka Preview

While the IPL seems to be going on forever in India, England and Sri Lanka will lock horns in a three match Test series in England starting May 19th. The last time these two teams met, the Sri Lankans scripted one of the finest come-from-behind win with Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath playing the lead protagonists.

This time around, the Lankans will not have the services of their two talismanic batsmen - Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, both of whom had played a huge role in Sri Lanka being able to topple the English in their own backyard in 2014. But the Sri Lankan team can never be counted out and they do have some exciting young talent that they can look forward to. Kusal Mendis is a young batsmen and he already looks to be one for the future to me. He is compact, can score freely when he decides to and is pleasing to watch. He has made good start to his career and continues to impress and is the leading contender to take the number three spot. Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews will have to carry the middle order on their shoulders and both of them are well equipped to do so. Chandimal, with his aggressive mindset, can put the bowling team off if he can get into his groove early while Mathews has been there and done that for the Lankans since the time he broke into the team he now leads.

The start that the Lankan openers provide will go a long way in determining how the rest of their batting fares against a strong English seam attack comprising Broad, Anderson and Finn. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva had a good series in 2014 and they will need to repeat those performances, if not better them for the Lankans to do well in this series. The key for them will be to blunt the new ball and tire Anderson and Broad as much as possible so that the middle order can breathe a little more freely.

I will prefer Dickwella at number 6 and Dasun Shanaka at 7 since both of them seem to be in good nick and can play counter attacking cricket if need be. They also provide the left-right combo lower down which might prove to be useful to put the bowling side under pressure in tense situations.

Sri Lanka has taken Lahiru Thirimanne with them and although he seems to be a fine young batsman, he has just been unable to step up as far as test matches are concerned. I hope that he is left out of the playing 11 and not given a free run while players who are in form are warming the bench. Milinda Siriwardena is another player who has had a tremendous start to his career in all forma but he seems to be woefully out of form and I would prefer Shanaka in place of him who played a few decent innings in the WT20 and made a cracking 100 against Leicestershire in the tour match. He can also be useful with his dibbly-dobbly medium pace in Headingly which is renowned for assistance under grey clouds.

The bowling attack of the Lankans might not be the most intimidating one on paper but it surely is reliant and capable of getting the job done with collective effort. Dhammika Prasad has been the stalwart and has carried the Lankan attack with pace, swing, guile and a smile on his face while Dushmantha Chameera has added that razor sharp edge which was missing from their pace bowling line up. With Eranga, Lakmal and Pradeep also in the squad the Sri Lankans have a good nucleus of fast bowlers to choose from. Rangana Herath is a master of his trade and there have been few spinners who have been as good as him with the limited repertoire that he seems to possess. He is a class act and can turn the match on his own. His clever variations of flight and nagging consistency have befuddled many a great batsmen and the young English batting line up might not be up to it if it comes down to facing him in the fourth innings on a track assisting him even slightly.

It will certainly not be easy for the Lankans especially with the retirements of middle order greats in Sangakkara and Mahela but it is a great opportunity for the youngsters to put their hands up and make a name for themselves and grow from boys to men during the course of this gruelling three match series against one of the best test teams going around.

My Sri Lankan XI for the First Test against England at Headingly, Leeds:

Dimuth Karunaratne

Kaushal Silva

Kusal Mendis

Dinesh Chandimal

Angelo Mathews

Niroshan Dickwella

Dasun Shanaka

Rangana Herath

Dhammika Prasad/ Suranga Lakmal

Dushmantha Chameera

Shaminda Eranga

Buttler, Jordan Power England to the ICC WT20 Semi Finals; SL, SA Knocked Out!

England Vs Sri Lanka – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi 26th March 2016 - ICC WT20 Match Review

England Beat Sri Lanka by 10 Runs

It was a must win game for both England and Sri Lanka and somewhere in Delhi the Proteas, after losing to both England and West Indies, would also have been backing the Lankans as their fate lay in the hands of the men from the emerald isle.

Mathews won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch which looked much better for batting than some of the previous Delhi wickets. Sri Lanka opted for the hard hitting Dasun Shanaka in place of Kulasekara while England brought in Hales for Vince.

Herath drew first blood for the Lankans when he trapped Hales leg before in the second over of the match for a blob. Mathews was using his trump cards in Herath and Vandersey in the power play and the going was tough for the English batsmen. At end of six overs England were 38-1, just about getting some good overs together. Chameera came on after the power play and have away just 7 in his first two overs to keep England in check. England were not going anywhere as they reached 65-1 in 10 and Root fell to Vandersey off the first ball of the 11th, holing out to a rank long hop. Buttler was promoted up the order and he started with a delicious reverse sweep. Vandersey, in his next over trapped Roy right in front with a googly to reduce them to 88-3 in 13 overs. Two more good overs from Mathews and Herath meant England were 99-3 at the end of 15 and staring at a sub-par score.

It was at this point that England seized the game by the scruff of its neck, Perera came in to bowl and Morgan took a four and a six to steal 18 off it. Chameera returned to deliver his final two overs but was carted all over the ground by an enterprising Buttler who by now was going in full throttle. Chameera went for 29 in his final two overs to finish with 0-36 in his 4 overs. Perera came in to bowl the final over after Shanaka had also been taken to the cleaners and bowled a good right over until the final delivery which was a juicy full toss and which was gleefully deposited into the stands by Stokes. Buttler had raced to his 50 off just 28 balls and finished unbeaten on 66 off 37 deliveries, England reaching a mammoth 171-4 in their 20 overs. England had scored 72 off their final five overs with Buttler and Morgan running riot.

Sri Lanka would have been hoping for a steady start but they lost Dilshan in the first over going for a wild hack to the leg side. Chandimal was caught behind off Jordan in the second over and Siriwardene was caught at cover by Morgan in the third before Thirimanne was run out by Stokes off the very next ball to leave the Lankans breathless at 15-4 at the end of 3 overs.

Mathews along with Kapugedara then set out to restore some sensibility back into the innings, both playing cautiously without any risks. Sri Lanka reached an underwhelming 59-4 at the end of 10 overs.  This was a knock out game for them and there was no point in dilly dallying, they might have as well perished while giving it a proper crack.

Mathews and Kapugedara lay into Rashid smacking 3 monsterous sixes in the 12th over which cost English 21 runs. Kapugedara fell in the next over, going for another big hit but finding Stokes on the deep mid wicket boundary. Perera walked in and biffed one into the stands in the next over from Moeen Ali to keep Sri Lanka in the game. Mathews meanwhile did his hamstring and was rendered almost immobile. Sri Lanka needed 61 from 30 and Mathews and Perera took 21 off Ali to bring the equation to a manageable 40 off 24.

Jordan got Perera in the next over but Shanaka clattered a six and a four in the 18th to keep the chase on track. When he hit another 4 off the second ball of the 19th it seemed like Sri Lanka will win at a canter but Joe Root took a blonde of a catch to dismiss Shanaka off the third ball and Herath was cleaned up on the final delivery to leave Mathews needing 15 off the last over. He tried manly but he was not able to move properly and he could not run so it was way too much especially since all other specialist batsmen were in the pavilion by now. Sri Lanka fell short by 10 runs as England progressed to the semi final of the WT20 2016. Mathews had played a captain's innings of 73* off 54 balls which included 5 huge sixes. With this loss South Africa also bowed out of the World Cup.

England Look to Seal Semi Final Berth, Sri Lanka to Stay Alive at Kotla

England Vs Sri Lanka – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi 26th March 2016 - ICC WT20 Match Preview

Another knock-out game stares at us in this ICC WT20 2016. After South Africa stuttered and stumbled against the West Indies at Nagpur yesterday to lose by 3 wickets, all England need now is a win against Sri Lanka to go through to the Semi Finals without any drama. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, need to beat England to stay alive and then hope that they either defeat South Africa to storm in the Semi Finals or lose by a small margin to them to ensure a higher net run rate as compared to the Proteas!

Sri Lanka would be confident of rattling the English team on a Kotla track which is known for its slow and low nature and especially after watching how the England batting line up was brought to its knees by a spirited Afghani spin attack. Sri Lanka would rely heavily on the wily old fox Herath and the young leg spinning wizard Vandersay and would also likely bring in the off-spinner Senanayake on this track.

How the Lankan batsmen deal with spin though might decide if they can beat the English as this is probably the first time that England have two quality spin bowlers amongst their ranks. Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali have combined well in this ICC WT20 2016 so far, strangulating opposition batsmen in the middle overs while also picking up wickets thus pegging them further back.

Dilshan and Mathews hold the key as far as the Lankan batting is concerned as their young batsmen, Chandimal and Thirimanne have struggled to even get the ball off the square. Kapugedera, forever an enigma for the Lankan fans and officials alike might be on his final few chances as well as he has not made the most of his latest comeback. The bright point is the sensible batting of hard hitting all-rounder Thisara Perera and the Lankans will bank on him to provide a few lusty blows down the order.

Alex Hales is expected to be back for the English after he missed out on the last game with a bad back, James Vince most likely to sit out. Joe Root is a classy player of spin bowling and he will need to share the bulk of the load if England is to wade through the Lankan spinners with success. Buttler and Stokes remain a potent threat lower down and cannot be taken lightly at all.

The game promises to be a close affair especially given how the pitches have behaved in this tournament so far. I’m expecting another surface which is slow and where the ball will keep low and the shot making will be difficult. It will be a mouth watering clash between two past WT20 champion teams and one that I am eagerly awaiting for!!

The Trials and Tribulations of T20I Cricket for Australia and Sri Lanka!

Twenty Twenty Cricket is very much like a human life. It is very difficult to predict what it will throw up at you, it will surprise you at every turn and it will leave you dumbfounded every time you try to make a smart prediction about the game.

I have been interacting with a lot of Sri Lankan fans online and they think that their team is crap. It is filled with players who can’t bat, they seem to rely too much on a few bowling superstars and they also drop catches at will. They are plagued by selection issues and don’t have any decent all-rounders expect Mathews (who also cops a lot of flak for his negative captaincy and silly team selections); Dilshan is ageing fast and so are Malinga and Herath; players like Shanaka and Kapugedera are labelled domestic beast’s at the most. Chandimal has a dismal T20I record (he improved it a bit with 2 50’s in the Asia Cup) for all the natural talent and flair that he seems to possess while their star wicket-keeper Kusal Perera is embroiled in a doping offence. Thisara Perera only plays to his potential once in a blue moon and Senanayake cannot extract turn for his life. Players like Jayasuriya, Vandersay and Rajitha are said to be products of a dysfunctional domestic structure which seems to be rotting.

Now compare this lot to the current Australian team which is, on paper, probably the most attacking team in the world and should be winning everything and destroying every team that comes in their way. They have Warner and Finch, a dangerous right-left combo which is keeping another left-right combo in Watson and Khawaja on the sidelines. Their middle order is filled with enterprising batsmen like Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell. They have dangerous all-rounders like Mitch Marsh and James Faulkner who can take the game away from the opposition within a matter of a few overs with either the bat or the ball in hand. Their bowling, though it is missing the raw fire-power of Mitch Starc, still has just about enough reinforcements to complement their ultra aggressive and strong batting unit. All these men are hardened by playing in the extremely successful and competitive Big Bash League back in Australia.

There seems to be a vast gulf between the two sides but the results of the two teams have been very similar over the past two to three months as far as the T20I’s are concerned. Sri Lanka lost 0-2 to New Zealand away, and then lost 1-2 to India in India before crashing out of the Asia Cup with just a solitary win against UAE, losing to India, Pakistan and even Bangladesh along the way; thus winning only 2 out of their last 9 T20 internationals. Australia, on the other hand lost 0-3 to India in their own backyard before being marooned by the Proteas in the 1st T20I of the three match series yesterday; in effect losing their last 4 T20 internationals.

Momentum is, what I feel, the biggest single all encompassing factor in T20 cricket. It is like an avalanche which starts off with a small mound of snow but assumes the form of a humongous monster gaining momentum and feeding on itself, thus annihilating anything and everything that comes in its wake. On the other hand, a huge boulder even if it seems immovable, is cut eventually even by water if it just sits in its place doing nothing. T20 cricket can change very quickly, a single good innings or bowling performance can take a side home, a single brilliant catch or a run-out turn around the fortunes of a sagging outfit.

India has the momentum behind them and they are riding on that wave which is feeding on itself. Each man knows its role right down to the bottom and they are executing their acts perfectly. Sri Lanka and Australia may not be winning too many matches at the moment but all they need is one or two sterling performances, a few men to stand up and take the game by the scruff of the neck and their more experienced men to guide the youngsters while coursing through the troubled waters. T20 Cricket, like human life, is not giving in while being down but getting up and trying to win even in the face of tricky situations. If you do that consistently, then your luck will turn, and eventually life will smile at you and shower you with unmatchable happiness and success!

Impact of Sri Lankan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India

Fast bowling will be an important aspect in the ICC WT20 2016 even though the pitches are expected to be favouring the spin bowlers. Under lights, the ball is almost certain to dart around and even though the movement might last only for a few overs early wickets will mean that the opposition team will be under pressure right from the start. Sri Lanka have a strong pace bowling attacking comprising of the best T20 bowler ever, a bowler who can achieve banana swing on good days and a tear away quick who has impressed one and all in a short time. Let us analyse these three bowlers and the impact they are likely to create.

Lasith Malinga

A slingy round arm action, he is a genuine wicket taker both with the new ball and at the death with an older one. At his very best, he is capable of delivering 6 accurate high speed yorkers at the feet of the batsmen giving them absolutely nothing to work with. He has been on the international circuit for more than 10 years now and every batsman knows what’s coming but such is his accuracy and such are the variations which he has developed that he is still a force to be reckoned with. He has a couple of deceptive slower balls, a menacing bouncer and he is able to generate out swing to right handed batsmen on a consistent basis. When you throw in his unique action and the fact that he is remarkably accurate, he becomes a fire breathing monster for the opposition batsmen especially when they are under pressure to score quickly.

He is the only bowler to take three hat tricks in ODI cricket and remains the only man to have claimed 4 wickets off 4 successive deliveries in international cricket. He is returning from yet another knee injury and only time will tell if he can deliver high impact performances that he is known for.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Nuwan Kulasekara

The partner in crime with Malinga, Kulasekara has the ability to generate huge in-swing to the right handed batsmen while he is also capable to get it to snake away at the last moment. He can also bowl a lovely back of the hand slower ball and reverse the ball as well. It was Kulasekara, who along with Lasith Malinga bowled the wide of off-stump yorkers to perfection in the last WT20 final against India to strangle them in the death overs.

He is also a very capable lower order batsman who can hit big shots after getting his eye in. he has played 44 T20I’s for the Lankans claiming 48 wickets while giving away just around 7.25 runs per over.

Impact Rating – 6/10

Dushmantha Chameera

Chameera is an out and out quick bowler and I was very impressed by what I saw of him in the three T20I’s that he played for the Lankans against India earlier this month. He bowled with plenty of fire and generated disconcerting bounce that rattled the Indian batsmen even on slow tracks. He might not be a finished product by any means as he still lacks the consistency and accuracy at times but it will be exciting to see him unleashed along with Malinga for sure!

Impact Rating – 8/10

Sri Lanka has a great mix of pace bowlers who can be a big threat to any team and who will look to unsettle the opposition batsmen with pace and swing.

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