Can Sri Lanka win the World Cup?

Rev. Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe

WORLDCUP: I know that every cricket loving fan likes to see Sri Lanka winning the World Cricket Plum. I personally believe it is not going to be an easy task. When we go through our record in the West Indies we cannot be that happy. To be frank we have not done well on Caribbean soil.

But there is nothing impossible in this world. We are sure to enter the super eight. Sri Lanka can easily beat Bermuda and Bangladesh. If we want to win all our key batsmen we should return to form. Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Athapattu, Chamara Silva, Russel Arnold and Fareez Maharoof should be in the runs.

If all contribute to put up a substantial total on the board, we can have some hope. According to the draw our 1st match is vs Bermuda and the 2nd vs Bangladesh. In those two matches if we win the toss our Captain should elect to bat first. That will help our team to get some batting practice and build their confidence.

Then vs India we must field 1st if we win the toss. That will help our batsmen to learn the art of chasing a big total. But whether we bat 1st or 2nd our front and middle order batsmen should come to prime form during the group matches. There are seven good batsmen in the team if they can show their real class, our batting department will be O.K.

According to my opinion we have one of the best bowling attacks in the world. Chaminda Vass and Muttiah Muralitharan are two world class bowlers. When we won the World Cup in 1996 they were in the team. After that both of them have played so many ODIs including two world cups.

Both of them can be match winning bowlers. Then I see Lasith Malinga bowls very well these days. Also Sanath Jayasuriya could show his colours with his vast experience. Fareez Haharoof is also a very useful bowler. If he bowls to a line and length he can be very dangerous.

T. M. Dilshan and Russel Arnold are useful part-time bowlers. So if we look at our bowling attack, could be considered the best in the world. Hope they will not deliver wides and no balls during the World Cup. I am sure by now our coach must have addressed that aspect.

If any team is to reach the top it should have a very good fielding side. If all our players give their best in the field we can restrict opponents to modest totals. If we take our players one by one they are all good athletes and excellent fielders. But all must prove their worth in the field. While fielding they must put their heart and soul into it. One excellent catch or a run out can be the turning point of a match.

Above all they must be determined and have confidence in themselves. If so any impossible can be possible. Our players must go for this tournament with positive frame of mind. If there is a will, there is a way. I hear West Indian pitches are similar to our ones.

Dear cricketers here is a golden opportunity. Make use of it and bring the World Cricket Plum to our country. We all Sri Lankans are with you in spirit and wish you our very best to be the Kings of Cricket.