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Lanka to play at full strength

WORLD CUP: The Sri Lankans who gifted the game to the Australians on Monday, will play their final Super 8 match when they lock horns with Ireland at the Grenada National Stadium, here tomorrow, in the World Cup.

Irish eyes were smiling when they whipped the Bangaldeshis on Sunday in Barbados and would be looking to keep smiling by upsetting the Lankans if they can.

Ireland have some good cricketers who have shone in county and shield cricket and the Lankans would do well not to take them lightly. True that the Lankans have booked their berth in the semi-finals. But that does not mean that they should take things easy. By losing the game to the Aussies, they stalled the momentum and the intensity and whether they could come back to winning ways against the Irish, only time will tell.

The Lankans will do well to play their full strength team against Ireland. Not to play at full strength and lose would mean that they could lose focus and find it difficult to raise their game.

When it was known that the Lankans were sans Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitheran against Australia, there was much disappointment all round. Radio, TV and the spectators were discussing the pros and cons of this decision by the Lankan team management and had their own 'Yes' and 'Nos'. Murlaitheran it was said was nursing a groin injury, while Vaas was rested.

With Lasith Malinga too being out, the Lankan attack lacked sting and the Aussie batsmen Adam Gilchris, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds made the bowlers, look village green trundlers and toyed with them.

The Sri Lanka-Australia game was going to be one of the best in the tournament. But with Vaas and Muralitheran missing it devalued the game and the big crowd that turned out left the ground disappointed.

If remember on the tour of New Zealand in December 'January, the Lankans kept Vaas and Muralitheran out of one of the one-dayers and a series they could have won 3-1 ended in a 2-all drawn series.

True that Vaas and Murlaitheran needed a rest. But that could have been done against Ireland. Now while all have played a game on tour and with some players being rested, it would also be good if they give former captain Marvan Atapattu a game by resting Upul Tharanga. Ireland have some steady batsmen in captain Trent Johnson, Andre Botha, Neremy Bray, Kyle Mccallan, Eoin Morgan and William Porterfield.

They have lively pacemen in Trent Johnson and Langford Smith. They are an excellent fielding side and have the knack of grabbing the half chances. As for Sri Lanka, this is an ideal game for Sanath Jayasuriya, Tharanga (if he plays), Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold to find run making touch again.

Mahela Jayawardena and Chamara Silva showed good form with the bats scoring half centuries and should endeavour to maintain that form.

Sri Lanka are likely to end either two or three in the points table and their opponents could be New Zealand in the semi-finals. Australia would end up number 1 and their opponents in the first semi-final could be South Africa or England.

Grenada National Stadium, Tuesday

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