Sri Lankan middle marshmellow needs firming up

Now that the Sri Lankan team has entered the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup, it will be the belief of all Sri Lankans wherever they may be, that the cricketers are three matches away from realising their hope of claiming once again the WORLD CUP. Its a hope that is not an idle dream but one founded on a track record of substance and performance and potential.

It was just one of those things that the Lankans got beat by the Pakistanis in an early round game. But that defeat would have gone to inspire and spur them on to be determined in defeat.

And at the moment they are playing disciplined and intelligent cricket. And most times they are giving finesse to the basics and to the requirements of this style of game. If they continue in this form, there is no reason why skipper Kumar Sangakkara should not stand proud on the podium after the final on April 2 and hold aloft the trophy for the world to see.

Hope runs eternal

But while hope runs eternal in the human breast, every Sri Lankan must remember that there's many a slip between the cup and the lip. It must also be remembered that a match is not won or lost till the final ball is bowled; but it is within reach if the team rises to the occasion with focus, with confidence , but not over-confidence however. Sri Lankans will need to fashion their own destiny which is dependent on their approach, cohesion and all round excellence aspects that need to be addressed.

We say this because the Lankans have corrective action to take in some aspects of the game at this important juncture. Firstly the openers Upul Tharanga and Tillekeratne Dilshan cannot be relied on for consistency and an opening stand that the batsmen following on can depend on. But, these two openers are smart cricketers and can rise to the occasion by not throwing caution to the winds but becoming more depandable with a necessary astuteness and patience.

Technically correct

Tharanga who is more technically correct than Dilshan, must avoid the pitfalls. As the non striker, in his eagerness for a single he was run out in the most bizarre of circumstances against New Zealand. He must make it his business to anchor the batting by not sacrificing his wicket or taking undue risks so early in the game.

Dilshan on his day can murder any attack. But his murderous intents with the bat are few and far between. It would do his game a world of good if he first gets his eye in, by watching the bowling and the pace of the wicket before launching. He should not be relying on his eye the whole time.

It has fallen on the two elder statesmen of Sri Lanka cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara and former Captain and now Vice captain Mahela Jayawardena to carry the baby and the bath water in this instance the batting on their shoulders.

Great finesse

To their credit it must be said that they have been performing this task with great finesse and responsibility. In addition to batting they have to also keep an eye on the other things on the field. But then it must be remembered that they too are human and are not infalliabe.

It must be the fervent hope of all Sri Lankans that Sangakkara and Jayawardena continue their batting form in the quarter final which is sudden death and further on if the team gets into the semi and the final.

Sagakkara, while he delivers with the bat and he is batting at his brilliant best has to attend to a few short comings. His field placings in the New Zealand game was questionable, biut this can be an easy fix for him.

Huge responsibility

Jayawardena is not only batting with huge responsibility, but has also in his own simple, unassuming and subtle manner being doing a bit of double duty by supporting the captaincy of Sangakkara when the occasion demands. His brilliant slip catching too has gone to raise the standard of the team's fielding.

Jayawardena led the Lankan's to the 2007 World Cup final in the Caribbean and could well have held on to that exalted post. But the sport that he is, he graciously stepped down to make room, when everyone was asking why and why not.

Another contributing factor to the teams success so far is that the captain and vice captain have been complimenting each other and hitting it off well which has gone to rub off on all other team members.

Spineless batting

It's the weak and spineless batting in the middle that must be causing the Lankan management many sleepless nights. Thilan Samaraweera and Chamara Silva have been hopelessly out of form and need to firm up. Its the middle marshmellow that can make break a potential victory , especially if the opening first rung batsmen do not measure up.

True they are both capable batsmen. But that is not the point. What is important is that they make runs and big runs at that. So far they have been only just making up the numbers.

The selectors cannot afford to be complacent. Drastic situations need drastic actions. Will the selectors dare? The next game is sudden death.

Where is Sanath and Chaminda?

One cannot resist the rhetorical question: what if Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas were in the team?. Both are proven all rounders and their mere presence would have added muscle to the team and got opponents to rethink. This is where Thilan and Chamara needs to take up the challenge and firm up.

The Sri Lankan bowlers have obliged. The pacemen and spinners have done their job, with the spinners having opposing batsmen in a flat spin.

In the quarter final, the fielding and running between wickets cannot leave room for concern. It must be on rails. A failure in any of these departments could prove costly and may even signal the end of the campaign.

Murali must be fit

Muttiah Muralitheran suffered a knee injury while diving for his crease going for a quick single in the game against New Zealand. Yet his caliber is such taht despite the injury he came back gamely to bemuse the Kiwi batsmen with his magic.

He bowled a telling spell to take four wickets. His well disguised 'doosra' was too much for the Kiwis and none of them could read him and were only just groping and being lured to their demise.

It is paramount that the medical staff keep a close watch on him and have him fighting fit when quarter-final time comes around.

All in all there is much promise in the Sri Lankan team to make it to the top.

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