Sri Lanka awaits daunting challenge in Rainbow Nation

Dilanka Mannakkara

After a disastrous tour to UAE against Pakistan which the Lions were slaughtered like a herd of meek lambs, the next challenge is even more daunting. Facing an excellent and in form South African team in South Africa would be one of the toughest battles for Dilshan and his depleted, out of form team and one feel that it would be a make or break tour for the Lankan team and especially Captain Dilshan. Dilshan was appointed skipper until the south African tour and so far he has had an extremely tough time as captain and as a batsman. Sri Lanka have lost all their test series and One day series against England in England, Australia at home and now Pakistan in UAE. The team at the moment looks degenerated, less confident and the team spirit and passion seems to be diminishing. The test squad for the South African tour is as follows.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Thilan Samaraweera

Late Inclusion of Thilan Samaraweera

The selectors who were taken in to the cleaners by the media for not including veteran middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera for the Pakistan tour and more recently the over whelming South African tour. But they have at last included Samaraweera as a very late addition to the test squad. Thilan who has been enjoying a lucrative grade 1 contract from Sri Lankan Cricket was surprisingly dropped from the tour of UAE against Pakistan who are his favorite opposition. Last time Thilan played in Pakistan he scored two back to back double hundreds proving his class and was unfortunately injured due to a terrorist attack.

But Thilan who thrives on sub continent wickets has never played on the bouncy, green wickets in South Africa and has only fared in two matches against them when the Saffers toured Sri Lanka in 2004. He has scored only 74 runs in two matches in four innings with a mere average of 24 compared to his stunning 52 average overall.

This would be a tough tour for Thilan himself and he will be licking his lips to prove himself on fast, bouncy wickets which favors fast bowling and the Saffers have a battery of top notch pacies led by the world’s best fast bowler Dale Steyn. One feels that this tour would be a turning point of the career of the 35 year old Thilan and if he fails, he might be dropped for good.

Another fact to ponder here is that what combination will Sri Lanka go in with. If they decide to go in with five bowlers, Thilan will have to sit out warming the bench.

Randiv axed, Mendis in

Suraj Randiv is turning out to be one of those unfortunate players to miss out. Randiv who adds aggression and spark to the usually defensive Lankan bowling attack gives his 100% whenever he comes in to bowl, bat or even in the field. He hasn’t been in favor to be in any of the test teams or the ODI teams since skipper Dilshan has opted himself to bowl more and more. Randiv would have been a handful on the bouncy South African wickets with his tall frame and high arm action and would have been more effective than the selectors number one spinner “Rangana Herath”.

Ajantha Mendis who was dropped for the Pakistan series makes a return to the team and the Lankans will look to use him wisely thus not exposing him too much to the South African batsmen. Mendis who has a bucket load of variations up his sleeve has seemed to lost his main weapon of being accurate and bowling wicket to wicket.

If Mendis is consistent with his line and length and uses his subtle variations the South African batsmen will be in trouble reading him initially.

Dilshan has to fire

Dilshan is the man which Sri Lanka relies on to gather momentum and to put pressure on opposition bowlers. Dilshan hasn’t been in the best of knick and has thrown his wicket away after that epic 193 in Lords against England. Sri Lanka needs that aggressive Dilshan back and a fired up Dilshan will just turn a game around in just one session.

World’s number one test batsman Kumar Sangakkara will be the key for Sri Lanka as always and Angelo Mathews who likes batting on fast wickets will have to come good with some sound knocks. The South African bowling attack led by the devastating Dale Steyn also includes the aggressive Morne Morkel who can unsettle batsmen with his bounce and pace, rookie Vernon Philander who had a dream debut series against Australia, attacking leg spinner Imran Tahir and Mr. Reliable Jaques Kallis. The Lions will have to await an extremely tough tour and hopefully they come out with trumps.