Mathews faces ODI ‘TEST’ as captain

Ranjan Anandappa

With the 2015 World Cricket Cup Competition not so far away, Sri Lanka should get the ideal opportunity to build up a formidable team when a bunch talented young Test and ODI aspirants will take on Bangladesh in the first of the three One Day Internationals to be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Hambantota today.

Bangladeshi captain Mushfiqur Rahim. AFP

Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews . AFP

Mahela Jayawarden (injured), T.M.Dilshan (doubtful due an injury). Rangana Herath (rested) the promising youngsters should grab the opportunity with both hands and try to establish themselves for the future of Sri Lanka cricket.

Only former skipper Kumar Sangakkara,T.M.Dilshan (Subject to fitness) and opener Upul Tharanga can be considered among the season campaigners among the batsmen while medium pacemen Nuwan Kulasekera and Lasith Malinga branded as a ODI and T20 player are the experience bowlers.

All-rounders Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera and Angelo Perera a frontline batsman should also prove his mettle after a prolific domestic season all are fairly seasoned players but Sachit Pathirana the former Trinity College captain and the Under 19 player will get his big opportunity to prove his worth after a successful domestic season. On the other hand Bangladesh has improved heaps and bounds and the Sri Lankans will have to produce their best if they are to pose any kind of a threat to the visitors. Their skipper Mushfiqur Rahim the first Test double centurion for his country.

Mohammad Ashraful the most experience of the lot and opener Tamim Iqbal, Jahrul Islam, Nasir Hossain and Abul Hasan all are from the top bracket when it comes to the shorter version of the game. Abul Hasan created history scoring a century on debut in a Test match batting at number ten against the West Indies which is no easy task.

As the match is a day/night one played at Hambantota under different conditions there should be many factors to the advantage and disadvantage to the outcome of the match.

Teams

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Igbal, Anamul Haque, Jaharul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sahag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Ziar Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Mosharaff Hossain.

Sri Lanka from: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chadimal, T.M.Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Sachitra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga, Kiithruwan Vithanage, Angelo Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Sachit Pathirana.