Aussies will be no pushovers:

Lankans must guard against complacency

Mathews must play prominent role:

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from ENGLAND

The Sri Lankan cricketers are in fine fettle and are rarin’ to have a go at the depleted Australians and send them packing when they meet in their final ‘A’ group ICC Champions Trophy match at the Kennington Oval today.

The Lankans return to familiar territory where they brought England down to earth with an astonishing display of batting shown the way by Kumar Sangakkara and propped by Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and surprise inclusion Nuwan Kulasekara.

But that game is history now. They better put that game down the attic and concentrate on the game ahead. One thing they must guard against is complacency. This is must win game for both teams. Sri Lanka has it in them to emerge victorious and make further progress in the tournament.

If they win this one, they can believe that they can carry away the trophy.

Worked on their atrocious fielding

It is hoped that the Lankans would have worked hard on their atrocious catching and poor bowling in the previous game. In fielding the basic is to watch the ball into your hands.

There is no easy or difficult catches, especially in this style of game. Even the most difficult of chances must be gobbled, no excuses can be accepted. In bowling the simple thing is to put the ball in the right areas wicket to wicket. The bowlers and fielders must not expect the batsmen to make amends for their lapses. They too must contribute because cricket is not an individual game, it is a team game.

The conditions were overcast on Thursday which prompted captain Angelo Mathews to ask England to bat. That was the right decision, because had Sri Lanka batted England seam bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad would have been unplayable.

Weather conditions fickle

In England the weather conditions are so fickle you cannot predict how the weather will remain. At the time of writing the weather is fine, but it can change on the day of the game.

With this being a must win game, the Lankans are not expected to change the winning combination. The Lankans have still not decided and any changes will depend only after having a look at the conditions and the wicket.

The wicket for the game against England was a good one, that’s why a near 300 runs were made by each team. A similar wicket will be what both teams looking for. In the first two games what was of worry for the Lankans was the early dismissal of opener Kushal Perera. He is too good to keep failing and this maybe the game he has been waiting for to showcase his Sanath Jayasuriya like demolishing strokes.

More prominent role

Captain Angelo Mathews must play a more prominent role. He must lead from the front and by example and not allow other former captains in the team Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan to do it for him.

As for the Australians they will not tumble out of the tournament without putting up a fight. True they are a team in a crisis without captain Michael Clarke and the despicable act by David Warner for punching England’s Joe Root in a pub.

The Aussie management is doing their best to get Clarke into playing fitness. If he is declared fit to take the field there will be a transformation for the good in the team. His batting and leadership is vital if Australia is not to be pushed out of the tournament, which will be anathema to them considering that they are gearing up for the traditional Ashes battle with England beginning next month.

Kennington Oval, London, Sunday