1996 World Cup champions Sri Lanka come into the 2017 Champions Trophy with majority of pundits and experts having written them off as a serious contender for the title. Can they defy the odds and put up a strong performance at the tournament?

By Abdullah Ansari (23rd May, 2017)

Sri Lanka’s ODI team has endured a torrid time since the 2015 World Cup with the retirements of the likes of Kumar Sangakkara taking an immediate toll. Based on statistics, the Lions come into the 2017 Champions Trophy as the worst performing team; they have the lowest win/loss ratio of the eight participating sides (since the 2015 World Cup).

Historically, Sri Lanka have been a strong performer in tournaments, having finished as runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups respectively. However, their record in the Champions Trophy isn’t one to boast of; three first round exits in consecutive tournaments between 2004 and 2009 make for woeful reading. They downed Australia and eventual finalists England in the 2013 edition but were comprehensively defeated by reigning champions India in the semis.

Looking at the squad at captain Angelo Mathews’ disposal, the Sri Lankan selectors have opted for a mix of experienced players with a few youngsters in the mix. Seasoned veterans like the captain himself, Angelo Mathews along with the likes of Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara and Upul Tharanga form the crux of the squad. Youngsters such as Kusal Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan and Niroshan Dickwella have shown the ability to adapt to the demands of international cricket and have been rewarded with spots in the squad.

The Lions’ top order duties are likely to be undertaken by two of Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella and Upul Tharanga. The former two have the ability to form a powerful duo at the top of the order if they get going while the latter brings valuable experience to the table. Kusal Mendis is the designated #3 and the top scorer for Sri Lanka in the past year in ODIs and has shown signs of being a future super-star while the likes of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are now the stalwarts of the batting order after the recent retirements of bonafide greats such as Dilshan and Sangakkara. Chamara Kapugedera and Asela Gunaratne will undertake lower-order duties – the former is looking to put past failures behind him whilst the latter has played a few wonderful knocks in his short international career so far.

The team is packed with all-round options who are capable of contributing with both bat and ball. Angelo Mathews can provide able support to the main bowlers while Thisara Perera is a reliable medium pacer who is capable of striking some telling blows at the death. Seekuge Prasanna is also well capable of striking some monster blows with the bat and contributing with some handy leg-spin; Asela Gunaratne is a good pace-bowling option as well to back up the main bowlers.

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack is high on experience but has largely flattered to deceive in the past. Lasith Malinga is making a comeback; the pacer is arguably one of Sri Lanka’s finest ever in the shorter formats but is lacking match fitness and recently struggled at times in the IPL. Nuwan Kulasekara is a reliable new ball bowler but has often been inconsistent in his international career. Top wicket-taker for Sri Lanka over the past couple of years in ODIs, Suranga Lakmal is proving to be one of the leaders of the attack and will be backed up by Nuwan Pradeep who lacks experience, but has shown flashes of his ability in his short career so far. Lakshan Sandakan is an exciting prospect; his stats may not reflect it but the chinaman spinner has exhibited moments of brilliance in his fledgling career. The recent signing of one of the finest ever fast bowlers, Allan Donald as bowling coach, may help to invigorate the bowling attack.

The recent signs aren’t very promising for the Sri Lankans – They have lost series to England, Australia and South Africa by comprehensive margins in just the past year. A drawn series against Bangladesh at home can hardly be considered a positive while a tri-nation series victory against lowly West Indies and Zimbabwe doesn’t count for much. Angelo Mathews’ men have a huge task on their hands to turn around their recent fortunes and advance beyond the first-stage in a group which includes the top-ranked ODI side - South Africa, 2011 World Cup and reigning Champions Trophy winners India and lowly-ranked but unpredictable Pakistan.

Strengths

Explosive openers and reliable middle-order batsmen.

Weaknesses

Inconsistent bowling attack with inexperienced spinners.

Verdict

Tough for this team to advance beyond the group stage.

Sri Lanka squad for Champions Trophy

Angelo Mathews (C), Upul Tharanga (VC), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Nuwan Pradeep, Asela Gunaratne, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna

Discuss!