Sri Lanka resist temptation to experiment against Canada

Sri Lanka will resist the temptation to experiment against Canada as they try to boost their Net Run Rate (NRR) and secure their path to the Super Sixes stage of the competition.

Canada pulled off a shock victory against Bangladesh in their opening game but former world champions Sri Lanka are expected to win their Pool B encounter easily.

The game could have provided an ideal opportunity to provide the middle order much needed batting practice but Sri Lanka are mindful of the need to improve their NRR.

Assuming that Sri Lanka (currently on eight points) defeat Canada and Kenya, a win against West Indies or South Africa will be sufficient to guarantee their progression through to the next round.

Even if they lose both encounters - a worse case scenario that the management remains confident will not happen - they can still qualify providing they maintain their healthy NRR.

"We have to consider both having a good NRR as well as trying to give enough batting for our other batsmen," said Jayasuriya after the team's practice in Paarl.

"We are worried about the middle order not getting enough batting but they are experienced enough to know what is expected of them," he said.

"Even though Canada maybe a low profile game, it is an important one for us, helping to take us to the next stage of the competition. As a result you can't take chances like making changes to the team."

Jayasuriya, the catalyst for Sri Lanka's New Year revival with his scorching batting, remained upbeat about his side's chances in the competition, believing that their return to form has been timed perfectly.

"The way we are playing at the moment I think we have a very good chance," he said. "We should simply continue to play our natural game like we have been doing. I feel we are peaking at the right time."

Sri Lanka were crushed 4-1 on their pre-Christmas tour to South Africa but have so far found conditions more to their liking after a dry summer that has sapped the life from the pitches.

"The pitches are much different to what we played on when we were here four months ago. It is more in favour of the batsmen. There is bounce and movement for the first 10 to 15 overs, but after that it settles down," said Jayasuriya

With new ball bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne sitting out this match with a hand injury, Sri Lanka are likely to play either Prabath Nissanka or Buddhika Fernando.

Canada - a multi-racial side built with players originating from Asia, the West Indies and New Zealand - have raised eyebrows with their competitiveness so far in the competition.

They humiliated Bangladesh with a sensational 60 run victory and then fought hard against Kenya before eventually losing by just four wickets.

Their top scorer in both games was New Zealander Ian Billcliff who made 42 and 71.

A balanced bowling attack includes Sri Lankan born Sanjayan Thuraisingham, a strongly built right-arm medium-pacer, who finished with the respectable figures of 1/34 and 2/53 in the two matches played.

Jamaican born medium-pacer Austin Codrington, who took the man-of-the-match award against Bangladesh, and Canadian-born off-spinner John Davison have both taken five wicket-hauls

Former West Indian batsman and outstanding fielder Gus Logie is their coach. Sri Lanka last played against Canada in 1979 at Worcester when they won the ICC Trophy and qualified for the 1979 World Cup.

SRI LANKA (from):

Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Hashan Tillakaratne, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russell Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Buddhika Fernando.

CANADA (from):

Joe Harris (Capt), Ishwar Maraj, John Davison, Desmond Chumney, Ian Billcliff, A. Sattaur, Nicholas de Groot, Ashish Bagai, Sanjayan Thuraisingham, Austin Codrington, Davis Joseph, Nick Ifill, Ashish Patel, Abdool Samad, Fazil Samad, Barry Seebaran.