Underdogs Sri Lanka confront Aussies (31 August 1999)

31 August 1999

Underdogs Sri Lanka confront Aussies

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

New look Sri Lanka go as underdogs when they front up with world champions Australia in the Aiwa Cup tri-nation one-day cricket final to be played under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium commencing 2.30 p.m. today.

Although Australia are clear favourites for the title, Sri Lanka are not short of talent and spirit to surmount a challenge.

Sanath Jayasuriya has with him a talented young side focused on the next World Cup in South Africa four years from now and if the performances by this team in the tournament are anything to go by, it could be said that its nothing but encouraging.

Many critics have been waiting with daggers drawn to plunge it into the national selectors had the gamble with the youngsters misfired and Sri Lanka failed to qualify for a place in the final. But the manner in which the newcomers have adjusted to the demands of one-day cricket should silence those who are still clamouring for the old guard to be brought back.

The area in which Sri Lanka have been found wanting is the batting. Twice against Australia the top order has failed to deliver the goods and this had resulted in a loss. Sri Lanka must ensure they don't make the same mistakes they have made in the previous two encounters if they are to give Australia a good run. With each meeting Sri Lanka are improving and gradually catching up on the Aussies. They lost the first match by 51 runs, and brought the losing margin down to 27 runs in the second.

"We will certainly give them a good fight. We might even surprise them. You never know," said Sri Lanka manager Chandra Schaffter. "We have the potential but I know its tough. What we need to do is to bowl tightly and bat sensibly. If you do these things right we might have a chance. Our fielding has improved vastly," he said.

Schaffter praised the selection committee for taking a bold step in picking young players for the tournament and said: "Normally the selectors would have been crucified, but they have been proved right in introducing new blood following the World Cup debacle. What more can you ask of the youngsters when they have got us into the final".

Sri Lanka are not having a team meeting until this morning to finalise their eleven.

One of the main areas of discussion will be the poor form of fast bowler Chaminda Vaas. The spearhead of the Sri Lanka attack has captured a solitary wicket while conceding 198 runs and is conceding an average 6.60 runs per over, figures which should cause concern in the camp. Things are certainly not running for him at the moment. That leg before decision against Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday was just one of those things. If Vaas is to be replaced, his place is likely to go to the experienced Pramodya Wickremasinghe who has not played a game yet.

Suresh Perera has also not been bowling well conceding 130 runs for two wickets at an economy rate of nearly six an over. But as coach Dav Whatmore admitted, Perera's present performance doesn't justify his potential, because he's got loads of talent to become a good all-rounder. Perera isn't hitting the line and length as often as he wants, but he should be persisted with.

Sri Lanka qualified for the final on a better net run rate than India after both teams had finished with a win each in the preliminary rounds. Both sides lost their two matches to Australia who came through the initial stage with a 100 percent record winning all four matches.

The victories also stretches Australia's unbeaten sequence to 11 matches starting from the World Cup (10 wins and one no-result). If they win today, they will equal England's record for the most consecutive matches without defeat in one-day cricket. England went through 12 matches without defeat between May 23, 1991 and March 12, 1992.

Skipper Steve Waugh, 34, will be equalling Allan Border's Australian record for the most number of one-day appearances when he plays his 273rd match today.

"It means that I am getting old. It's nice to get those games up but I am sure someone like Ricky Ponting will in a couple of years time over take it. If I get it I don't think that record will stay for too long," said Waugh.

When asked whether he would give up one-day cricket to concentrate on Test cricket, Waugh said:" I like to think not because everytime you have a lay off from cricket, it's always hard to get back to it especially for quick bowlers and even for myself. It takes a couple of weeks to get back to the skills of the game. When your playing continually your body gets used to it. At the end of the World Cup I felt the best I felt for years. I am playing well and I like to give it all I have".

Australia are confident they can give coach Geoff Marsh a memorable send off by winning the final today.

"If you look at our side and the way we are playing lined up against Sri Lanka we should win," said Waugh confidently.

"I know that we are good enough to keep winning games. Just because it's a final we don't need to put more pressure on ourselves," he said.

Marsh announced last week that he was quitting as coach at the end of the Sri Lanka leg of the tour citing family reasons. Australia travel to Zimbabwe after they finish a three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting on September 9.

They are expected to include three fast bowlers for today's final but a final decision will be taken depending on the type of pitch they get. The Australian one-day squad were joined at practice yesterday by the eight players who arrived over the weekend to participate in the Test series.

The teams: Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana, Suresh Perera, Chaminda Vaas, Muthiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Indika de Saram, Pramodya Wickremasinghe.

Australia (from): Steve Waugh (captain), Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Tom Moody, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming.

Umpires: K.T. Francis and B.C. Cooray, TV umpire: Peter Manuel,

Match Referee: Cammie Smith (West Indies).

Source :: The Daily News (https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/)