- Captain: Dimuth Karunaratne.
- Coach: Chandika Hathurusinghe.
- 2015 WC Result: Quarter-finalists.
- Best Result: Champions in 1996.
- Ignored for squad: Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Danushka Gunathilaka, Upul Tharanga, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka cricket team was the most consistently performing team since 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup and they even took Australia by surprise to win the 1996 World Cup. Sri Lanka has produced world class quality bowlers like Muralidharan and Lasith Malinga. Malinga might have got a bit old but his last over performance in IPL 2019 finals have proved that the legend still holds the capability to take team out from difficult situations. Malinga played 12 matches taking 16 wickets with an economy of 9.76.
Sri Lankan cricket has gone through rough times lately, with major players like Sangakkara, Jayawardena, Dilshan retiring from cricket, and the team going through many changes and combinations. The selection for ICC 2019 World Cup has been surprising too, considering the selection of Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, and Jeevan Mendis as they have played very few ODIs. The squad though might look inexperienced but still they have got good potential players in the line up.
The major trouble for Sri Lanka would be the batting. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne play key roles. The squad has played very less ODI cricket and there wasn’t much of practice matches in past couple of months either. Thirimanne has just played 11 ODIs since 2017 and has scored 404 runs with a best of 88. Sri Lanka has struggled with spin in Asian conditions against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. All rounders Mathews, Perera and wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis have scored well but still it will be too much of pressure on the middle order if top order fails.
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Sri Lanka has very experienced bowling side along with Malinga. Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep are experienced campaigners with good form in past couple of years. Pradeep has been bowling consistently well and took a 4-wicket haul against Scotland this year followed with 2/77 vs England in the warm-up, while Lakmal has bowled brilliantly – 32 wickets with an economy of under 5.50 in past 2 years.
Along side of the pace attack it will be the inexperienced Jeevan Mendis and Vandersay who will tested on green seam friendly pitches. Our first guess is that these two won’t have much of a role to play and will be warming the bench. We believe Milinda Siriwardana will have a big role to play being a floater in the batting order and a more-than handy spinner with an ability to pick wickets.
Sri Lanka’s Squad for ICC 2019 World Cup:
Dimith Karunaratne (C), Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis (WK), Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal
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2019 World Cup Betting?
Fancy Sri Lanka at the 2019 World Cup?!
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— Read Scoops (@ReadScoops) May 27, 2019
The x-factor player? It has to be Lasith Malinga. He might have become old and sloppy but still is the best death over specialist and when it comes to pressure crunching matches this guy will keep the nerves and lead the team in difficult times. Also watch out for the al-round abilities of Isuru Udana. Keep following ReadScoops.com to know all about Sri Lanka’s progress at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
