Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Onto the world stage: Sri Lanka – The Underdogs.

The last time Sri Lanka was regarded the clear under dogs for the cricket World Cup was way back in 1996. Bookmakers had put their chances to 66/1 and we know the end result of that tournament. The Lankans shocked the world with their slam bang approach and great quality spin bowling to lift the trophy, much to the chagrin of the cricketing world. A new force had been born. And it was a force to reckon with.

However ten years is a long time. Much has changed in Sri Lankan cricket, as in the case of all other teams. But the change I am going to discuss is more related to on the field activities rather than the political battles being fought in the Sri Lankan board. So let us first take a look at the team sent to the West Indies: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara.

You compare this team with the ’96 champions and the biggest problem which glares right back at you is probably the biggest reason why they won’t win the cup. They just don’t have that flair. Let’s admit it. Arjuna Ranatunga’s team had that distinct capability to pull a rabbit out of any hat. Be it the (in)famous Kolkatta semi-final, where they were 1/2 in the first over and the rest we know. Or the final in Lahore where they chased down 240+, a feat never achieved before in any previous final. Even much before that, when they made Manoj Prabhakar and the rest of the Indian attack eat out of their hands in a league match in Delhi.

It was as if they were making a point. After West Indies and Australia refused to play in Sri Lanka in the 1996 tournament, the resoluteness showed by the team in proving to the world that they deserved every bit of the credit they got, is historical. But this is not the only reason why they won’t win this time. The other big difference being the leadership. Mahela jayawardene is no Ranatunga. Or for that matter nobody in the present team is as mercurial as the former captain. And that matters why? Because at times like in the semi final at Eden Gardens, you have to lead from the front. Or like Steve Waugh in 1999, you have to rise to the challenge and beat South Africa in the super six to make your team advance. Jayawardene might be the best guy to lead the Lankans into battle as of now, but no, he doesn’t have the makings of a world cup winning captain.

Of course the rest of the team also matters. But there too the story isn’t exactly rosy. The middle order is almost non-existent. It is not like when Roshan Mahanama and the invincible Aravinda de Silva used to take charge and save them from disaster ten years ago. Atapattu’s ODI credentials are still not proven although he is near the end of his career. Tilaktratne Dilshan and Russell Arnold are good players but within their limitations. Sangakkara is the dashing batsman of the team and much will depend on him and his “non-existent” consistency. He needs to be in a purple patch for the Sri Lankan middle order to work. And again, Jayawardene doesn’t exactly score when he needs to.

However, the most important player in the tournament in 1996 is still very much there and as was then, he needs to play out of his skin to make the rest of the Lankans believe that they can go all the way. Sanath Jayasuriya has to replicate the form he showed in England last year. It is going to be his swansong and he knows it. Can his aged shoulders once more take the huge responsibility of guiding his team’s boat of fortune?

The bowling as always is in the hands of two great stalwarts who like Jayasuriya will be playing their last cup finals. Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas have been great for Lankan cricket as individuals and as a hunting pair, but recent trends show that when their 20 overs end, that’s where the problem begins. Malinga, Maharoof and Bandara aren’t exactly in the same class and runs will be taken off them, and that too in plenty, believe me. And that’s why not sending the two great bowlers to India for the recent ODIs is going to prove a mistake.

Their most important match too is against the Indians on 17th march. And had they gone there and taken some wickets, even the Indians would have been wary of them. They (the Indians) were in the midst of building their team, remember? A few questions posed by these two wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. But now the whole ball game is different. As in Pakistan’s case, a win that day is of utmost importance because the points are carried forward.

Talking about recent form, they have won seventy percent of their matches last year. From the 5-0 white wash to the Champions trophy, where they were unlucky not to progress, to the drawn series in New Zealand. The only misfit is the loss to India and that too right before the big tournament. That makes the mistake of not playing Vaas and Murali all the more obvious. But this is exactly the situation where the coach, Tom Moody steps in. He has to make them forget the loss and look ahead to the big one. The way he did when they were smacked by India 6-1 in 2005. He was a key to their reversal of fortunes. Can he do it again?

My verdict – Good guys finish last. Don’t think the old saying is going to change much.