FAST BOWLERS WILL DECIDE TODAY’S RESULT – DILSHAN
Having Lasith Malinga back in the squad, Sri Lanka skipper T. M. Dilshan said that fast bowlers will call the tune in today’s first One-day International (ODI) against South Africa, in Paarl. The day-night encounter will start off the five match series between the two countries.
Asked whether South Africa will have an edge with a new ball from each end, according to the new rules in ODI cricket, the skipper said that not only the South African quicks but also the Sri Lankan pacemen could have the same advantage.
"We have some good bowlers and I am sure all pacemen will enjoy the current conditions," Dilshan said at Paarl yesterday.
Approximately 60 kilometres away from Cape Town, Paarl is filled with lush green vineyards but is currently experiencing extremely hot and humid conditions. The temperature was close to 40 degrees yesterday.
Ground staffers say it's better to bat first under these conditions. Obviously, if a side bats first, only two batsmen will go out under the hot sun and the bowlers will have a cooler night to swing the ball around.
Sri Lanka is coming into the series after three straight series defeats at the hands of England, Australia and Pakistan but the skipper Dilshan needs to make changes from here.
"We played some good cricket, but our problem was that we couldn’t finish things off"
"We need to finish this series well. We have our goals as a team and one of those is to start the series well," Dilshan said.
The South Africans must be at a loss as to why Sri Lanka is going into the ODI series without their best batsman of the tour so far. Some thought that Thilan Samaraweera had been rested for the warm-up game, played on Monday. Yet the fact is that the middle order batsman has been sent home after the Test series.
"We want to groom a few youngsters for the next World Cup and that’s why we have retained Lahiru Thirimanne, Guys like him need to get as much experience as possible and get ready for the next World Cup"
"That’s the main idea. As selectors and senior players we discussed and I think it’s the right way to move forward," Dilshan said on sending Samaraweera back home.
The interesting fact is that Rangana Herath has been recalled to the ODI squad after his heroics in Durban but the same logic doesn't apply for Samaraweera.
Herath, who played four World Cup matches for Sri Lanka last year, has played only one ODI since – against Australia at Hambantota. He was an automatic choice for the batsmen who struggle against spin and did well against Emerging Cobras, last Monday. He claimed 3 for 33 and he could be a better bet for today's game.