ICC World Cup 2019 | SWOT Analysis - Sri Lanka
Why has it come to this position? What happened to Sri Lankan cricket - a team that had somehow able to find its feet in the World Cup and pose a serious threat to the established order? Well, the answer could never have been satisfactory and extended grass-root research might as well do it.
In the last 28 completed ODIs, Sri Lanka have lost 24 of them, nosedived dramatically to such an extent that it has become an amalgamation of an outdated domestic system, unnecessary political intrusions in every tiny matter and a worrying tendency to change coaches, captains and players at the first feel of failure. No doubt, the result is for everyone to see and tell a cricket fan the glory days of the Sri Lankan cricket, chances are he laughs at your face.
As a matter of fact, current coach Chandika Hathurusingha is the fifth coach to helm the side since the last World Cup and captain for the mega event, Dimuth Karunaratne, who has scored all of 267 one-day international runs and had not even played an ODI since 2015, is the fourth captain in the past one year. The instability is for everyone to see, but does that mean the end of the road for the team from the Emerald Isle.
Sri Lanka have an extremely poor World Cup record in England and in the four World Cups they have participated in so far, they have never reached the second round and won only four of its 17 games. However, they have a few good results going in their way in England as well - the tri-nation tournament in 1998 also involving South Africa or their 5-0 marauding, it was in the latter part of the summer. However, the early summer has been problematic for the Asian side and to tackle that issue, this time, Sri Lanka arrived in England three weeks prior to the competition and hired a private facility - Merchant Taylors’ School in London. Can that be helpful?
Strengths
The bittersweet irony of Sri Lanka’s caricatural fall from grace has to be the emergence of Lasith Malinga from the ashes. After being sidelined thanks to the unmeasurable amount of politics in the Sri Lankan cricket circle and then returning to the squad after some fine form in the Provincial cricket, Malinga has given Lankan fans hope that they wouldn’t be embarrassed at least.
And if Sri Lankans want to involve in little bit of pride here is a nugget for them - Malinga, with 322 wickets to his name, is the highest wicket-taker in the world among active cricketers and not a single cricketer in this tournament has taken more than the 43 wickets he has taken in three World Cups, which include two hat-tricks.
So Sri Lanka will definitely hope Malinga to fire and expect their top-order, whatever small they have, to give them some good starts for the likes of Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews to bank on. Remember that New Zealand game earlier this year when Perera played one innings of insane ability and if that was not a flash in the pan, he is certainly capable of pulling them off on a regular interval. Since January 2018, Perera has averaged 34 with the bat, which is higher than his career average of 20.
Weaknesses
Sri Lanka cricket team that has been sent into the World Cup this year is awfully hopeless and full of mistakes. Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Avishka Fernando were not even regular in the ODI team and the top order has rarely suggested it is capable of pulling off the kinds of gargantuan scores which will be scored on the unflinchingly flat pitches in England this year. In a 100 for 5 kinds of situations will test them big-time because they don’t have the bowling fire-power to tackle the issue in the defense. The attack, in the middle overs, is woefully toothless, and the over-reliance on Malinga doesn’t really help the cause.
Kusal Janith Perera, who became a Sri Lankan cult hero overnight, for his contribution during the stunning series win in South Africa returns to the side, having recovered from a hamstring injury and will be the team’s first-choice wicket-keeper as well. However, that effectively means he will have a double role to play, but can his fragile body be able to move on with the rigours of the World Cup? Sri Lanka might just miss the presence of Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps and Kumar Sangakkara has already issued a warning sign on that front. The attack is woefully toothless through the middle overs and is generally over-reliant on Lasith Malinga.
Opportunity
In his short international career, Isuru Udana has shown that he has it in to be successful in the international career. His all-round prowess and heavy-hitting, which is as good as any in the world, would keep Sri Lanka in good stead, and if he can get the kind of support that one needs to unleash himself, he can be Sri Lanka’s trump card.
Threats
It is the North scheduling that may be a cause of concern for the Lankans in the World Cup. They are slated to play just one game in the south of England with The Oval hosting its clash against Australia. But once that is done, they will play two games each in Bristol and Wales while the rest of the time it is up north where the spinners will literally be of little use. Considering the North of England pose a cold atmosphere in June, wickets will not be dry and not favourable for spinners at all. That will add a lot of pressure on their top order and tackling that will be an issue worth retailing.
SportsCafe Best XI : Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffray Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep,
The Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffery Vandersay, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana.
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