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| March 13, 2007 | Tuesday | Safar 23, 1428 |
Pen-sketches of Sri Lanka World Cup squad
BRIDGETOWN, March 12: Pen-pix of Sri Lanka's World Cup squad: Mahela Jayawardene (RHB/OB/captain). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 236. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Colombo, Jan 24, 1998. A fine technician with an excellent temperament, he has settled in as captain after Marvan Atapattu was injured. Under him, Sri Lanka are a well-knit unit capable of going all the way at the World Cup.
Career: 6185 runs (ave 31.71), HS 128, 8 100s, 34 50s, 118 catches, 7 wkts (ave 77.00), BB 2-56.
Kumar Sangakkara (LHB/WK). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 189. Debut: v Pakistan, Galle, July 5, 2000. He is a classy batsman and a superb wicket-keeper, one of the most influential figures in the side. A major factor in Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign.
Career: 5476 runs (ave 36.26), HS 138*, 6 100s, 36 50s, 214 dismissals (166 catches and 48 stumpings).
Russel Arnold (LHB/OB). Age: 33. ODI appearances: 169. Debut: v South Africa, Lahore, Nov 6, 1997. A tall, patient accumulator of runs, he lost form and his place in the side before forcing his way back with a string of good displays for Sri Lanka ‘A’. He is also an athletic fielder in the circle.
Career: 3832 runs (ave 35.48), HS 103, 1 100, 27 50s, 46 catches, 37 wkts (ave 45.75), BB 3-47.
Marvan Atapattu (RHB). Age: 36. ODI appearances: 268. Debut: v India, Nagpur, Dec 1, 1990. The former captain is one of the most experienced players in the side and an elegant batsman at the top of the order.
Career: 8529 runs (ave 37.57), HS 132*, 11 100s, 59 50s, 70 catches.
Malinga Bandara (RHB/LB). Age: 27. ODI appearances: 23. Debut: v New Zealand, Wellington, Jan 6, 2006. The leg-spinner may not get a chance to play in the World Cup due to the presence of Muttiah Muralitharan unless conditions demand a second specialist spinner in the side.
Career: 95 runs (ave 11.87), HS 28*, 4 catches, 26 wkts (ave 31.66), BB 4-31, 4w 2.
Tillekeratne Dilshan (RHB/OB/WK). Age: 30. ODI appearances: 109. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Dec 11, 1999. One of the most under-estimated cricketers in the game despite proving his worth with both bat and ball. A strong middle-order batsman and a steady off-spinner.
Career: 2092 runs (ave 29.05), HS 117*, 1 100, 8 50s, 54 catches, 1 stumping, 36 wkts (ave 43.11), BB 4-29, 4w 2.
Dilhara Fernando (RHB/RFM). Age: 27. ODI appearances: 105. Debut: v South Africa, Paarl, Jan 9, 2001. The injury-plagued fast bowler goes to the World Cup fitter than ever and will lend firepower to the attack.
Career: 138 runs (ave 9.85), HS 13*, 18 catches, 126 wkts (ave 31.13), BB 4-48, 4w 1.
Sanath Jayasuriya (LHB/SLA). Age: 37. ODI appearances: 379. Debut: v Australia, Melbourne, Dec 26, 1989. Age has not diminished either his skills or enthusiasm for the game. He is in prime form with the bat and ball, just as he was 11 years ago when Sri Lanka won their only World Cup title.
Career: 11538 runs (ave 32.87), HS 189, 23 100s, 62 50s, 111 catches, 285 wkts (ave 36.96), BB 6-29, 4w 10.
Nuwan Kulasekera (RHB/RMF). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 17. Debut: v England, Dambulla, Nov 18, 2003. The youngster generates lively pace and moves the ball both ways.
Career: 32 runs (ave 8.00), HS 11, 4 catches, 10 wkts (ave 55.30), BB 2-19.
Farveez Maharoof (RHB/RFM). Age: 22. ODI appearances: 60. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Harare, April 25, 2004. The typical bits-and-pieces cricketer so useful in one-day cricket. Needs to fire with both bat and ball if Sri Lanka are to do well.
Career: 564 runs (ave 19.44), HS 58*, 1 50s, 13 catches, 71 wkts (ave 26.15), BB 6-14, 4w 2.
Lasith Malinga (RHB/RF). Age: 23. ODI appearances: 28. Debut: v United Arab Emirates, Dambulla, July 17, 2004. The speedster with the slinging round-arm action is described as the 'X-factor' of the team by Sangakkara. Works up hostile pace with both the new and old balls. The man to watch at the World Cup.
Career: 44 runs (ave 8.80), HS 15, 3 catches, 39 wkts (ave 26.97), BB 4-44, 4w 2.
Muttiah Muralitharan (RHB/OB). Age: 34. ODI appearances: 287. Debut: v India, Colombo, Aug 12, 1993. The spin wizard appears to be getting better with age and remains the biggest threat to rival batsmen at the World Cup. Spins the ball on any surface due to his flexible wrist that has generated a lot of controversy.
Career: 488 runs (ave 5.80), HS 27, 112 catches, 432 wkts (ave 23.07), BB 7-30, 4w 19.
Chamara Silva (RHB). Age: 27. ODI appearances: 14. Debut: v Australia, Colombo, Aug 26, 1999. The exciting middle-order batsman may be hard to keep out of the team after scoring an unbeaten century against India in Sri Lanka's last one-dayer before the World Cup.
Career: 276 runs (ave 27.60), HS 107 *, 1 100, 1 50s, 3 catches.
Upul Tharanga (LHB). Age: 22. ODI appearances: 43. Debut: v West Indies, Dambulla, Aug 2, 2005. The talented left-handed opener has forged a successful combination with Jayasuriya at the top of the order.
Career: 1416 runs (ave 35.40), HS 120, 6 100s, 5 50s, 7 catches.
Chaminda Vaas (LHB/LFM). Age: 33. ODI appearances: 290. Debut: v India, Rajkot, Feb 15, 1994. Sri Lanka's most successful new ball bowler is back to trouble batsmen, just as he did at the previous World Cup in South Africa. The pace spearhead's form will determine how far the team goes in the tournament.
Career: 1876 runs (ave 14.00), HS 50*, 1 50s, 56 catches, 370 wkts (ave 26.95), BB 8-19, 4w 13.—AFP
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