Sri Lanka seek fresh start in ODIs

Tourists counting on Malinga to erase bitter Test memories against Australia.

SYDNEY:

Sri Lanka are banking on the return of slinging paceman Lasith Malinga to give them a fresh start in the One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia that starts in Melbourne today.

The explosive Malinga, whose unusual slingshot action makes him difficult to face, was missed by Sri Lanka in their three-Test mauling by the Australians as he concentrated on the shorter forms of the game. Sri Lanka go into the series opener reinvigorated by the addition of Akila Dananjaya, Upul Tharanga and Ajantha Mendis along with Jeevan Mendis and Thisara Perera, who have been playing in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League.

“I think it’s going to be a fresh start because there are a few guys who will be joining us as well,” said Angelo Mathews. “It’s very disappointing the way we played in the Tests but I think we need to get through that, flush it out of the system and concentrate on the ODIs. Malinga is joining us and we have got more fire in our bowling department. I think he’s the best bowler going around in world cricket at the moment in the Twenty20 format.”

Sri Lanka will be encouraged by their ODI record in Australia, with four wins in seven matches last year, while they claimed their first series-win in 2010. They have also won their past three ODIs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, boosting their confidence ahead of the five-match series.

“We’ve got to concentrate on our cricket,” said coach Graham Ford. “Whatever team Australia puts on the field, that’s up to them. But a couple of those names are real match-winners in their own right and it is a bit of a comfort knowing they’re not going to be around. We tend to prefer the short formats of the game anyway. We’ve got some really skilful one-day players.”



Only three rankings points separate fourth-placed Australia from fifth-placed Sri Lanka in the ODI rankings and the home side are going in with a much-changed squad and an eye on building towards the 2015 World Cup at home.

Australia top order to feature debutants

Australia will field debutants in their top three batting spots in the series opener against Sri Lanka, with Twenty20 captain George Bailey leading the side in Michael Clarke’s absence as he strives to recover from a hamstring injury.

Bailey said on Thursday that Aaron Finch and Phil Hughes would open the batting, with left-hander Usman Khawaja coming in at number three. Bailey will bat at number four in an inexperienced line-up that also includes all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has only played four ODIs. David Hussey and Brad Haddin add some experience to the middle order.

The selectors resisted naming a fourth debutant, leaving quick Ben Cutting out of the bowling attack. That leaves Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay to fill the pace spots with Xavier Doherty the specialist spinner, supported by Maxwell and Hussey.

Bailey rejected claims he will lead a B team into the opening match of the five-match series.

“For these two games this is the best side that Australia can put out,” said Bailey. “For sure, there’ll be a few debutants in this game. I think you’ll see these guys a lot more in one-day cricket, I think you’ll see some of them play Test cricket.”

Bailey added that it was the perfect occasion for the debutants to shine.

“It’s a huge opportunity. What you want from your top five batsmen in one-day cricket is for them to score the bulk of the runs and to win you the game. Whether it’s your first game or your 50th game, that expectation doesn’t change.”

A Mathews



“It’s very disappointing the way we played in the Test matches but I think we need to get through that, flush it out of the system and concentrate on the ODIs.” 

G Bailey



“In one-day cricket, what you want from the top four, top five batsmen in your team is to score the bulk of the runs and to win you the game.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2013.