It’s been a week since our last game and the overwhelming feeling is that we have not felt this fresh and energetic on before a game for a long time. We have enjoyed our time out and have focused on
training hard and ironing out kinks in our fitness. Our last couple of sessions have been among the best we have had in the recent past.It’s just as well that we go into Saturday’s game rested and fresh because Sri Lanka are a strong team at home and at present they are eager to redeem themselves after last week’s defeat to Pakistan.
We have been discussing Sri Lanka, who have a variety of game-changers. We saw Lasith Malinga take a hat-trick the other night with some remarkable yorkers. Interestingly, we have not played him too much over the years and that is why the contest between our top order and the Slinger will be a highlight that could well decide the game. Malinga can swing a match in a matter of a few balls because he is so incredibly accurate with both the new and old ball and his low slinging action ensures that he is always in business for lbws and getting batsmen bowled. Our top order is aware that they need to protect their wickets against him and it will be interesting whether he will be able get past their defences.
The lesson that we picked up from Pakistan’s success against the hosts was that it’s crucial to get early breakthroughs. Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene make up a remarkably experienced top order. However, there are some issues once these three guys depart, and this was what changed the game for Pakistan the other night.
We are aware that Dilshan is due a big one and he is an unconventional batsman not just for his dilscoop but also
for his ability to play unusual shots which make it hard to set fields. I am not sure the famed dilscoop will be on display against a pace attack that boasts of Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson, all of whom bowl at over 140 clicks. However, he is a big wicket and if we manage to curb him, Mahela and Kumar we would have done well.
The England games have brought the tournament alive. There was first the tie against India, and then their defeat at the hands of Ireland. We have seen a bit of Ireland over the last couple of years and I remember seeing Kevin O’Brien, who almost singlehandedly changed the game’s result in his team’s favour. We played them in 2009 before our Ashes tour and clearly it’s a team that enjoys itself and has the ability to spring a surprise, as they showed in the last World Cup as well.
What we are thinking about is taking one game at a time and doing well in Saturday’s game because it ensures we are on course for our first aim of making the next round.
