By Srian Obeyesekere
Today’s second T20 International versus 1-up England will be a literally now or never decisive face off at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium. For, beyond the outcome of the series it is virtually about Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup preparations as much as England’s as both seek the optimum muscling up in that 20 nation showdown rubbing shoulders with the might to lifting the world cup.
In that countdown to the big show just at hand five days from now on February 7, the rumbling heating up cannot be ever more pertinent particularly to a wounded Sri Lankan outfit to arming themselves in that ultimate cricket’s enthralling short format gun blazing stature given the nature of the short fad fast and furious dictates of the game where the shootout is all about smashing the literal iceberg of highly oiled up oppositions. One glance does give an inkling of that barrier to cross as we look at the enormously fired up reigning world champions all ready to fire in a successive tilt for that glitter of gold maximising the very home terrain advantage to that goal.
Therein, the final gallop of this home face off against England going into today’s second face off is of the game’s utmost significance to Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka where it is all about winning and there can be no room for one false step let ups against a highly resurgent Harry Brook’s England hell bent on driving it to the hilt to ascending the cup road. A lost ODI series rubbed in by losing the short format opener a day ago in the bizarre of a 6 wicket high by the English in a tripping from an absolute super 75 for 1 start off the first 7 overs to 133, 9 wickets crashing for 57 in 56 deliveries to spin is a bad start to looking to the cup high road in a running defeatist done up of three straight white ball defeats from the last two ODIs but for the solitary win in the first.
Indeed, Sri Lanka’s failure to master the art of spin bowling starting from their own backyard is a concern that the frontline batters need to address from this point on. In that perspective, leaving out the one player who stood up to England’s spinners in Pavan Rathnayake who showcased the skill of aplomb footwork in reaching out to smothering Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson to the tune of s maiden century 122 in the final ODI, beats it all. A batsman at the top of his game where what matters above three let up T20I appearances is the form element of mastering England’s spinners in the ODI format where reduced overs and previous let ups was the apparent reason he was left out where though saner counsel should have prevailed. Instead of which the selectors and captain most shockingly looked down on ability and skill in fronting an area where most every Lankan batter has failed, in deciding to shut out someone who had proved beyond doubt that he had it in him to do it.
In short, Sri Lanka’s top three batsmen Nissanka, Mishara and Mendis putting the England pace attack to the sword to England changing it all on sheer spin is a direct buck up, pull up your socks message to the Lankan batting department that needs immediate remedying with the bigger picture world cup a doorstep away.
Courtesy Sri Lanka Cricket