Green top awaits Sri Lankans in Perth

Rex Clementine
in Perth

The Aussies were given a real hiding by New Zealand as they opened their World Cup campaign in Sydney last week. Following the 89-run loss, the defending champions are not only last in the points table but they have got a lot of catching up to do with a Net Run Rate of -4.45. The only way they can close the gap is with a big win and Sri Lanka will be hence given a green top here with the hosts expected to pack their side with quicks.

Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka (groin) and fast bowler Pramod Madushan (hamstring) have been given the all-clear having passed their fitness tests and they will be available for selection today. Madushan hasn’t played since the qualifying round game against UAE last week while Nissanka missed the last game against Ireland on Sunday.

Scheduling during the World Cup has been tough on teams and the Sri Lankans are feeling the pinch. Soon after their opening game of the Super 12 round on Sunday, the former champions flew to Perth from Hobart in a chartered flight. Western Australia is three hours behind other Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart. After just one game here in Perth, Sri Lanka will travel to Sydney where they will take on New Zealand in their third second-round game. Perth is only two and half hours ahead of Colombo, so the game will get underway at 4:30 pm local time this evening.

Sri Lanka will bring down three players – Asitha Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella and Matheesha Pathirana – to Australia as cover in case someone gets injured. SLC High-Performance coach Tim McCaskill will accompany the players. The three players will not join the main squad but train separately and will be drafted in if a necessity arises.

Australia’s pace attack looks quite formidable with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc sharing the new ball and Pat Cummins coming in as the first change. Marcus Stoinis, the all-rounder is quite handy too and for the Sri Lankan clash the hosts will have a fifth-pace bowling option in Mitchell Marsh. Australia’s number three batsman has only been playing as a specialist batsman as he is managing his injuries but ahead of the must-win clash today he declared that he will be doing bowling duties too.

Former captain Steve Smith hasn’t been able to find a place in the side and three are suggestions that he could make a comeback to the side.