Confident Lankans take on Aussies

Ranjan ANANDAPPA in Australia

A buoyant Sri Lanka team confident after their impressive win against India in the rain interrupted game in Canberra today will confront Australia at the WACA ground in a day/night match.

In a match equally crucial for both teams, the game is played on strip widely regarded as the bounciest track not only in Australia, but probably in the whole world is poised to be a fascinating and evenly contested one.

Weather is expected to be hot and clear and ideal for cricket.

A victory for Sri Lanka today would push Australia into the bottom of the points table which means that the host nation would have to work very hard to make sure that they do not miss out from the best of three finals. A loss to the Sri Lankans would place them in the same predicament.

The dominant way the Aussies play at home always suggest that the host nation stands a good chance in qualifying for a spot in the finals, with India and Sri Lanka vying for the other spot.

Gilchrist in particular who will be wielding his willow probably in his last international match in front of his home crowd will determined to bow out in a high note.

Another Aussie who will be determined to entertain his home crowd is Michael Hussy known as Mr. Cricket for his dedication to the game a nickname he acquired while playing county cricket in England years ago. The Lankans will certainly persist Dilshan and Jayasuriya to open.

The confrontation between Dilshan and Lee will be an interesting one and could be the key for another Sri Lankan success.

The Sri Lanka team had a practice session yesterday and paceman Ishara Amarasinghe’s fitness to play in today’s game was in doubt. Amarasinghe tore a muscle in the previous match and has only a 50-50 chance to play in today’s game. Skipper Mahela Jayawardena too has his right calf rapped up but will certainly be fit for today’s crucial game.

The teams.

Sri Lanka. Sanath Jayasuriya T.M.Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugerdera, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Faveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ishara Amarasinghe, Muthiah Muralidharan, Chanaka Welegedera. Upul Tharanga

Australia.

Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Clark, Michael Hussy, Brett Lee, Michael Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Brad Hogg, Stuart Clarke