ICC Cricket World Cup Preview: England vs Sri Lanka
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 25 March 2011 - 14:51
Author: Vithushan Ehantharajah
Tomorrow sees England face Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. After doing their best to entertain the masses in the group stages, Sport.co.uk takes a look at how England’s cricketing harlequins are shaping up ahead of their showdown with the last side to win the trophy, since Australia’s dominance of the competition, in 1996...
Brent quipped...
In the BBC sitcom, ‘The Office’, David Brent mused that he wanted to be remembered simply as “the man who put a smile on the face of all who he met”. It seems the England cricket team have approached this World Cup with similar aims, substituting “smiles” for gasps, groans and grimaces - but ultimately for England fans, glee.
England, the entertainers in the ODI arena, who would have thunk it? Supposedly the worst format of the game and one that England are worse at; much of the last 18 months have been spent watching Strauss’ side fumble their way through 50-overs, flummoxed by their own tactics and power-plays. That’s not to say that this World Cup has been any different – the glass half-full spectator (i.e. the anti-Willis) could argue that England have been firing on all cylinders, just not necessarily at the same time.
Defeats to Bangladesh and Ireland; a turgid victory against the Netherlands; snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against South Africa; snatching a draw from the jaws of victory against India and hanging on long enough for the West Indies to implode spectacularly. It hasn’t been easy watching, but good lord it’s been compelling. Now England find themselves in Colombo, on the eve of a quarter-final showdown with co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Much of the build-up has centred on Michael Yardy’s departure from the squad due to depression. The squad, as a collective and individually, have been effusive in their support of the Sussex man; one can only hope the plight of Marcus Trescothick created a network of help and support for such an ailment that will be readily available to Yardy. But now thoughts have turned to selection ahead of this weekend’s knock-out tie, as England look to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time since 1992, when they were beaten in the final by an Imran Khan and Wasim Akram inspired Pakistan.
Top of the bill...
The top of the order conundrum is still a nuisance; Matt Prior has not taken to the role as well as would have hoped, but one must sympathise with the ‘keeper given his hot-potato treatment; shunted around as he is, at every available opportunity. Prior has recently come declared his preference to open the batting, citing the fact the it gives a batsman the best opportunity to score big runs; at this moment in time he seems to be the exception that proves his rule.
And what of Ian Bell? Many feel that England’s classiest willow-wielder should be accompanying Strauss to the middle at every available opportunity. Given Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, it would be a tad reckless to waste Bell at the top of the order – with Muralitharan likely to shake off a knee injury, that means 20 overs will be taken up by the legendary spinner and his bamboozler in chief, Ajantha Mendis (not to mention a few overs for part-timer Dilshan). Bell is without a doubt England’s best player of spin, followed closely by Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, and they will be integral to England’s cause. The Premadasa stadium is not renowned for its high scores, with many sides successfully defending totals of around 225 at the Colombo ground, which has recently revamped its pitch and floodlights (enabling slightly easier chases for those batting second under lights). That being said now is as good a time as any to gamble – if Bell makes it through the first 15 overs, then he would provide an ideal fulcrum for the rest of the batting to operate around. As for Luke Wright or Paul Collingwood, Wright probably gets the nod based on his display against the West Indies. Colly’s career is as good as over, but the romantic in me would love to see him given one last chance in this World Cup; the pragmatist wouldn’t mind seeing him on the field to fill in for a bowler receiving his rub-down between spells. Sorry, ‘comfort breaks’...
Bowling issues...
Tim Bresnan looks set to retain his place in the side should he shake off a calf injury picked up during the week (the same calf that ruled forced his withdrawal from the ludicrous seven-match ODI series against Australia at the beginning of the year). James Anderson may come back into the side after being dropped for the West Indies game for his underwhelming performances thus far. Given that his replacement, Chris Tremlett, did not bowl his full allocation of overs, after being obliterated for 47 in five overs, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anderson brought in for the part-time three, but he will need to buck up his ideas; Sri Lanka’s batting line-up can are more than a match the best bowling attacks in the world. A wayward one may as well not bother.
The England management may also toy with the idea of two spinners – Swann has showed his class in fits and starts and James Tredwell impressed many (probably even himself) with his display against the West Indies. Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid has also been called up to the squad as a replacement for Yardy, and will present a very capable alternative; while not ideal circumstances, Rashid’s presence in the squad is merited thought the point may be moot, given that it is likely he will only reach Sri Lanka on the morning of the game.
Finally there is Jade Dernbach, brought in to replace another one of England’s wounded, Ajmal Shahzad. Should Bresnan not make it through, the Surrey bowler will make his debut for England in a World Cup quarter final; judging by the noises that he has been making, that does not seem to bother him one bit. Dernbach is a new breed of cricketer, one that blurs the lines between county cricketer and Premier League footballer, with his ear-ring and tattoos (Mitchell Johnson copied him, so he claims). Off the back of an successful Lions tour, which saw him take 19 wickets at an average of 15.63 in the West Indies, and a couple of good seasons with Surrey, he seems to have injected a bit of energy and vigour into the England camp, something that the players and management will be very thankful of. He has been the loudest to champion his own ability; talk of his pace, variations and tactical nous has dominated his own sound-bites – and fair play to him. When choosing someone to come into a pressure cooker situation
confidence gets picked ahead of humility, every time.
Any other business...
Let’s not sugar coat it – Sri Lanka are favourites, big favourites. Kumar Sangakara and Mahela Jayawardene are at their lethal best (both apart and in unison), not to mention Dilshan and Upur Tharanga at the top of the order, along with their versatile bowling arsenal, featuring the likes of Lasith Malinga and the aforementioned spin-twins Murali and Mendis – they will fancy their chances. Home advantage will obviously play a part though it is important to note that of the last 38 games played between major sides at this venue, 29 have been one by the side winning the toss (though this sequence started long before the alteration to the pitch and floodlights, so it is unsure as to whether this will be as important a factor as the statistic makes out). One thing that is for certain is that England cannot afford to be anything less than their very best in tomorrow’s fixture. That means drawing a line under their mercurial exhibitions of the last month, and starting again.
It’s going down to the wire, isn’t it? Oh well, deep breaths...