Few outside the dressing room seem convinced that Sri Lanka can punch their ticket to the semi-finals of the upcoming T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with India. But cricket is played as much between the ears as between the ropes and if the players believe they belong, they could yet give the island’s long-suffering fans something to cheer about. Recent ICC events have been joyless affairs, qualification scrambles, early exits, or worse, missing the bus altogether.
The England series shapes as the ideal dress rehearsal for the 20-nation jamboree. If the batters can finally find their timing and weight of runs, the former champions might yet make this a tournament to savour. The bowlers, pace and spin alike, have largely held their end of the bargain. Too often, though, the batting has left Sri Lanka stranded without a paddle.
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Failing to bat out the full 20 overs remains the nagging concern, laid bare in the loss to Pakistan in Dambulla. There was, however, a glimpse of what could be when Sri Lanka produced a spirited showing in a rain-curtailed second game on Sunday, clinching a 14-run win and briefly lifting the mood.
Not every World Cup berth is nailed down. Two, perhaps even three slots remain up for grabs. Yet the England series offers limited scope to settle those questions. Squads must be submitted by January 31, by which time only one T20I will have been completed, with the second and third scheduled for February 1 and 3. That inevitably raises eyebrows: would it have been wiser to play the T20Is first? Ideally, you want to head into a T20 World Cup having tuned your engine in the right format, not shadow-boxing in ODIs.
Could the England tour have begun immediately after the Pakistan series? Could Sri Lanka have squeezed in five or six T20Is instead of an ODI leg? India, after all, are hosting New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is, wrapping up neatly on January 31. It is easy to play armchair administrator, though, and logistical nightmares are a reality boards must wrestle with.
Whatever path the selectors take, one hopes they do not throw the baby out with the bathwater by discarding Kusal Janith Perera. His form may flicker, but on his day he remains a match-winner and merits patience. The same applies to Kamindu Mendis, a compelling all-round package, a long-term investment who can still deliver in the here and now.
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Dushmantha Chameera is another vital cog in the wheel. Given his injury history, careful handling is prudent. The quick missed the last game against Pakistan with a groin niggle and resting him during the ODIs while unleashing him in the T20Is would make sound sense.
England, meanwhile, arrive with baggage of their own. Their spin plans are in disarray with Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid facing visa issues for India. All of England’s first-round World Cup games are scheduled for Bombay and Calcutta and the pair are expected to link up with the squad in Colombo only if the visa issues are resolved.
There is pressure off the field too. Captain Harry Brook was fined £30,000, roughly Rs. 12 million, following a nightclub incident during the New Zealand tour. They surrendered The Ashes 4-1 and were criticized for their preparation and approach. In limited overs cricket, they had a torrid Champions Trophy, failing to win a match and even losing to Afghanistan.
A strong showing in Colombo would ease the heat on a side under the pump before they head to India. For Sri Lanka, it is a chance to get their combination right, find rhythm and belief.
