ICC World Cup 2011 - Sri Lanka Team Probables

Being co-hosts to the event along with India and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka must surely fancy their chances at the ICC World Cup 2011.

Sri Lanka are past champions, winning in 1996. That tournament was also held on the sub-continent.

Not only are their batsmen familiar with the conditions, but they have the bowlers to make the difference on the slow pitches that don't offer the bounce of a South African wicket, or the seam movement of an English one, on a cloudy summer day.

So here's my list of 14 players who I think will turn out for Sri Lanka at the 2011 event:

Dilshan, Tharanga, Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Kapudegera, Mathew, Muralitharan, Malinga, Randiv, Welegedera, Thusara, Fernando and Mendis.

Any surprises? Jayasuriya is missing. I would still have opted for the old war horse if he had retained some penetration as a bowler. But sad to say, is he is past his sell by date.

Too many spinners? Maybe. But Herath is still missing. I opted for Randiv in his place on the back of the latter's good showing on an unhelpful pitch in the third test against India.

Let's see how many men can use the new ball. Malinga, Mathew, Fernando, Welegedera and Thusara. If you consider Mathew an allrounder, you will need at least two other fast men in the first eleven.

Also you would need at least two back ups to provide for possible injuries to seamers.

I have not opted for a second keeper. Prasanna Jayawadene will not make it into this team on the strength of his batting alone. That is the criterion I would apply for a second keeper.

So which players will Sri Lanka omit from the first eleven?

They will probably play an all rounder along with four bowlers. The six batsmen select themselves. Of the bowlers, Malinga and Murali are certainties.

Going for another seamer and a spinner, I would opt for Tushara over the other seamers for his batting ability, and in a toss up between Randiv and Mendis, my choice is Mendis. Though there is a case for an additional batting option in Kandamby.

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Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger on the game. His new blog on sports is fast becoming popular, backed as it is by comprehensive knowledge and research.

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