ASALANKA’S TEAM FACES BIGGEST HURDLE OF BREAKING 11-YEAR WINLESS OVERSEAS JINX
By Srian Obeyesekere
Led by explosive batsman Charith Asalanka, a rather new look Sri Lanka fielding several new faces, will on the basis of basis of a strong head to head 49 to 12 win record with 3 no results, go strong favourites against Zimbabwe in the first of the two-match series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Friday, August 29.
But by and large the series will be a testing challenge for the Lankans given a sketchy overseas record having not won an away series since a 3-2 triumph over England in 2014 and beating lesser known Ireland in 2016 and Scotland in 2019.
Asalanka’s main challenge will be to break a 11-year jinx of Sri Lanka not having won an overseas tour since winning in England over a decade ago.
As challenging will be as to how well the new blend Sri Lanka with several new faces since the last outfit that toured Zimbabwe as far back as 2008, would face off against Zimbabwe which is quite an unpredictable quarter in their own terrain despite being currently ranked 11th in the ICC ODI team rankings as against fourth placed Sri Lanka. In that last outing Sri Lanka won hands up 5-0.
Craig Irvine’s charges take on the Lankans on a 2-1 win boost against Ireland.
Charith Asalanka’s men also go out on a last out 2-1 hurrah against Bangladesh.
This tour from a Lankan point of view will be an acid play off for places with two inform batsmen in Nuwanidu Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake breathing down on Kamindu Mendis, Sadeeraa Samarawickrama and Nishan Madushka whose form has been questionable in recent outings. The batting department lies heavily in opener Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis and middle order Charith Asalanka who have been their mainstays while it will be a huge test for young Kamindu Mendis who batted his way to sensation in the test format a year ago going shoulder with the late Sir Donald Bradman over an year ago to winning the ICC Emerging Player of the Year, but has had a lean run of late.
Sri Lanka’s spin-bowling department is very strong, even in the absence of Hasaranga, with Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage in the ranks.
In the bowling, Sri Lanka will badly miss the services of key linchpin leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga sidelined by injury, but does have a resource to draw from with their main wicket taker quick Asitha Fernando after Hasaranga in the last series against Bangladesh right up there with Dushmantha Chameera, back after long injury lay off, Dilshan Madushanka and newcomer Milan Rathnayake among the fast arms while Maheesh Theekshana as quite an economic spinner and Dunith Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay up there in that category.
Sri Lanka has not lost an ODI series in Zimbabwe since making their first tour there in 1994.
Zimbabwe will be returning to the 50-over format for the first time since February, when they defeated Ireland 2-1 in a three-match series in Harare. Brian Bennett top-scored in the series, amassing 247 runs in three innings at an average of 82.33 and a strike rate of 100.81. Ben Curran and Craig Ervine also contributed impressively in the series.
In the three match ODI series between Zimbabwe and Ireland, played in Harare in February, the average first-innings score was around 262. Two out of the three games were won by chasing teams. The captain who wins the toss would want to bowl first as batting could get easier in the second innings.
Predicted Playing 11s
Sri Lanka (SL)
Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Milan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.
Zimbabwe (ZIM)
Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine (C), Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande (WK), Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu.
