- - - -
Mahela Jayawardene (captain), 29. Right-hand bat, right-arm medium-pace bowler. 246 matches. 6,714 runs @ 33.07, 9 centuries, 38 fifties, strike rate 76.07. 122 catches.
Appointed captain in February 2006, Jayawardene is widely credited for helping turnaround Sri Lanka's fortunes in partnership with coach Tom Moody. Proved an innovative and astute strategist. His form was mixed coming into the event but his unbeaten 115 in the semi-final with New Zealand was superb.
- - - -
Russel Arnold. 33. Left-hand bat, right-arm off-break bowler. 179 matches. 3,949 @ 35.57, 1 century, 28 fifties, 72.57. 40 wickets @ 43.47, 3/47, 4.83, 53.92. 48 catches.
Has been in and out of the ODI team since a lean period in 2002/3. Reclaimed his place in the squad just before the World Cup. Hard-working batsman who rotates the strike and runs well between the wickets. Also bowls tidy off breaks and is a sharp fielder. Retires after the final.
- - - -
Marvan Atapattu, 36. Right-hand batsman. 268 matches. 8,529 @ 37.57, 11 centuries, 59 fifties, 67.72. 70 catches.
Vastly experienced top order batsman and former captain who has not featured in the tournament. Adept at working the ball around for singles and two. Fine player of spin. Expected to retire after the World Cup.
- - - -
Malinga Bandara, 27. Right-arm leg-break bowler. 24 matches. 27 wickets @ 32.40, 4/31, 4.86, 40.00.
Bandara has lived in the shadow of Muttiah Muralitharan and the team's second spinner is unlikely to play unless Muralitharan is injured. Bowls relatively quick leg breaks.
- - - -
Tillakaratne Dilshan, 30. Right-hand batsman, right-arm off break bowler, wicketkeeper. 119 matches. 2,295 @ 29.42, 1 century, 9 fifties, 78.67. 41 wickets @ 41.14, 4/29, 4.70, 52.46. 57 catches, 1 stumping.
Sri Lanka's utility player -- middle order batsman, useful off-spinner, electric point fieldsman and reserve wicketkeeper. Has had a quiet World Cup but has chipped in with useful runs.
- - - -
Dilhara Fernando, 27. Right-arm fast bowler. 111 matches. 130 wickets @ 31.74, 4/48, 5.29, 35.99.
Fernando adds a cutting edge to the Sri Lanka attack when on song and is picked as a wicket-taking option. Bowls with genuine pace but can be expensive and has a no-ball problem. Impressive at the death in the win over England though. Will probably again edge out Farveez Maharoof for the final spot in the side.
- - - -
Sanath Jayasuriya, 37. Left-hand batsman, left-arm orthodox bowler. 389 matches. 11,942 @ 33.17, 25 centuries, 63 fifties, 90.73. 292 wickets @ 36.99, best 6/29, economy 4.74, strike rate 46.73. 114 catches.
Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka's most experienced player in his fifth World Cup. Famous for his pinch-hitting exploits in the victorious 1996 campaign.
Remains an explosive opening batsman capable of destroying the best attacks in the world but when he is out early Sri Lanka tend to struggle. His left-arm spin often relied upon in the closing stages of tight matches.
- - - -
Nuwan Kulasekara, 24. Right-arm medium-fast bowler. 19 matches. 10 wickets @ 58.30, 2/19, 4.33, 80.60.
Won the last fast bowling position in the 15-man squad. Inexperienced at international level, but picked because for his lively medium-pace and useful lower order hitting. Will only play if there is an injury.
- - - -
Farveez Maharoof, 22. Right-arm medium-fast bowler, right-hand batsman. 66 matches. 603 runs @ 18.84, 1 fifty, 83.63. 80 wickets @ 25.68, 6/14, 4.77, 32.30.
Maharoof has been groomed for a few years to be Sri Lanka's fast-bowling all-rounder but has featured in only six matches in the World Cup.
- - - -
Lasith Malinga, 23. Right-arm fast bowler. 35 matches. 55 wickets @ 23.40, 4/44, 4.76, 29.47.
Has been one of the standout performers of the tournament with his genuine pace and unusual round-arm action. Became the first man in international cricket to take four in four balls during the Super Eights defeat by South Africa. Then missed three games with an ankle injury but roared back with a majestic opening spell in the semi-final against New Zealand.
- - - -
Muttiah Muralitharan, 35. Right-arm off-break bowler 296 matches. 455 wickets @ 22.58, 7/30, 3.84, 35.27. 117 catches.
Sri Lanka's chief bowling weapon since 1993. Divides world opinion with his unusual bowling action that generates prolific spin from a super-flexible wrist and permanently bent arm. Bowls off breaks, top spinners and a doosra, the disguised leg break.
Incredible career economy rate of 3.84. Took four wickets including three in six balls in semi-final with New Zealand. Is joint second in the list of leading wicket takers at the World Cup. His 23 scalps is second only to Australian Glenn McGrath.
- - - -
Kumar Sangakkara, 29. Left-hand bat, wicketkeeper. 199 matches. 5,772 @ 36.07, 6 centuries, 39 fifties, 74.30. 177 catches, 52 stumpings.
Sangakkara is a pivotal member of the team as batsman, wicketkeeper and vice-captain. Shrewd thinker with a big match temperament, he was the world's highest ODI run scorer in 2006 with 1,333 runs at 44.43. Has failed to really impose himself at this tournament, however.
- - - -
Chamara Silva, 27. Right-hand bat, occasional right-arm leg break bowler. 24 matches. 605 @ 35.58, 1 century, 5 fifties, 72.71.
Made promising start on his debut at the age of 19 with 55 against Australia but dropped from national team following the 2002 England tour after failing to consolidate his place.
Recalled to the side last year and started off the World Cup with three half centuries although has been a little erratic since.
- - - -
Upul Tharanga, 22. Left-hand batsman. 53 matches, 1,708 @ 34.16, 6 centuries, 8 fifties, 73.33.
Tharanga blossomed in 2006 with impressive performances on the tour of England. Ended Sri Lanka's prolonged search for Sanath Jayasuriya's opening partner. Made his debut in 2005 just months after his family home was washed away by the Asian tsunami.
An elegant stroke player with an aggressive approach, he has enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the tournament and hit a confident 73 against New Zealand in the semi-final.
- - - -
Chaminda Vaas, 33. Left-arm fast-medium bowler, Left-hand bat. 299 matches. 383 wickets @ 26.64, 8/19, 4.17, 38.25.
Vaas is easily the leading fast bowler in Sri Lanka's one-day history. A skilful left-arm swing bowler who was a key part of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning team. Trademark delivery is the late-swinging in-dipper. Holds the record for the best bowling figures in ODIs, 8/19 against Zimbabwe in 2002.
Has recently been upstaged by Malinga but is still a threat.
- - - -
Coach: Tom Moody, 41.
Moody, a former all-rounder who won two World Cups with Australia, he became Sri Lanka's head coach in mid-2005 after a stint as the director of cricket at Worcestershire. Contracted until the end of May 2007.
After a difficult start against India in 2005, he won respect for successfully developing the team and the national coaching structure.
© 2024 Rediff.com -