 The second game of the double header in Trent Bridge will see the Australians
take on Sri Lanka in a group C encounter. This game assumes must-win proportions
for the Aussies, after their heavy loss to West Indies in the first match.
Unfortunately, given that the margin of loss was quite emphatic, Australia will
not only have to beat Sri Lanka but also be careful of the net run-rate situation.
Frankly, Australia did not do too much wrong in the game, but came up against
the force of Chris Gayle. Their batting at the top could have been more
positive, but apart from that, the total of 160 odd did look like a reasonable
one given Australia's relatively strong and varied line-up.
Shane Watson, despite his duck, needs to continue batting at the top
of the order along with the half-century scorer Dave Warner, but if Brad Haddin
is not going to open the inning for the Aussies, then he should be batting lower
down the order. The Hussey brothers - Michael and David - need to be given more
overs to settle down and then play their strokes, because one just gets the
sense that they are Australia's best bet to accelerate, with Haddin's power
hitting assisting them in the final three or four overs.
Australia's bowling lacks a genuine spinner. Had Andrew Symonds been
there, he could have given an off-spinning option, but for now, Cameron White
looks to be their best bet. Having said that, and in full cognizance of White's
lack of spinning capabilities, Sri Lanka may not be the correct opposition to
try out a new spinner whose bowling has left a lot to be desired in the recent
past.
Sri Lanka has problems of its own. Sanath Jayasuriya, once a feared
power-hitter in any form of the game - and more so in the shortest one, has
looked rather subdued ever since the start of the Indian Premier League. The
problem with the Sri Lankan team is that unlike other sides, their list of power-hitters
begins and ends at Jayasuriya despite the class of others like Kumar Sangakkara
and Mahela Jayawardene.
The biggest plus for the Lankans will be their bowling, what with Lasith Malinga,
Muthiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis in their ranks. The battle
between the troika and the Aussie top-order, who wouldn't have played too much
of Mendis either will be an interesting one, and it is rather easy to conclude
that this may turn out to be a game of the equals!
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