 As is often the case, the change in format, could just bring a change in fortunes
for one team. New Zealand, who were swamped aside in the test matches,
will look heavenward in the hopes that the T20Is will get them a better of the
results, especially given that the Kiwis are a side which consist of players suitable
for the format.
Click for Live Score Card of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand
As if it was not already obvious, spin will play a decent role in the T20I
series, which sees the first game played at the R.Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
The two squads give an ample reflection to that effect, as New Zealand has Jeetan
Patel and Nathan McCullum to support Daniel Vettori in their efforts.
Sri Lanka, on their part, has named a side that is so full of spin bowlers,
that they would be hard spoilt for choices. The side consists of four frontline
spinners, apart from Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who
can both, roll their arms over, and that should be the basis of both the sides'
attacks.
Jayasuriya's return will strengthen an opening order, which has been conspicuous
of the lack of good starts. However, he has been out of form since the start
of the Indian Premier League earlier this year, and would know that at
40, he would be under the scanner to prove his mettle. Dilshan, on the other
hand, will look to ensure that he continues with the rich vein of form, and
punish the Kiwi bowlers at the start.
Despite possessing the galaxy of spinners, the Lankans are not without their
battery of pace bowlers in Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera and Thilan
Thushara, the last two of whom have redefined how bowling happens in a spin-friendly
country of Sri Lanka.
The tourists will be dependent on their front line batsmen. With Martin
Guptill to play the role of an adhesive who sticks around till the end without
spoiling the run-rate, the other batsmen will need to be a lot more aggressive
and look to get going against the Lankan bowling before the spinners come into
the attack. Jesse Ryder may need a promotion up the order, with a reasonable
chance of Brendon McCullum having to open the innings.
With the in-form Ross Taylor at four, one gets the sense that Jacob
Oram will be needed to bat up at five or six and expected to perform a role.
Nathan McCullum should be a shoo-in for the lower order berth, despite having
missed out on the Mini World Cup squad, and he will look to do his best to prove
that the selectors had made a mistake.
The biggest news for the Kiwis would, in all probabilities, be the return of
Shane Bond. Bond had been away from international cricket because of
his links with the ICL, but now the best bowler in New Zealand is back and will
look to recapture the magic that had seen him become the best!
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