Dhananjaya likely to make debut against Kiwis

Sri Lanka is looking for a different kind of combination when they take on New Zealand in the first of the World T20 Super Eight matches at Pallekale International Stadium on Thursday. Given the conditions, spinner, Akhila Dhananjaya is set to make his international debut at the age of 18.

The hosts have yet to make a call whether to go ahead with their top spinning option Ajantha Mendis, who is nursing a side strain which he picked up against Zimbabwe at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa a week ago.

Whatever the situation may be, Sri Lanka is seriously contemplating playing their new found mystery spinner, Dhananjaya against the Kiwis.

“He’s certainly very close to playing,” said Sri Lanka head coach Graham Ford when he met the media after the practice session at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy this afternoon.

“He was probably going to play against South Africa and then the game got reduced and there was the chance he would’ve been bowling with a wet ball,” Ford explained.

“He’s certainly not here just to carry the drinks,” Ford emphasized.

Dhananjaya was initially spotted by national skipper Mahela Jayawardene, when he was bowling to them at a net session. However, the teenager was not picked by the junior national selectors to represent Sri Lanka in the recently held Youth World Cup in Australia.

Later, Dhananjaya was single-handedly picked by Jayawardene himself for his Wayamba United team and fared well to claim nine wickets in the SLPL.

Ford is very much impressed by this young man and is ready to bank on him.

“I guess everyone labels him as a mystery spinner,” Ford said.

“He’s got a lot of variations with good control. It’s going to take any batsman who hasn’t seen him a bit of time to work out what he does. In this format of the game that’s quite an advantage,” he further added.

Given the choice of coming out to the middle with a pain killing injection, Mendis could still find his name in the playing XI, for the simple reason that Sri Lanka is trying out all options for a different kind of a combination.

The clear indication is to ask Jayawardene to open the innings with T. M. Dilshan and to pave the way for an additional bowler, who could well be a spinner on a brownish track at Pallekale.

At the same time, Sri Lanka is well prepared for a worst possible scenario too. In case Mendis fails to find himself match fit by Thursday, they have got a strong back up.

“With the way he bowled and the ‘X’ factor Mendis brings, it would be a big blow if he doesn’t play,” said Ford.

“In T20 cricket, you want guys who can win matches on their own and he’s one of those guys. We have a number of quality spinners, fortunately. So if Ajantha can’t play we have very capable back-up,” he said.

Sri Lankans have made a request to practice at Pallekale on Wednesday afternoon but they were told to go to Asgiriya Stadium, instead. Apparently, the team is not happy the way the officials have turned their backs on them to their request.

“Ideally we would have liked to have had a session down at Pallekele. I think we’re the only team in the group that hasn’t had a session down there, so that’s a bit of a disadvantage,” said Ford.

In contrast to what Sri Lanka has got, New Zealanders have played two of their first round matches at Pallekele in addition to a few practice sessions early this week.

Ford, usually a less talkative but a hard-working man, says he and his team will try to do their best despite all the obstacles.

“Hopefully there’s a determination and a steeliness that has come into the group. It has been a little tough,” Ford said.

“We’re also the only team likely to play at three different venues. It hasn’t been sort of home advantage all the way. But hopefully the determination comes through and we’re able to play with a lot of character tomorrow,” Ford said.

Both Sri Lanka and New Zealand players have played alongside in the SLPL and IPL and that’s going to give them a certain kind of an edge over certain players. New Zealand skipper, Ross Taylor is not much concerned over this issue.

“You learn a lot off those players, but the flipside is, they know a lot about you too. It’s tit-for-tat when it comes to that,” Taylor said.

“It’s an exciting time. It’s always nice to play the host country when it comes to the World Cup.

“They are going to be a tough opposition, but we have some form players who are doing well at the moment, so it’s time for some of the other players to step up and contribute to a team win,” Taylor added.

According to Taylor, the big made all-rounder, Jacob Oram has been feeding information to the Kiwis after playing in the SLPL.

“He’s been telling us about the local players we might not have heard much of as well,” Taylor said.

Sri Lanka Squad

Mahela Jayawardene (Captain), T. M. Dilshan, Dilshan Munaweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis and Jeevan Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga and Akila Dhananjaya,

New Zealand Squad

Ross Taylor (Captain), Doug Bracewell, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, DAniel Vettori, B.J. Walting and Kane Williamson.

By Daminda Wijesuriya
Source:  Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)