By Brian Thomas
The bilateral series against both South Africa and Sri Lanka have been closely contested especially in the White ball format on neutral venues. However, on home soil the competition gets lopsided.
This time around everything from how the teams look seems different. Big guns have all taken a back seat. New Faces will walk the green pasture.
The teams kick start the series with 3 one day internationals. In this day and age, the white ball format of T 20 and the 50 over version seem miles apart, when the selectors, break their brains, in getting the correct horse for the correct course.
Our preview for today is the 50 over format, despite the fact that the 22 member squad can bring in new faces on completion of the one-day format. Sri Lanka on one hand seems to be content with their selected 22, whilst the protease will have the Quinton, Miller , Ngidi trio hopefully for the T 20 series.
South Africa, played the Irish in a 3 match series. Sadly mother nature did not approve of the game, hence end result was Match abandoned.
The Irish on their home turf, shell shocked the Proteas with a 47 Runs comprehensive win in the 2nd ODI in Dublin. However, that joy was short-lived for the Dublin lads as the visitors took them to the cleaners by 70 runs after being put into bat. Janneman Malan who opened the batting with Quinton de Kock made 177, in a 225 run opening stand. De Kock made 120. Janneman Malan who opens the batting for the protease will be seen in action at the R. Premadasa stadium come Wednesday. The South Africans are led by Temba Bavuma, a specialist batsman, in his ranks he has Rassi Van Der Dussen , Reza Hendricks and Aiden Markan. All 6 batsmen will be on show. The bowling obviously be spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada , with all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and Keshav Maharaj . Tabaraiz Shamsi is also a part of the strong bowling outfit.
The home team was undone in this format by a second-string Indian outfit 2 games to 1 , but they will look to reverse the past since the new-look outfit is not only growing in stature but also inexperience.
Sri Lanka will most probably play 5 specialist batsmen, 3 All Rounders and 3 specialist Bowlers.
Even though Kushal Janith Perera is back he will warm the bench in all three one-dayers.
The thinking is open with Avishka Fernando and Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal, Banuka Rajapaksha at number 3, vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva at 4 , New kid on the blocks, Charith Asalanka at 5 , at 6 will be skipper Dasun Shanaka followed by all-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne. The 3 specialist bowlers to follow are Dushmantha Chameera , Binura Fernando, whilst the second spinner toss-up will be between Akila Dhananjaya and Ramesh Mendis. Nuwan Pradeep also could be in the playing Eleven.
The wickets at the Premadasa stadium is known for its low bounce, lets hope the curators will come to terms with the ICC prerequisite of an equal opportunity with the ball and bat.
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