You might not have ever heard of Wanindu Hasaranga but Australia’s T20 team are certainly not sleeping on the world’s No. 1-ranked bowler in the shortest format, a “street fighter” who idolises Steve Smith.
Adam Zampa certainly knows who Hasaranga is having been replaced by the Sri Lankan leg-spinner at his Indian Premier League franchise for the second stage of last year’s tournament despite the Australian wanting to return to Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Kane Richardson was joking when he suggested his close friend might channel Michael Jordan in seeking out a rivalry with Hasaranga in the five-match Dettol T20I series, but the duel between the pair of wrist-spinners shapes as one of the campaign’s most appealing match-ups.
“No doubt he’s one of the stars of their team,” Richardson, speaking on the Unplayable Podcast, said of Hasaranga. “He’s taken the world game by storm in the last the past 12 months.
“He picked up an IPL deal on the back of ‘Zamps’ pulling out, which is a funny one as well. That’s kind of a side story to it all.
“Zamps always has these little battles, especially in the leg spinning and spinning departments.
“He’s almost like Michael Jordan in the Last Dance (Netflix documentary) when he was always looking for some kind of motivation to like beat someone. That’s what he’s like.
“No doubt he’ll be trying to out-bowl him.”
Australian players thought Zampa, three spots behind Hasaranga on the ICC T20 bowling rankings, should have been named player-of-the-tournament at the T20 World Cup they won in November for his 13 wickets and economy rate of 5.81.
Only Hasaranga, who is also a handy lower-order batter and said last year that Smith was his cricket idol, had more victims than the Australian (playing one extra game), taking 16 wickets and only going at 5.20.
“He’s the guy we’ve been relying on as Sri Lankans,” former Sri Lanka batter Russel Arnold told cricket.com.au. “Quietly, he’s been making it. He’s keeping up to the expectations, or the belief that he’s created about himself.
“He’s got a good attitude and, unlike most Sri Lankans, he’s not timid.
Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head*, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa * unavailable for first three matches
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando
February 11: First T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT
February 13: Second T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT
February 15: Third T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT
February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT
February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT
All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand
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