{"id":122654,"date":"2023-10-07T16:17:55","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T16:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=122654"},"modified":"2023-10-07T17:08:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-07T17:08:29","slug":"sri-lankas-prospects-in-cricket-world-cup-by-michael-roberts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/sri-lankas-prospects-in-cricket-world-cup-by-michael-roberts\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka\u2019s Prospects in Cricket World Cup-by Michael Roberts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sri Lanka\u2019s Prospects in Cricket World Cup-by Michael Roberts<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

Source:<\/span><\/strong>Thuppahis<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Madushka Balasuriya\u00a0in ESPNcricinfo,\u00a06 October 2023:\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u201cInjured Theekshana to miss SL\u2019s opener against South Africa\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Head coach Chris Silverwood backs Sri Lanka\u2019s rookie bowlers in the absence of seniors. Sri Lanka will be without\u00a0Maheesh Theekshana<\/a>\u00a0for their World Cup opener against South Africa, head coach\u00a0Chris Silverwood<\/a>\u00a0has confirmed on the eve of the game, with the spinner not yet fully recovered from the\u00a0hamstring tear<\/a>\u00a0he suffered in the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka, however, will have the services of both Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"elanka\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Silverwood, the coach<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTheekshana is still recovering from a hamstring injury, so he won\u2019t be available for this game,\u201d Silverwood said. \u201cBut we expect him to be available very soon. The rest of them are fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"elanka\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

KANDY, SRI LANKA \u2013 AUGUST 31: Maheesh Theekshana of Sri Lanka (L) and Matheesha Pathirana of Sri Lanka celebrates taking the wicket of Mustafizur Rahman of Banladesh during the Asia Cup Group B match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on August 31, 2023 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav\/Getty<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Images)<\/span><\/p>\n

Theekshana\u2019s absence, along with that of Wanindu Hasaranga, who was ruled out of the tournament entirely with a hamstring injury, means that the spin-bowling burden will be shouldered by allrounders Dhananjaya de Silva and\u00a0Dunith Wellalage<\/a>, as well as legspinner\u00a0Dushan Hemantha<\/a>, should he be included in the playing XI.<\/span><\/div>\n
Of those three, left-arm spinner Wellalage, 20, has most caught the eye, particularly following his nearly match-winning exploits against India in the Asia Cup. Silverwood though was keen to keep a lid on expectations.<\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cDunith has shown us what a good young cricketer he is,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s got an old head on young shoulders and I think he\u2019s played his cricket with maturity so far. I think he\u2019s shown his worth with bat and ball and he\u2019s a good young fielder as well.<\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re not going to put any more pressure on him than that, so for me he goes out and he plays his way. He knows his role in the team and he\u2019s very happy with that. So, for me it\u2019s about not putting pressure on these guys, it\u2019s about taking pressure off them and I want him to go out and enjoy himself and show the rest of the world how good he is and if we can do that and give him that freedom, I think we\u2019ll see the best of him.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
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Dhoni\u2019s view doesn\u2019t bother me\u2019 \u2013 Silverwood keen to give Pathirana as many chances as possible<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Wellalage aside, Sri Lanka\u2019s bowling stocks are full of young talent. Theekshana and\u00a0Dilshan Madushanka<\/a>\u00a0are both 23, while\u00a0Matheesha Pathirana<\/a>\u00a0is 20. Pathirana, with his slingy action reminiscent of Lasith Malinga, had made waves in school cricket before getting his big break in the IPL \u2013 even before he had debuted for Sri Lanka \u2013 under the guidance of none other than MS Dhoni.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"elanka\"<\/a><\/p>\n