MUTTIAH MURALIDARAN: A great run-chase

Sri Lanka’s next match is not until next Sunday against Australia, an encounter that is shaping up to be the one that will decide which of the two teams will finish second in the pool.

Mathews’ men obviously want to get that spot as the higher they finish, the more likely they are to face a weaker team from the other pool in the quarter-final.

But despite that, I would not try to rush Herath back, either for that match or for the clash with Scotland three days later.

An injury like the one he has picked up to his spinning finger needs time to heal so I would allow him the maximum time to recover, safe in the knowledge Sri Lanka’s quarter-final is not for another two-and-a-half weeks, on 18 March, and is at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a venue the side has enjoyed playing at over the years.

As it is, Senanayake’s inclusion in place of Herath would add some hitting power down the order, another reason to opt for the selection of the extra bowler.

The team now has a full week to rest up and prepare for the match against Australia while, for Michael Clarke’s side, it will be a third game in nine days after match-ups with New Zealand in Auckland and Afghanistan in Perth, two venues as far apart as it is possible to get in this World Cup.

But do not expect Australia to be tired. It will be quite the opposite, in fact, as they will be relishing the chance to play a series of matches in quick succession after two weeks without a game. And they will be out to prove a point after being beaten by Brendon McCullum’s team at Eden Park.

Having said that, Sri Lanka have nothing to fear. The batsmen have been brilliant, and even allowing for the fact that in the past two matches, against Bangladesh and England, only three of them have actually got the crease, I do not see that as a problem.

The likes of Jayawardena and Mathews have scored runs already in the tournament and they will be doing everything they need to do to ensure they are ready next time they do have to bat so I have no concerns on that front.

Three wins in a row, two of them with outstanding batting displays, should make the dressing room a good place to be, and once again Sri Lanka is set to be a threat at the business end of a major event.
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