Sri Lanka ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Tournament Preview & Guide

**Key Match:**Australia v Sri Lanka, March 8, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Both Sri Lanka and Australia will have one eye on the quarter-final when they meet at thehistoric Sydney Cricket Ground in this day-night encounter. For both sides this will be the last league encounter against a fellow Test playing nation, and the result could be instrumental in deciding what path each will follow if they qualify for the knockouts.

These sides have met nine times across six editions of the World Cup, with their 2011 encounter washed out when the match was intriguingly poised, with Sri Lanka 146 for 3 in 32.5 overs.

Sri Lanka has won two of the other eight encounters. While the first was on account of a walkover from Australia in 1996, the second –a seven-wicket win - came in the final in Lahore in the same edition.

However, Australia eventually got its revenge in 2007 with a 53-run victory in the final in Bridgetown.

Scott Styris’s Prediction:Sri Lanka: Semi-Final
“Sri Lanka have a very dominant recent history at World Cups and I'm backing this ability to perform under pressure. They will need to rely on the success of five players if they're to reach the semis. Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Dilshan, Mathews and Malinga are all World Class. A semi Final appearance would signify a terrific tournament.”

Quotes:
“In Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan we have senior players determined to go out on a high and players who have the same quality and command the same respect as men like Arjuna and Aravinda did in 1996.When you win a World Cup you do it for your country, for your team-mates and then for yourself, in that order. I have faith this group of players can achieve the dream again and I hope they have that faith too.” - Muttiah Muralitharan

Squad:
Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake.

Fixtures:
February 14: v New Zealand, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
February 22: v Afghanistan, University Oval, Dunedin
February 26: v Bangladesh, MCG, Melbourne
March 1: v England, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
March 8: v Australia, SCG, Sydney
March 11: v Scotland, Bellerive Oval, Hobart