Sri Lanka- Understated champions

Aparna Ravichandran

Sri Lanka is one of those teams which can neither be termed as underdogs nor one that is usually tagged as the favourite to lift the Cup. But they sure have the potential as they proved in 1996, when they became the first side, batting second to lift the trophy.

One of two non-Test playing nations to participate in the first World Cup in 1975, they never stood much chance of making it to the knockout stage. In fact, their first ever World Cup match versus West Indies was such a one-sided affair that it was done and dusted in just 58 overs. Things got a little better in 1979, when they engineered the only win by a non-Test side against a Test playing nation, by defeating India at Old Trafford.

Becoming the eighth nation to be awarded Test status in 1981 did not improve their showing in the following Cup. Their match against Pakistan at Swansea in 1983 broke three cricketing records of the time. Pakistan scored the highest team total ever with 338-5, Sri Lanka scored the maximum ever for a team batting second with 288-9 and the match aggregate of 626 runs, broke the previous record. However, the Lankans lost the game from a relatively comfortable position, prompting their coach, the iconic Sir Garry Sobers to muse, "They played like maniacs. They just lost their heads. I'm puzzled." Their 1987 campaign never even took off and the side was not able to win a single match. Contributions from future stars like Aravinda de Silva and the captain Arjuna Ranatunga furthered their cause slightly in 1992 and the side was able to notch up two victories, but could not progress beyond the first round.

The 1996 World Cup did not get off to an auspicious start either for the Sri Lankans, as a terrorist attack on January 31st 1996 in Colombo killed many innocent civilians. The Australian and West Indian boards thereupon refused to send their teams to the island nation, even after the ICC had determined Sri Lanka safe for play. But as far as the tournament was concerned, the tactic of promoting Sanath Jayasuriya as the opener worked dramatically in the team's favour, as he demolished the opposing bowlers from the onset. In their game against India at Delhi, Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana smashed a cracking 42 off the just first three overs. Similarly, tournament hero Aravinda de Silva peaked at the right time, winning four Man of the Match awards and ending the 1996 tournament in style with a splendid century in the final. Before the final however, statistics were overwhelmingly in Australia's favour. Both teams had played each other 32 times in ODIs, with Australia winning 22, Sri Lanka, 8 and two encounters being abandoned. However, on that fateful day, it was Arjuna Ranatunga who went up to collect the winners' trophy from late Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Australia, however, returned the favour in the 2003 semi-final by beating Sri Lanka in a rain interrupted match. Similarly, Sri Lanka finished second best in the 2007 final despite their stellar bowling performance against Australia in yet another rain-affected World Cup tie. This was the side which had batting stalwarts like present captain Sangakkara, Jayawardene and the explosive Jayasuriya and top class bowlers in Muttiah Muralitharan and genuine pacer Chaminda Vaas. However, they now find themselves in a period of transition, with Jayasuriya and Vaas not being picked for the World Cup 2011, which the nation will co-host.

Muralitharan, retired from Tests since July2010, has continued playing ODIs to provide the necessary bowling support for this edition of the Cup. The pace department also looks safe in the hands of fiery pacer, Lasith Malinga. When it comes to the batting line up, there is ample experience there in the form of vice captain Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and captain Sangakkara. So without the pressure of the favourites tag, Sri Lanka has nothing to lose and everything to play for when the team commence their 2011 campaign against Canada on 20th February.