Australia v Sri Lanka | World T20 | Trent Bridge | 8/06/09

*sallu*

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Australia v Sri Lanka, World Twenty20, Group C, Trent Bridge

Fighting for survival

Cricinfo staff

June 7, 2009

Match facts

Monday, June 8
Start time 17.30 local (16.30 GMT)



Big Picture

Sri Lanka's first match of the tournament is the most crucial one for Australia, who must win to stay alive in an event which has barely started. Even then a victory might not be enough after their heavy seven-wicket loss to West Indies, which puts them well behind on net run-rate. On Saturday Ricky Ponting was trying not to think of the consequences, which include the possibility of two weeks of punishment in Leicester, and will rev up his men as they attempt to avoid a fifth Twenty20 international loss in a row.

Chris Gayle stepped up and blew Australia over as they struggled at the start of both innings. A quick opening with bat and ball will be required if they are to tame Sri Lanka; nothing like the horror of giving up two wickets in the first over against West Indies and then spilling 71 runs in the first 30 balls of the chase. Australia were disrupted by the pre-tournament exit of Andrew Symonds, but they can't blame that. Nothing could have stopped Gayle's force.

Sri Lanka enter the event already knowing a victory on Monday will push them through to the next phase. In their warm-up matches they lost to South Africa after beating Bangladesh, but they will need to be more convincing to topple Australia despite the recent struggles of their opponent.


T20 international form guide (last game first)

Australia LLLLW
Sri Lanka LWWLW




Watch out for...

So much rests on the openers in Twenty20 that Sanath Jayasuriya, the grandpa of the tournament at 39, remains as essential to the team's success as he was in the 1996 version of the one-day World Cup. There wasn't much heat from him in the warm-ups, with 1 and 29, but if he fires Sri Lanka could burn bright throughout the tournament.

Mitchell Johnson was Australia's best bowler in the opening game with 2 for 36 and will carry heavy responsibility against Sri Lanka. His side needs instant impact with the ball and his control could be the difference between a realistic and impossible total. With his batting talents on the improve, he may also enter as a useful pinch hitter if the side needs a boost.


Team news

The offspinner Nathan Hauritz is unlikely to be left out again and Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle will come into contention as Australia gave up 172 runs in 15.5 overs. Brett Lee could be the one to make way after giving up 56 runs from four overs.

Australia squad Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

Sri Lanka have some worries after their mixed warm-up form, but if their core of Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Muralitharan and Mendis performs then the headaches will ease.

Sri Lanka squad Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Farveez Maharoof, Jehan Mubarak, Indika de Saram.


Pitch and conditions

Trent Bridge hosted India and Bangladesh on Saturday and there were 335 runs and 13 wickets, so the pitch has something for everyone. The weather is expected to improve with light showers on Monday, but the top temperature will be a chilly 14C.


Stats and Trivia

Brett Lee's figures of 1 for 56 were the most expensive by an Australian in Twenty20, and the 27 runs Chris Gayle took off one of his overs was the fourth-most in the format's history
Australia are in their worst losing streak in Twenty20, with the four-game winless run beating their two consecutive defeats to India in 2007
In the teams' only previous encounter, Australia won by 10 wickets after dismissing Sri Lanka for 101


Quotes

"We were just a bit sloppy. Coming into game we had spoken about making sure we get the first over of each innings right but, as it turned out, we lost two early wickets while batting and gave away a lot off our first over as well."
Ricky Ponting after the defeat at The Oval

"The newcomers to the team bring the X-factor but the senior players have to make all the difference because they have to be the match winners."
Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka's captain
 
Game could be delayed!

250 Sri Lankan protesters outside the ground will not allow the Sri Lankan team into the ground!!!
 
Oxy said:
Game could be delayed!

250 Sri Lankan protesters outside the ground will not allow the Sri Lankan team into the ground!!!

Yeah just heard this on sky sports...im quite surprised the police let them anywhere near the players entrance areas!!
 
Interesting delay. But back to the game, I can't put my money on any team.
 
By how much do Australia have to beat Sri Lanka today? Their NRR is far worse than Pakistan's at the moment so I am guessing around 35-40 runs?
 
sri lanka didnt look too convincing in their warm up matches but as the west indies showed that might not really matter. Malinga, murali and mendis make for a very potent balanced attack.
 
30-40 sounds good but they have to do it no matter what. WI deserve to go through, not OZ but they could prove me wrong today.
 
They argubely have the best bowling line up in Malinga, Murali, Mendis and Kulasekara (whos ranked in the top 3 in ODis i think)
 
*sallu* said:
They argubely have the best bowling line up in Malinga, Murali, Mendis and Kulasekara (whos ranked in the top 3 in ODis i think)

Yeah Kulasekera is actually number 1 right now in ODI's
 
It seems Australia's NRR isn't 'far worse' than Pakistan's as I earlier thought. If anything it is very much identical. So a margin of 25-26 runs for Australia to consider
 
5.10pm We're hearing rumours that Sri Lanka were either unable to get into the ground, or merely late. We're not sure why, but we have our best men at the ground sniffing for news, and you'll be the first to hear
 
*sallu* said:
5.10pm We're hearing rumours that Sri Lanka were either unable to get into the ground, or merely late. We're not sure why, but we have our best men at the ground sniffing for news, and you'll be the first to hear


Well whoever posted that could have checked PP about half an hour for the answer to that!
 
SL bowling first, interesting choice i think SL getting a big target on the board might have been a better option as it wouldve put the aussies under a fair bit of pressure. Ponting says he wouldve batted first too in any case.
 
Sri Lanka won the toss - and will have a bowl
 
Toss news. Ponting tosses, Sangakarra correctly calls heads and Sri Lanka will bowl. Sri Lanka have someone making their debut - I'm afraid I couldn't quite catch his name, and it was spoken at ferocious speed, but we'll have both teams for you in just a couple of seconds.

Now surely it cant be as fast as YK. :D
 
Teams:

Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 David Warner, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Brad Haddin (wk), 6 David Hussey, 7 Mike Hussey, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Nathan Hauritz, 11 Nathan Bracken

Sri Lanka 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Jehan Mubarak, 6 Chamara Silva, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Lasith Malinga
 
This is a important match for my fanatasy team. I have Dilshan, M Hussey and Malinga.
 
Its make or break time for Aussies. They struggled in last T20 WC and are doing same here!
 
Why is the cowlasher playing again? Why do we persist with him?
 
And the cowlasher didn't last long
 
SL without Vaas, Kulsekera, Maharoof, Fernando. I don't know if any of them are in the squad.
Isuru Udana Tillakaratna left arm medium fast making his debut
Angelo Davis Mathews and Malinga the two other pacers
 
Shockingly poor start by Aussies! Problems as usual!
 
intresting move for Sri lanka to use jayasuriya with the new ball.
 
Pointing finding the Gaps to the boundary! Captains knock needed!
 
On a wearing pitch Sri lanka using good tactics of taking the pace of the ball and making Aussies force the pressure and pace.
 
Malinga getting a pasting from pointing here!
 
Malinga bowling fuller now. Alot better!
 
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