With his three-fer and an undefeated 107, former Sri Lankan captain Aravinda De Silva entered the annals of history as the team captained by Arjuna Ranatunga won its first World Cup in 1996. De Silva’s daring and flashy batting style has earned him the title of greatest entertainer in cricket. However, the veteran has called attention to the fact that the current Sri Lankan team does not employ the same strategy.
Following the retirement of stalwarts like Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakratne Dilshan, and Kumara Sangakkara, the Lanka Lions’ performance on the international scene has declined. De Silva praised the English for continuing their bold and attacking style even after the dejected Lankans arrived in England for the Test series. He bemoaned, too, the way the team is being pursued in opposition to the teams that dominated the covert negotiations.
“That was Sri Lanka’s best performance in history as a team. We had a distinct character since teams aspired to imitate the style that Sri Lankan cricket players played the game.
We don’t seem to have it right now, De Silva told inews.co.uk.
England’s current cricket style is one that I find enjoyable. England is adopting a highly optimistic approach and it is paying off as they play extremely attacking cricket, whether they are batting or bowling. It’s difficult to win in England. However, he clarified that it’s not insurmountable.
The island nation aimed for a comeback in the USA and the Caribbean after being eliminated from the World Cup 2023 league rounds. When they arrived at Long Island for the T20 World Cup in 2024, they received the same treatment as before. They were once more shown the door in the group stages after losing to South Africa and Bangladesh.
It’s important to remember that during their 2014 tour, the squad won one Test in England. The next tour took place in 2016, however it ended in a 2-0 defeat for the visitors. Additionally, England has the advantage after winning seven of the eight Test matches between the two countries.
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As a result, on August 21, 2024, at Old Trafford in Manchester, the Lankans will start the first Test as the underdogs.
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