Sri Lanka the fighters

Sri Lanka ended losing the triangular CUB one-day finals series to the Australian side 2-1, but not after a bit more of the fight typical of the Sri Lankans shown in this series.  Although the Australians were well deserved victors although not being a class above but by being the most consistent, Sri Lanka can return home with their heads held high.

Tonight however they just couldn't do it, with a low total to chase impeded by some excellent early Australian bowling early on lead by Clint McKay with a fiver wicket haul.  But after the dark couple of months, with Kumar Sangakkara the erudite leader stepping down from the captaincy because of political interference and then Tillkeratne Dilshan stepping into the breach, with a baptism of fire soon enough against Australia at home.  Dilshan unfortunately not only suffered through his batting but also through not winning a series as captain.  Hence Mahela Jaywardene took over the reigns.  And immediately showed why he was earmarked by Ranatunga Sri Lankas only world cup winning captain as a future SL captain.

He has shown calmness and authority holding the captaincy and has been able to get the best out of his players.  Dilshan with a hundred in the finals series is also looking back to the cracking form that made him once the most watchable batsman in cricket.  It is amazing how Sri Lanka as a country has the orthodoxy and brilliantly classical and technical such as Jaywardene, Sangakkarra, Attapatu, De Silva with the unorthodox and unpredictable with Malinga, Mendis, Murala and Jayasuria for starters.  It is this combination of both extremes that make Sri Lanka one of the most watchable teams in the world and perhaps also explain why they've been very successful especially in the limited forms of the game (WC 1996 winners, SF 2003, Finalists 2007 & 2011 and Twenty20 finalists).  This also makes it a shame that they are departing, because besides the amazing run chase from India they have been an entertaining and admirable side to watch, they can certainly leave with a real excitement for the future.