“Shocking Revelation: Sri Lanka Captain’s Secret Struggles! Will He Bounce Back?”
“Srilanka: Sri Lanka Captain’s Secret Struggles! Will He Bounce Back?” Ever since Dasun Shanaka assumed the role of Sri Lanka’s white-ball captaincy, there has been a noticeable improvement for the 1996 ODI World Cup champions. He successfully led the team to victory in the Asia Cup 2022 and is currently striving to motivate a relatively weaker team to defend their title this year. However, there have been concerns regarding his personal batting performance.
In the current year, Shanaka’s batting average over 14 innings stands at 18.58. While his strike rate of 90.65 is respectable, it’s important to note that he usually bats at the No. 6 or 7 position. Naturally, he is eager to enhance his batting performance. Dhananjay de Silva, who occupied the No. 6 spot in this year’s Asia Cup, boasts an average of 26 at that particular position, albeit with a strike rate of 74.93. Sri Lanka’s coach, Chris Silverwood, has emphasized that the coaching staff is diligently working with Shanaka to help him regain his best form. Silverwood, an experienced coach, believes that both Shanaka and Dhananjay will play pivotal roles as finishers, reigniting Sri Lanka’s past glory.
“Dasun is putting in a tremendous amount of effort at the moment, as he always does. We’re working closely with him to unlock his full batting potential. We firmly believe that at No. 7, he can make a substantial contribution and bolster our strong start. We find ourselves in positions where we can launch, and it would be fantastic to witness Dasun dismantle the opposition and guide us beyond the 300-run mark,” Silverwood remarked on the eve of Sri Lanka’s Super Four match against Bangladesh.
“With both Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka slated for Nos. 6 and 7, we’re looking to harness their firepower. It’s not solely about survival; it’s about playing to their strengths and executing a clear plan. Dhananjaya has, in the past, excelled in rescuing us from difficult situations and steering us to defendable scores.”
Silverwood also lauded Bangladesh’s formidable bowling attack, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning to counter their ‘strong’ and ‘precise’ fast bowlers.
“I must commend Bangladesh for having a highly potent bowling unit. Based on what I’ve witnessed in this tournament so far, I’ve been thoroughly impressed, particularly by their fast bowlers. They possess size, strength, accuracy, and the ability to generate movement. It’s imperative that we prepare diligently and ensure every batsman on our side has a well-thought-out strategy for facing each bowler,” Silverwood emphasized.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to take on Bangladesh at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, 09 September.
