Team watch: Sri Lanka - Balanced and dangerous

Sri Lanka have an enviable record in the World Cup. After they won the title in 1996, when they co-hosted the event with India and Pakistan, the Islanders have finished runners-up twice (in 2007 and 2011) and reached the semifinals in 2003.
For long, Sri Lanka were the whipping boys of world cricket, till Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana changed the way one-day cricket was played.That was the beginning of a new chapter in Sri Lankan cricket, and they went on to become a force to reckon with in world cricket.
But like all sub-continent teams, they have also carried the tag of 'tigers at home, lambs abroad'. While they still remain one of the toughest teams to beat at home, their overseas record is not so good.
The current Sri Lankan team is one of the most balanced sides in the tournament and though the World Cup is being played in Australia and New Zealand, this is a mix of experienced and talented players who can excel in those conditions.
Now playing a seven-match ODI series against New Zealand in the build-up to the mega event, the Islanders have shown they are slowly coming to terms with the conditions there. They lost the series 2-4 but some of their top guys have hit form both with bat and ball. Tilakratne Dilshan is in ominous form, hitting two big hundreds and one 80-plus score in five innings. Kumar Sangakkara has one hundred and two 75-plus scores, Mahela Jayawardene has one 90-plus score and starts in all other innings.
Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Dushmantha Chameera and Thisara Perera were all among wickets in this series which is a good sign. Experienced spinner Rangana Herath, who returned home due to family issues, will be back for the World Cup and so will be their main strike bowler Lasith Malinga, who is currently nursing an injury, to add more firepower to the attack.
Some senior members of the team will play in their last World Cup and would be keen to go all the way.