Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said he'll back his three spinners to top Australian pace in their crucial World Cup Group A match on Saturday. The 1996 world champions and 2007 runners-up are considering the option of playing Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath to cast a spin web over Ricky Ponting's men on a slow R. Premadasa stadium pitch.
"That's the possibility that we're exploring," said Sangakkara when asked about the possibility of playing three spinners. "I think that's the best way to play Australia. We've got three main spinners and part-time spinners, so we have to make a decision."
Sangakkara hoped his bowlers, also including lethal fast bowler Lasith Malinga, will deliver. "When you have guys like Malinga, Mathews and Murali you expect them to deliver. You look up to your star bowlers and then the responsibility falls onto the support bowlers to do their bit. "We'll try and focus how we share that responsibility and give freedom to guys like Lasith to express themselves," said Sangakkara.