“Don’t think we have that at the moment” – Aravinda de Silva says Sri Lanka no longer play attacking cricket

Former Sri Lankan talismanic batter Aravinda de Silva reckons the current Sri Lanka team no longer plays attacking cricket. Sri Lanka in the 1990s and early 2000s used to take the bulls by its horns and team produced positive results, including the 1996 World Cup victory under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga. 

The country produced legendary players like Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Chaminda Vaas in the past, who all savored great success at the top level. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka recently stunned India by 2-0 in the three-match ODI series. Sri Lanka won the second ODI by 32 runs whereas they won the third game by 110 runs as the hosts came up with a collective show.

“That was Sri Lanka playing like no other side has done in history,” Aravinda de Silva said while talking to inews.co.uk. “We had an identity, people knew the way that Sri Lankan cricketers played the game and teams wanted to emulate that. I don’t think we have that at the moment.”

“I’m enjoying the way that England are playing their cricket at the moment. They’re playing very, very attacking cricket – whether they’re bowling or batting, England are taking a really positive approach and it’s paying off. Winning in England is hard. But it’s certainly not impossible,” he added.

There is no doubt that Sri Lankan cricket has been on the decline since the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Lasith Malinga have retired.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka won their solitary Test series in England back in 2014. Dimuth Karunaratne-led will take on England in a three-match series, beginning 21 August.