Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: 5 things to look forward to

Sri Lanka would be playing their first World Cup game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Bangladesh on Thursday. Even though, Sri Lanka seems to be the favourites to win this encounter, an upset victory for Bangladesh is still on cards, especially given the performance of the island nation against Afghanistan.The Sri Lankans are low in confidence, while Bangladeshis are playing this World Cup with nothing to lose. The pressure on the Lankans to succeed and the carefree attitude of the Bangladeshis might very well prove decisive if Sri Lanka's torrid time in this World Cup perpetuates as was the case in their previous two games.Here are the five things to look forward to in the encounter between Bengal tigers and Lankan lions:

#1 New country and new hopes

The Sri Lankan side has had a horrific time in New Zealand, losing both the Tests they played against New Zealand and winning only 3 ODIs out of 8.

Statistically, Sri Lanka has not done well in the Kiwi land ever in their short history. The men in blue have always found the swing and seam the grounds in New Zealand engender, a tough proposition.

The fortunes, however, have been diametrically antagonistical for Sri Lanka the mainland of Australia, just a few miles away from New Zealand.

The fans would be relieved that they no more need to set their alarm to wake themselves up at 3 AM,but their team would be the most relieved for they have been the best touring side in Australia for some time.

Sri Lanka's first ever series win in Australia came in 2010 and since then they have gone onto play the CB series finals once and managed to square a bilateral ODI series there.

The island nation has been missing that spark that could possibly trigger them to emerge victorious in their campaign and one can only hope that the switch in countries would bring back some of Sri Lanka.

#2 The Melbourne miracle

No venue in the world has brought in such poignant memories to Sri Lanka as the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In 1995, Sri Lanka's best-ever spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing at this venue.

17 years later, the team would flop big time in lasting all five days of the boxing day test match with Mitchel Johnson sending a sundry of Sri Lankan batsmen to the hospital including the big Kahuna, Kumar Sangakkara.

In the face of the horrific memories of the past, the big 'G' is also remembered by Sri Lanka for dishing out one of their fondest overseas memories.

Chasing Australia’s score of 239, the Lankans found themselves 8 down for a little in excess of a hundred runs, but as the hopes slithered into gloominess, Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga concocted the highest 9th wicket partnership to help Sri Lanka clinch victory.

The victory which was dubbed as the "Melbourne Miracle" by the late Tony Greig is bound to give Sri Lanka fresh hopes in this World Cup.

Meanwhile, Thisara Perera would be honing his claws to translate the magic he found back with the bat into his bowling. In 2010, Thisara Perera bowled his best overseas spell at the very venue, picking up a five-wicket haul. Sri Lanka will be hoping that this venue does a miracle to their campaign.

#3 Bangladesh - the wounded tigers

Mushfiqur Rahim, one of Bangladesh's main batsman was said to be injured but later it was learned that it was just a bruise and hence the former captain should be available for the game against Sri Lanka. Even if he plays, it will be interesting to see whether he would keep wickets since the management would not want to compound his injury.

On the other hand, Al-Amin Hossain, one of Bangladesh's bright fast bowling prospects has been sent home for breaching the team curfew. This will be a very big setback for his team, since the fast bowler had great success against the Sri Lankans in the Asia Cup in 2014.

Injuries and player eviction are not the very best way of preparing for a World Cup game, but if the Bangladeshis decide to show their frustration by slaying the Lankans, then that can give them a major boost and grant them an inside chance of measuring up to the next round.

#4 The battle between two twin towers

It is no brainer that Sri Lanka has depended on both Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene since the last decade. But the same amount of dependency is seen with Bangladesh on their own twin towers – Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan.

Though, the Bangladeshi duo are in no way on par with those of Sri Lanka, it must be stated that their influence on Bangladesh cricket is as gargantuan as the influence Sanga and Mahela had on Sri Lanka cricket.

Shakib is a genuine match winner, and if one of Mushfiqur or Shakib can get their bat to talk, then Bangladesh will have a very big chance of sealing the match.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka's formula seems no different, as, if one of Sanga and Mahela can score big, Bangladesh will be left with an uphill task.

So the game is about which twin towers step up and both the twin towers are equally capable of winning the match for their team on their own.

#5 Dilshan\'s chance to be an all-time hero

TM Dilshan is one of the top allrounders in the current era and has been Sri Lanka's go to man in any department. He has opened the batting, opened the bowling and has donned the gloves when needed. He is a rock wall at backward point in the initial overs and at the death he patrols the long on boundary.

If there is one man who can be the entire team, then it is this man.

Dilshan needs 3 more wickets to get a century of wickets and possibly he might be able to clinch that feat in tomorrow's game. With Jeevan Mendis out with a hamstring injury, chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has suggested that Dilshan will have to do more bowling.

Dilshan is also closing on 10,000 ODI runs and if he manages to achieve both – the 10,000-run and 100-wicket milestones, he is destined to go down in the history of the game as one of the finest all-rounders.