The former batting great believes the current Sri Lankan side go into the World Cup with better chances of winning the title than their champion 1996 team.
COLOMBO: Former batting great Aravinda de Silva believes the current Sri Lankan side go into the World Cup with better chances of winning the title than their champion 1996 team.
"I honestly feel this side have a better chance than we had in 1996. When you compare the eras, I feel this team has got a better combination. We didn't have experience in 1996, which this team has," de Silva said.
Arjuna Ranatunga's Sri Lankans stunned the world in 1996 when they won the Cup in the sub-continent after being considered underdogs, with de Silva scoring a match-winning century in the final against Australia.
Sri Lanka are in Group B with former champions India, Bangladesh and first-timers Bermuda, with the top two sides advancing to the next round of the Caribbean extravaganza.
"The bowling looks good. The batting has depth and fielding looks sharp. Things are in favour of us and if we don't win this time, then it'll take some time to do it. My money is on Sri Lanka," he said.
"The conditions will suit our players and the combination we are going in with looks good. It's the most experienced bowling outfit in the world and it has got variations which we lacked in 1996."
De Silva said the presence of veteran batsmen Sanath Jayasuirya and Marvan Atapattu, and bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas made Sri Lanka a formidable outfit.
"In batting, Sanath will be the key. He's a dangerous player," said de Silva, who figured in five World Cups and is only the fourth batsman to score a century in the final.
"Murali is a world-class performer and a lot of people under-rate Vaas. He's a quiet achiever and played a vital role in the last World Cup.
"The only issue with this team is its middle-order batting, but Marvan's presence should sort things out. He brings experience and should be able to bat according to the situation."
De Silva said Australia would find it difficult to retain the title, as they had several weak links.
"Australia are an ageing side," said de Silva, who quit the game after the 2003 World Cup as Sri Lanka's top scorer in both Tests (6,361 runs) and one-day internationals (9,284).
"There's pressure on most of their players. Their bowling is questionable and it is not what it used to be. McGrath can probably contain, but the traditional bounce won't be there in the Caribbean. Brett Lee can provide a bit of variation, but the rest of the bowling looks very average. Even scores of 275 or 280 can be chased against the Aussies."
Australia recently suffered their worst one-day run in a decade as they lost five successive matches, two against England in a home tri-series final and three in New Zealand.
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