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Sri Lanka are a "terrific" team, one of the most "well-balanced" in the Cricket World Cup, starting February 14, says Rahul Dravid.
"It's a terrific squad, it's a really well-balanced squad. They've got some really experienced batsmen. They've got the likes of (Kumar) Sangakkara, (Mahela) Jayawardene and (Tillakaratne) Dilshan upfront with that experience with the bat.
"Even with the ball they have a good blend of some really good spinners, someone like a Rangana Herath, Sachitra Senanayake as well. Some good fast bowlers as well," Dravid said on Contenders, a special World Cup build-up show on ESPNcricinfo.
Sri Lanka, who won the ICC’s 50-over showpiece trophy in 1996, may not be front-runners to win the Cup this time around, but Dravid says the fact that they are a very close-knit unit gives them the edge.
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"I think they're a very close-knit unit, a good tight unit, and virtually almost everyone will actually practice and train together. It's very rare to find an international team that trains and practices together and lives in the same city.
"So I think in that sense they are generally a very close-knit, good unit. Always very competitive and very, very clear about what their roles are, they understand each other’s games really well, they understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and I think that makes a big difference," the former India captain said.
Sri Lanka have provisionally picked experienced fast bowler Lasith Malinga - "subject to fitness" - in their squad, but his the Islanders will find it tough to handle the death over if the pacer misses out.
Dravid said the fitness of Malinga, who is recovering from an ankle injury, will be key.
"Yes, I think in their line-up and make-up, he's so critical to their side. Because one of the areas where Sri Lanka would struggle would be bowling at the death. As a death bowler, if you remove Malinga from that line-up and you look around, you don't really see. So, for me, even if he's not 100 percent fit, you expect him to play."
Image: Lasith Malinga
Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images