COLOMBO: Sri Lanka are past experimenting (for the present) and that means injured Lasith Malinga is a doubtful starter in the World Cup game against Kenya on Tuesday.

It doesn't come as a surprise either listening to the coach Trevor Bayliss views on the subject. He underlined the focus of Kumar Sangakkara's side is on this third game in Group A of the event, the second at the reshaped Khettarama venue. After Saturday night's defeat by Pakistan, it is a case of regrouping and reforming the side for the next two games.

One of the hot topics in the capital during the early stages of this 10th World Cup has been the debilitating back injury Malinga is carrying. It was seen as a crucial factor in the Sri Lanka bowling attack. His penetration is missing and it showed.

What it means is the thinking of the selectors and the team management over the use of Dilhara Fernando instead of Thisara Perera against Pakistan. The debate who will be in the lineup for the Kenya game is seen as a key to the future games, which include Australia at Premadasa next Saturday.

There were also a couple of pertinent observations about the team's performance which were not part of the Sangakkara take on the game where he told the team's supporters "not to panic" over the 11-run defeat which could have been heavier had Pakistan taken their catches and made use of the run out opportunities which littered their innings.

"I think that our defeat by Pakistan should stop the complacency creeping into the team," he ruefully commented. "It means that we cannot take Kenya too lightly and need to focus on areas of the game that need improvement such as the batting powerplay which we didn't use as well as we should have.

"We noticed in last night's game (the tied game between India and England) how it should be used and from that should know how to organise this powerplay better for the sake of the team," he added when commenting on the game in Bangalore.

While he didn't admit that few teams have learnt how to handle the batting powerplay, Bayliss is aware that more thought should be given to how it is approached.

It was argued on Saturday night during Sri Lanka's innings against Pakistan how it should have been used when Sangakkara was batting with Chamara Silva as a way to kickstart the partnership when it became stalled in the first 10 overs. From this view, it is felt that the Sri Lankans now have to organise the use of the powerplay at a stage in the innings where it really counts.

A good example is how it was used in Melbourne during the Angelo Mathews/Malinga partnership with the decision to quantify the five overs at the early stages of their efforts against Australia in a game they crawled out of the grave and went on to win. It is a defeat that has often been blamed on Michael Clarke's captaincy and misreading the game.

The decision by Sri Lanka to switch to the seven batsmen and four bowlers team make up was decided on after the Australian tour and Bayliss and Sangakkara have been firmly convinced it is the make up that suits the side better if they are to make an impact this World Cup.

"We played six/five in Australia and after analysing its uses, it has been thought that in Sri Lanka, the seven/four team is an ideal combination," he confirmed. "So no, we are no going to experiment outside that system. I would rather have five bowlers who can take wickets as we know the surfaces are placid."

It is why the all-rounders, Perera and Mathews are seen as the better option to someone such as Fernando. Although being a game against a struggling Kenyans, he might sneak a place.

Bayliss felt the Premadasa pitch during the game against Pakistan that best he has come across in the four years he has been with the team and the view is that Mathews bowled particularly well under pressure and Muttiah Muralitharan showed exceptional skills under pressure.

Although the coach said that Malinga is available for the Kenya game, there is still that niggling doubt he will not play.

As for Kenya, the have been wearing a glum face since the start of the tournament. The heavy thrashing by New Zealand, followed by the mauling received in Hambantota by Pakistan has left them struggling.

Their skipper, Jimmy Kamande agreed the batting had let the side down in both games. After a steady start against Pakistan, the innings imploded against Shahid Afridi who collected five wickets.

"We know Sri Lanka have advantage and we need to be aware of that as well," he said. "I think the message to our players is to go out and express as well as enjoy ourselves."

The plan is to try and pressure Sri Lanka's batting through the bowling and make inroads in whatever areas they can. Kenya will more than likely try something a little different on this occasion with their bowling although what it is will only emerge during the game.

"Look, we haven't been bowling badly," he said. "What we are hoping to do is put the ball in the right areas and make the most of what opportunities emerge from such situations."

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