***Official** Sri Lanka v Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

[chaminda_00]

Zoysa has had so many chances that its time to move on. The guy has the skills, but like Dilhara, he just cannot perform at a consistent level.

I hope we have seen the end of Ruchira. Better to blood some young guns now than keep going back to these sort of military medium types.

The problem we will always have until another Malinga type comes around, is all the young seamers are military medium types on the domestic scene. Its one of the reason why players like Kulasekara get selected, atleast he can hold a bat to go with the military medium.

Not sure about the pace of Amarasinghe, but they are saying his fast but his 29yo anyway, so his no spring chicken. Really outside Dilhara, Malinga, Amarasinghe (maybe) only Ganegama (low 130s mainly), Nissanka (though his slowed down since his injuries apparently) and Thurshra (makes Dilhara look like McGarth) are relatively fast. So really there is no one else that really that fast to pick from. We are likely to see a lot more of these military medium pacers for a while.

 

[chaminda_00]

Kulasekera (sp?) was without doubt the most un-penetrable bowler I have ever seen bowl, serious, he was up and down at 75mph. He was probably carrying an injury thought, but he still looked pretty dire tbh.

No injury thats the way he bowls, and the sad fact is there is worse guys interms of penetration who are close to national selection, who are also slower. His better then a lot of guys on both regards.

 

[chaminda_00]

Heres who I'd have for the first ODI:

Sri Lanka XI
1. Tharanga
2. Jayasuriya
3. Warnapura
4. Jayawardene*
5. Silva
6. Dilshan
7. Jayawardene+
8. Maharoof
9. Bandara
10. Fernando
11. Malinga

Warnapura's domestic stats look pretty impressive and his bowling seems to be especially underused. Bandara getting some important match time with the absence of Murali.

I would let Dilshan or Tharanga keep and let Jayawardene play with go back to Kanga cricket and learn how to bat FFS.

Also Lokuarachchi a good chance at the spinner spot if Jayawardene plays. That way you can bat him at 9, you can kind of hide him that way. Actually 10, Malinga batting pretty well these days.

 

[Lostman]

didnt Ganegama play in last VB series against Australia?

 

[shehanwije]

I would let Dilshan or Tharanga keep and let Jayawardene play with go back to Kanga cricket and learn how to bat FFS.

Also Lokuarachchi a good chance at the spinner spot if Jayawardene plays. That way you can bat him at 9, you can kind of hide him that way. Actually 10, Malinga batting pretty well these days.

Playing a rookie like Warnapura at 3 is a danger as he may get bogged down...better to have Mahela at 3.

The most important aspect of picking guys (around age 20 or so) at this level is to ensure that they have the correct temperament. Sure, it would be good to have young pacies bowling at 140+ in the wings - but I think that if we pick 3 young guys who have a good temperament, can swing the ball and can keep it in the high 120's at this young age, then 1 of them may come good in 3-4 years. The problem that we have had over the years is that we have picked talented young guys without the required discpline or temperament (eg Zoysa, Dilhara) and they find it hard to succeed on a consistent basis.

Malinga is doing well bcos he is relaxed and has a good temperament - to go with his obviously good bowling skills.

We will need good 5 pacies for the Australian tour in Nov. At this stage, Vaas,Malinga, Maharoof fill 3 places. Dilahara may get the other spot.

 

[JASON]

didnt Ganegama play in last VB series against Australia?

He did , and its my recollection that he did get a lot of stick in the few overs he bowled.. so I personally wouldn't be jumping about calling for his inclusion as a priority...

 

[JASON]

Playing a rookie like Warnapura at 3 is a danger as he may get bogged down...better to have Mahela at 3.

The most important aspect of picking guys (around age 20 or so) at this level is to ensure that they have the correct temperament. Sure, it would be good to have young pacies bowling at 140+ in the wings - but I think that if we pick 3 young guys who have a good temperament, can swing the ball and can keep it in the high 120's at this young age, then 1 of them may come good in 3-4 years. The problem that we have had over the years is that we have picked talented young guys without the required discpline or temperament (eg Zoysa, Dilhara) and they find it hard to succeed on a consistent basis.

Malinga is doing well bcos he is relaxed and has a good temperament - to go with his obviously good bowling skills.

We will need good 5 pacies for the Australian tour in Nov. At this stage, Vaas,Malinga, Maharoof fill 3 places. Dilahara may get the other spot.

Maharoof sure to get clobbered in Australian conditions if he came anywhere near playing Tests and even in ODIs...I remember the NZ ODIs where he was struggling...

He struggles outside the sub continent and IIRC he went away before the last VB series because the selectors were scared to play him in Australia, after he had already had a poor series in NZ just prior to that.

I seriously think Zoysa can do better than Maharoof in Australian conditions definitely in ODIs and even Tests..but Kulasekera, Ruchira Perera are absolute waste ...

Ruchira Perera could be a last gasp option if no one else available for ODIs in Australia, but definitely not Tests.

My personal view is Zoysa is better than Kulasekera or Maharoof.

Kulsekera, Maharoof and the likes will get clobbered in Australia this Summer...

They really need to pick some New guys....May be even some talented school boy fast bowlers... perhaps first trialling them against Bangladesh in the coming Test series in July or August against Bang IIRC...

I would therefore pick (for the Australian series) , apart from Vaas and Malinga, Dilhara , Zoysa and Ruchira Perera.

 

[JASON]

Heres who I'd have for the first ODI:

Sri Lanka XI
1. Tharanga
2. Jayasuriya
3. Warnapura
4. Jayawardene*
5. Silva
6. Dilshan
7. Jayawardene+
8. Maharoof
9. Bandara
10. Fernando
11. Malinga

Warnapura's domestic stats look pretty impressive and his bowling seems to be especially underused. Bandara getting some important match time with the absence of Murali.

Even though Tharanga or Dilshan can keep, I suspect Jayawardene has secured the keeping job for this series.
I agree with your squad except for Bandara. I think the selectors need to seriously consider Lokuaaratchchi in the SL ODI Team given he is a pretty good spinner and a decent batsman . I think unfortunately staying around the reserve benches has done too much damage to Bandara's bowling as was seen quite clearly when he did play against Australia. Given Lokuaaratchchi's versatility and younger age, I would be tempted to play him more than Bandara.

 

[chaminda_00]

Playing a rookie like Warnapura at 3 is a danger as he may get bogged down...better to have Mahela at 3.

The thing is Warnapura is a seasoned pro, the guys in his late 20s, i would have no issues with him at 3. I think its a better option at 3, mainly with Tests in mind. If we don't want Sangakkara batting at three and keeping , we need to find someone else to bat at three and he is the perfect option. Also he is seen as potential opener once Jayasuriya retires, so he need to get used to facing the new ball at this level. If he was some 20 yo up start, like Kapugedura yeah hide him down the order. But really his our Hussey/Hodge type players and they didn't get hidden down the order did they?

 

[Prince EWS]

But really his our Hussey/Hodge type players and they didn't get hidden down the order did they?

Well, yes he did, actually...

 

[Prince EWS]

And while still on Sri Lankan batsmen, what sort of rate does Vandort actually score at in domestic one day cricket? Few will forget that really slow innings he played in Australia in ODI debut.. but he does average over 40 in List A cricket which is very impressive, especially given the fact that most Sri Lankan batsmen tend to have low averages in domestic cricket for one reason or another. Is his average so high because he acts as a genuine anchor and strikes at around 50 in domestic cricket, or is he genuinely dominant?

 

[chaminda_00]

The most important aspect of picking guys (around age 20 or so) at this level is to ensure that they have the correct temperament. Sure, it would be good to have young pacies bowling at 140+ in the wings - but I think that if we pick 3 young guys who have a good temperament, can swing the ball and can keep it in the high 120's at this young age, then 1 of them may come good in 3-4 years. The problem that we have had over the years is that we have picked talented young guys without the required discpline or temperament (eg Zoysa, Dilhara) and they find it hard to succeed on a consistent basis.

Malinga is doing well bcos he is relaxed and has a good temperament - to go with his obviously good bowling skills.

We will need good 5 pacies for the Australian tour in Nov. At this stage, Vaas,Malinga, Maharoof fill 3 places. Dilahara may get the other spot.

Maharoof sure to get clobbered in Australian conditions if he came anywhere near playing Tests and even in ODIs...I remember the NZ ODIs where he was struggling...

He struggles outside the sub continent and IIRC he went away before the last VB series because the selectors were scared to play him in Australia, after he had already had a poor series in NZ just prior to that.

I seriously think Zoysa can do better than Maharoof in Australian conditions definitely in ODIs and even Tests..but Kulasekera, Ruchira Perera are absolute waste ...

Ruchira Perera could be a last gasp option if no one else available for ODIs in Australia, but definitely not Tests.

My personal view is Zoysa is better than Kulasekera or Maharoof.

Kulsekera, Maharoof and the likes will get clobbered in Australia this Summer...

They really need to pick some New guys....May be even some talented school boy fast bowlers... perhaps first trialling them against Bangladesh in the coming Test series in July or August against Bang IIRC...

I would therefore pick (for the Australian series) , apart from Vaas and Malinga, Dilhara , Zoysa and Ruchira Perera.

I think the name we all seem to be forgotting is Amersinghe. Clearly jugging by the selectors comments and the fact that he was groomed in the A side for the last 6 to 12 months, his seen as someone who will take one of those five positions. His rise does seem similar to Malinga interms of the A team. Played continually for six month period without really setting the world on fire and once they tired all other more experienced options they threw him in the deep end. I reckon he will be one of the five seamers going to Australia.

Maharoof will make th squad as the all rounder option regardless of his cannon flodder liability. Angelo Mathews is probably the only one that can put pressure on him for a spot in the squad, but it would be a poor move to blood him so early. His struggling to make the Colts 1st XI, as it is.

Malinga and Vaas have the other two spots cemented. So its really just one spot up for graps. Zoysa i go agree 'could' do better then Maharoof, but simple fact is he has to perform better at domestic level to be considered IMO, you can't live on past performances all your career or rely on the inabilities of other bowlers to get a spot in the squad. You have to step up and perform yourself.

So unless the likes Akalanka Ganegama, Sujeewa de Silva, Tharanga Lak(s)hitha, Dammika Prasad, Chaminda Vidanapathirana or Shalika Karunanayake go something special in the next couple months, Dilhara Fernando would get the 5th spot.

 

[chaminda_00]

Well, yes he did, actually...

He opened in his Test Debut, if your taking ODIs there wasn't really any other spots in the side.

 

[Prince EWS]

He opened in his Test Debut, if your taking ODIs there wasn't really any other spots in the side.

Considering the subject was ODIs, the reasoning for not batting #3 stated by whoever said it was a purely ODI-based one (getting bogged down), I think it's fair to say I was talking about ODIs, yeah. Whether or not there were other reasons for you, you example was a poor one.

 

[chaminda_00]

And while still on Sri Lankan batsmen, what sort of rate does Vandort actually score at in domestic one day cricket? Few will forget that really slow innings he played in Australia in ODI debut.. but he does average over 40 in List A cricket which is very impressive, especially given the fact that most Sri Lankan batsmen tend to have low averages in domestic cricket for one reason or another. Is his average so high because he acts as a genuine anchor and strikes at around 50 in domestic cricket, or is he genuinely dominant?

Last season his s/r was 54.43 in ODs, but he had a poor season. The season before he had a s/r of 70.83, the season before 69.98. So yeah he does put down anchor, as well as being a minnow bashers in ODs. In his defense though his always had attacking batsmen at the other end for Colombo CC i.e Muburak, Kapugedera (last two seasons), Lanka De Silva, Warnapura and Suresh Perera before that. So its really the role his played in the side, has been the anchor. Also these days his become more of middle order batsmen, so if he does come back into the national side it will be in the middle order most likely.

 

[shehanwije]

like Kapugedura yeah hide him down the order. But really his our Hussey/Hodge type players and they didn't get hidden down the order did they?

Yes, Kapu has a lot of potential...pity they could not find a spot for him in the WC squad. This guy could be the next big thing in SL batting if he gets his mind around the job at hand, as there is no shortage of talent (but like Mahela, there is no point in having 2 shots for every ball if you cant convert good starts to big scores)

Kapu needs to tighten his technique and bide his time in building an innings - he has awesome eye/ball cordination and is strong enough to clear the ropes at the "death situ" in an innings...but keeps getting out generally nibbling the ball early in his innings.

 

[chaminda_00]

Considering the subject was ODIs, the reasoning for not batting #3 stated by whoever said it was a purely ODI-based one (getting bogged down), I think it's fair to say I was talking about ODIs, yeah. Whether or not there were other reasons for you, you example was a poor one.

Hodge was still a good example though

 

[Prince EWS]

Last season his s/r was 54.43 in ODs, but he had a poor season. The season before he had a s/r of 70.83, the season before 69.98. So yeah he does put down anchor, as well as being a minnow bashers in ODs. In his defense though his always had attacking batsmen at the other end for Colombo CC i.e Muburak, Kapugedera (last two seasons), Lanka De Silva, Warnapura and Suresh Perera before that. So its really the role his played in the side, has been the anchor. Also these days his become more of middle order batsmen, so if he does come back into the national side it will be in the middle order most likely.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to put him down for it - simply seeing if his average was inflated by his role which it seems to be.

Does he still open in first class cricket?

 

[Prince EWS]

Hodge was still a good example though

Well, I suppose. However, the fact that Australia do something doesn't automatically make it right, and the fact with Hodge remains that he was horrible when he batted #3 - he started to play well in ODI cricket when moved down to #5. Make of it what you will though.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yeah, I wasn't trying to put him down for it - simply seeing if his average was inflated by his role which it seems to be.

Does he still open in first class cricket?

Back end of last season he swapped to the middle order, as he still had issues with the swing new ball. During the A Series against Bangladeah he batted in the middle order. Colombo had been think about dropping him down to middle for a while, but no stepped up and wanted to role until last season. Muburak and Kapugedera prefered the easy jobs in the middle order, as did Mendis their captain. Their spin bowling all rounder Nisal Randika asked for the spot to push his changes of national selection.