***Official*** Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series 2007-08

[JASON]

Will Gilly be now using the squash ball all the time through the 4th test and the CB series?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

lol!

 

[Prince EWS]

Haha, still bitter Jason, love it.

Yeah I remember that Katich innings in the tri-series final at the Gabba, mate was there, said the crowd were hurling heaps of abuse at Katich to get out already because they were desperate to see Symonds

Dire.

 

[Perm]

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Chanaka Welegedara, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof, Ishara Amerasinghe

FFS why are they going back to Nuwan Kulasekera, finally Thushara and to a lesser extent Zoysa hit some form. Loving the no Muburak in the side though.

Vey glad to see that Jehan Mubarak has been dropped, the guy has done nothing in ODI cricket to deserve selection and it seemed to me as though there was something political behind his continued involvement with the Sri Lankan side. He could feel a bit hard done by though, as he scored the second highest amount of runs in the Inter Provincial Tournament, so he is in pretty decent nick. Most of the batsmen pick themselves, with the only real competition surrounding Dilshan and Kapugedara, as Perera will have been selected as an all-rounder in the Jayasuriya mould, although his List A career has been far from impressive. I thought that young Kaushal Silva may have been given a chance to tour, for experience, but it appears not.

On the bowling side of things the obvious talking point is the exclusion of Malinga Bandara, the young leg-spinner who looked to have some promise back in 2005/2006 IIRC. The few articles I've read are suggesting that it is a silly move to go in with one specialist spinner, especially with quite a few games due to be played at the SCG. It's not as though Bandara is a weakness in the field or with the bat, he's above average in both of these departments, it's his bowling that has let him down - he has just been too expensive as of late. Jayasuriya will probably get through quite a few overs, but six fast bowlers seems excessive for Sri Lanka and I would have been inclined to pick Rangana Herath, not only is he in superb form, but he has plenty of experience behind him. Very pleased that Dilhara Fernando is injured though, his omission will only strengthen Sri Lanka.

My starting XI would look like this.

Sanath Jayasuriya
Upul Tharanga
Kumar Sangakkara
Mahela Jayawardene
Tillekeratne Dilshan
Chamara Silva
Chamara Kapugedara/Dilruwan Perera
Farveez Maharoof
Chaminda Vaas
Lasith Malinga
Muttiah Muralitharan

I'm just not sure whether to play five specialist bowlers, or to depend on Jayasuriya get through an economical ten over spell. AFAIK Dilruwan Pererea mostly opens or bats at #3 but I can't see him getting the chance in this tour unless Tharanga is very poor. I'd like to have Sangakkara and Jayawardene switched around too, but ideally Mahela wouldn't even be in my side

 

[chaminda_00]

With Dilhara not in the squad and no real bowling all rounder outside Maharoof and Vaas I doubt they will play too matches with five bowlers. As you really need the extra all rounder to warrant playing a five bowlers. Kind of makes Zoysa and Thurshara exclusion even more stupid as both have been used as pinch hitters this season, as well as scoring runs down the order. Kulasekera is a handy batsmen, but is more of four day batsmen then one day batsmen.

Dilruwan Perera is the incumbent at the top of order, as he replaced Tharanga in the last ODI against England. His been in decent form with the bat, scoring 94 in the recent FC match batting 3 for Colts. As well as scoring more runs then Tharanga in the two OD tournments this season, marginally though. But it would be tad surprising if he doesn't start ahead of Tharanga. There is atleast one more round of FC before Sri Lanka arrive, so if Tharange score some runs in that match, he might get the nod. Not sure how many tour matches we have before the tournment starts.

Also I dare say if Dilhara was fit they would had picked a 2nd spinner. Be it Bandara or Lokuararchchi.

 

[Captain Cricket]

I agree with Perm's Sri Lankan XI. My Aussie team would be:

Gilchrist (WK)
Hayden
Ponting (C)
Clarke
Symonds
Hussey
Hopes
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
Tait/Johnson

Haddin would also be pushing for a spot in the side.

 

[chaminda_00]

Watson to make a return to the Australian team this tournment. You heard it here first.

*Will also break after two games*

 

[Jono]

Ganguly dropped from India's squad, and Dravid wasn't considered. Raina returns, along with Chawla.

http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/332389.html

I like the selections a lot. Ganguly, Dravid and eventually Sachin (hoping end of this tour) should give the pyjama game away and save themselves for the real stuff.

 

[Perm]

What the ****? Dropping Ganguly, that has to be one of the stupidest decisions in recent times. India want a slick fielding side, obviously, but do they not care for the runs Ganguly has been making?

 

[chaminda_00]

Surprising moves to say the least.

Will Australia do the same and drop Gilchrist, Hayden etc.

 

[Mister Wright]

It is a very exciting and young side. A little surprised Ganguly has been overlooked given his recent good form in Australia. However, I like the look of the squad. Hope they go with RP, Sharma and Sreesanth in the opening game at the 'Gabba. Definitely think they have the squad to give Australia a run.

 

[gettingbetter]

Interesting to see Ganguly get dropped, thought he would be a certain. Probably one of those, 'look to the future' decisions', Raina has been going all right as far as I know in the Indian domestic games, hopefully he goes as well as he did for a short period of time - also gives India a better fielder.

Good to see Chawla retained, hopefully he can get a few games in, more than likely against SL than Australia.

 

[Mister Wright]

Surprising moves to say the least.

Will Australia do the same and drop Gilchrist, Hayden etc.

Doubt Hayden will be dropped, but can see a case for Gilchrist.

 

[chaminda_00]

Doubt Hayden will be dropped, but can see a case for Gilchrist.

Sooner or later Phil Hughes has to be blooded might as well do it this tournment and take him out of Under 19 WC while your at it.

 

[Achtung Baby]

WTF!!!
Ganguly had scores of 51,86 and 0 in the 3 ODI matches he played against australia some 70 days back. The selectors have sowed the seeds of another controversy. I wonder what motivation will Saurav,Dravid and laxman have when they go to Adelaide. Remember these 3 along with sachin were the only ones who have scored runs in this test series.

 

[Mister Wright]

Sooner or later Phil Hughes has to be blooded might as well do it this tournment and take him out of Under 19 WC while your at it.

Haha.

 

[gettingbetter]

Sooner or later Phil Hughes has to be blooded might as well do it this tournment and take him out of Under 19 WC while your at it.

Jah?

The guy has only played 2 List A games and hasn't impressed enough to be even retain his place (could argue otherwise). If Australia did select him, it would a Windies circa 2002-2005 selection e.g. X Marshall.

 

[duffer]

If the purpose was to increase the longevity of Rahul and Sourav's Test careers then I'm all for it.

This will give us a chance to see how guys like Dinesh, Rohit, Raina and Uthappa can handle being key players in internationals. Never seen Praveen either. Looks a very vibrant young team who will give a good account for themselves.

 

[NUFAN]

My 15 man Australian squad.

I've decided to not play Gilly. He's been brilliant, but I think the time is right for Haddin.

I think 3 to 6 has to be Ponting, Clarke, Symonds, Hussey so that just leaves the opening spot and 7 for our all rounder in Hopes and keeper in Haddin. Haddin opening hasn't really performed so that's why I picked him at 7.

The last batting spot I've ended up picking Dave Hussey. He does deserve it, narrowly ahead of Luke Pomersbach. A backup opener may come into calculations too..

1 M Hayden
2 J Hopes
3 R Ponting
4 M Clarke
5 A Symonds
6 M Hussey
7 B Haddin
8 B Hogg
9 B Lee
10 N Bracken
11 S Tait

12 A Voges
13 M Johnson
14 A Noffke
15 D Hussey

Thoughts?

 

[gettingbetter]

If the purpose was to increase the longevity of Rahul and Sourav's Test careers then I'm all for it.

This will give us a chance to see how guys like Dinesh, Rohit, Raina and Uthappa can handle being key players in internationals. Never seen Praveen either. Looks a very vibrant young team who will give a good account for themselves.

The guys you mentioned should atleast be on the fringes with Uthappa being the only certain starter out of those named, I haven't see the Indian squad yet, but I assume atleast 2 out of the other 3 will start. all in all, looks good for India(s)[future].