***Official*** India in Sri Lanka

[chaminda_00]

There is no run rate pressure in tests, no need to slog either Mendis or Murali even if they bowl in tandem for 2/3rd of the day. (Sehwag,Yuvraj,Raina all perished to premediated attacking moves). Waiting for the occasional loose ball is a good plan.

The reason why India have done well against Murali in the past is due to fact they have attacked him and taken him out of his comfort zone. It the same tactic used by Australia aganst Murali. If India go defensive against Murali, you will be playing right into his hands. He much prefers batsmen holding back and waiting for loose balls, that don't really come. Your much better making to pace with Murali, especially with India's batting line up.

Mendis though has struggled in past when batsmen aren't attacking him and just seeing him out. But the difference I guess is that the Army attack doesn't have anyone else to keep pressure on from the other end.

 

[Arjun]

Indian ODI middle order consists of Yuvraj, Dhoni, Raina. Uthappa, Rohit Sharma. Except for the last one, they've all been around for 3 years and/or 100 ODIs. (Ditto the openers - Sehwag, Gambhir).

Yuvraj is the only veteran among them. He's been quite casual in his initial years, but has improved a lot now. Dhoni is a bit of a veteran, and is batting like a seasoned professional now. Raina was last seen in 2006 where he played no more than 15 ODIs until his recent recall. Rohit Sharma was only in action since the T20 World Cup and became a regular only since Jan/Feb this year, which is as much as only three ODI series. Let's just forget about Uthappa for some time- he was in only to make up the numbers. All of them (except Raina) have played Murali earlier this year.

 

[Migara]

There is no run rate pressure in tests, no need to slog either Mendis or Murali even if they bowl in tandem for 2/3rd of the day. (Sehwag,Yuvraj,Raina all perished to premediated attacking moves). Waiting for the occasional loose ball is a good plan.

May be, but have four maidens bowled at a row at Indian batsmen by two spinners, the next over 90% of the time they'll go for a silly shot.

 

[Arjun]

on the line up,

Option 1
if it's a spin friendly surface then guys like Sehwag and Tendulkar are good bowling options too

They are not good bowling options! That's why they don't last too long out there. Ganguly, though, is a more than useful change seamer, but very underpowered, and would do well as a full-time fifth bowler. His recent IPL form shows he's not a single-skilled player.

Option 2
if it's a batting beauty then it would be hard to justify packing the 11 with one more batsmen, esp with the likes of Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman in the squad. in this case it would be better, if Kumble backs the batsmen to deliver and chooses a specialist bowler in place of a batsman

This is something I've been thinking about for some time. They surely need a fifth arm to take 20 wickets, while this is already a strong batting lineup, so they need to be stretched a little. The problem is that dropping one of Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly (last an all-round option) is a dicey issue. They score runs, though lack of match wins is obvious. Changing your opening combination at the drop of a hat isn't a good idea, least of all with someone who can't bat to make the side, let alone its top order. Kumble's batting is worth a stretch, but this lineup won't be usable unless Irfan and Praveen return to form.

Option 3
if the surface is seamer friendly .... again Sehwag & Tendulkar can roll their arms, if needed

No point just 'rolling arms over', but actually bowling a steady stock of overs. That said, a four-pronged seam attack (Ganguly as fourth) will be useful against the Lankans.

 

[Migara]

Looking at the venues, SSC will be slow and low. Pitch has lost it's venom a long time back. Batsmen will thrive. Kumble might do well there, because he pushes the ball through.

Galle has something for the seamers. Last time English were decimated by Lankan pace bowling at Galle. Pitch offers some lateral movement, with ample swing in the air, and on a slow pitch. Spinners will get turn, and 4th day will be the best day to bat.

P. Sara is Brisbane esque wicket. Lot of bounce, lot of pace and full of runs. Indians are going to like this venue, but unfortunately, it's Murali's home ground as well. So he'll know the wicket end to end better than anybody.

 

[Salamuddin]

I think this test series will be close. SL will find India a tough proposition to deal with IMO.

SL had a more experienced team than India in the Asia Cup but the roles are reversed for the tests. THe Indian top 7 possesses more experience than Sri Lanka's.

I'd be pretty disappointed from an Indian perspective if the team doesn't come away with at the very least a draw in Sri Lanka.

 

[Athlai]

Doesn't Mendis have a better FC average than List A? Should be an indicator he's a danger in both forms IMO.

 

[jeevan]

Yuvraj is the only veteran among them. He's been quite casual in his initial years, but has improved a lot now. Dhoni is a bit of a veteran, and is batting like a seasoned professional now. Raina was last seen in 2006 where he played no more than 15 ODIs until his recent recall. Rohit Sharma was only in action since the T20 World Cup and became a regular only since Jan/Feb this year, which is as much as only three ODI series. Let's just forget about Uthappa for some time- he was in only to make up the numbers. All of them (except Raina) have played Murali earlier this year.

Dhoni has played more ODIs than someone like Gavaskar or Greg Chappell, Been captaining the side for a little less than a year to date. Not a "bit" of a verteran any more.
Raina and Uthappa both made their debuts 3-4 years ago IIRC, ie approximately same time as Kevin Pietersen or Mike Hussey. If they've not been picked for more than 30-40 games then perhaps they are fringe players, not "new" players.

Veterancy of the sort you are talking of is not a highly prized attribute in the present Indian ODI team.

 

[ret]

They are not good bowling options! That's why they don't last too long out there. Ganguly, though, is a more than useful change seamer, but very underpowered, and would do well as a full-time fifth bowler. His recent IPL form shows he's not a single-skilled player.

This is something I've been thinking about for some time. They surely need a fifth arm to take 20 wickets, while this is already a strong batting lineup, so they need to be stretched a little. The problem is that dropping one of Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly (last an all-round option) is a dicey issue. They score runs, though lack of match wins is obvious. Changing your opening combination at the drop of a hat isn't a good idea, least of all with someone who can't bat to make the side, let alone its top order. Kumble's batting is worth a stretch, but this lineup won't be usable unless Irfan and Praveen return to form.

No point just 'rolling arms over', but actually bowling a steady stock of overs. That said, a four-pronged seam attack (Ganguly as fourth) will be useful against the Lankans.

sorry, i don't get what you are talking there^

the post you replied to .... may be i didn't put it nicely

option 1 is for spin friendly surface .... why would Sehwag and Tendulkar not be good bowling options on a spin friendly surface and Ganguly be one on it?

option 2 is for a batting paradise .... and it has Karthik, who has been opening for India, as the opener

option 3 is for a seamer friendly surface .... and since it has 3 specialist pacers, along with Kumble, someone like Sehwag and Tendulkar could roll their arms over, if spin [just in case] is needed from both ends .... and ofc Ganguly can be used too

 

[honestbharani]

Based on one match? Raina, Yuvraj and Sharma played Murali just fine in the previous match - can we then conclude that our young middle-order is great against spin? I'll give you Yuvraj - his career has revealed a weakness against quality spin, more due to temperament IMO. The verdict is still out on Raina and Sharma - the former is supposedly a solid player of spin on the domestic circuit but I've noticed he tries to sweep too often against quality spinners ... and the latter is an unknown quantity at this level as well.

I guess I did jump the gun a bit with that statement, but I am honestly not too excited at the prospects of our young guns against quality spin. They do not seem as gifted as the previous guys who used to come out of India.. I get the feeling they don't have as good a defensive technique as the guys before them.. And no, I don't think Raina is anything to write home against good spinners.. And Murali has become a trifle predictable as a bowler recently too.

 

[SJS]

I guess I did jump the gun a bit with that statement, but I am honestly not too excited at the prospects of our young guns against quality spin. They do not seem as gifted as the previous guys who used to come out of India.. I get the feeling they don't have as good a defensive technique as the guys before them.. And no, I don't think Raina is anything to write home against good spinners.. And Murali has become a trifle predictable as a bowler recently too.

There is far too much "playing to the gallery" by the younger lot.

Mendis may have a ball difficult to pick at this early stage of his career but he doesn't turn it too much off the wicket in either direction. If they were more watchful and not rushing into strokes, let alone playing across the line, they would have survived longer and the better ones would have started reading him, maybe.

I cant imagine, Sachin, Dravid or Laxman, faced with a bowler difficult to read, reacting with the kind of batting we saw from Indian youngsters and, now senior, Yuvraj Singh.

I admire Dhoni for trying to play Mendis sensibly. Even he had problems reading Mendis but he will not try to brazen it out. Thats why he is so different from others - some considerably more talented.

Sehwag too disappointed in this respect but he wasn't playing to the gallery or showing his frustration - he was just being himself - a modern day Gilbert Jessop

 

[adharcric]

I guess I did jump the gun a bit with that statement, but I am honestly not too excited at the prospects of our young guns against quality spin. They do not seem as gifted as the previous guys who used to come out of India.. I get the feeling they don't have as good a defensive technique as the guys before them.. And no, I don't think Raina is anything to write home against good spinners.. And Murali has become a trifle predictable as a bowler recently too.

Well yeah, I'm not that excited either but I haven't written them off yet. Raina and Sharma took the pathetic, flashy, immature approach to playing Mendis (SJS summed it up very well in the previous post). Hopefully they'll get over "playing to the gallery" and buckle down next time as I'm sure they have far better technique against spin than what we saw the other day.

 

[Jono]

Sehwag too disappointed in this respect but he wasn't playing to the gallery or showing his frustration - he was just being himself - a modern day Gilbert Jessop

So true.

 

[chaminda_00]

Sri Lanka Board XII + plus two

Mahela Udawatte, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak (capt), Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Thilina Kandamby, Kaushal Silva (wk), Chanaka Welagedera, Sujeewa Silva, Dammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando
Reserves: Tharanga Paranavitana, Sachithra Senanayake.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decent squad would have liked Paranavitana and Senanayake get a start. Looks like Prassana will start as the 7th batsmen ahead of Chamara Silva. Fernando basically get a chance to improve his fitness ahead of Test. With no Thurshara or Nuwan Kulasekera he should get the 4th bowlers spot. Welagedera the only other realistic option.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sehwag is definitely one of the better players of spin in the world. I haven't seen any spinner trouble him unless he did something stupid or there is something in the track .... I have doubts whether Mendis would have troubled him on a track like that. with the way Sehwag was going in that game, he probably wouldn't have allowed Mendis to settle down

Late response, I know. Seek the moral from the following:

Ramnaresh Sarwan is a very good player of spin and has, in the past, handled Murali with good success and some authority in Sri Lanka when all but Lara crumbled around him. Added to that, I've seen enough of him to know that's he's a very good player of spin. Sarwan looked utterly clueless against Mendis, and IIRC, Chanderpaul wasn't entirely confident either. His prowess against spin and all bowlers is well documented as of late.

so are you implying that Sehwag, one of the best players in the world, has to prove that he can play a relatively new bowler like Mendis with effectiveness .... would you say the same if Mendis had got Lara out

Ouch. What a poor way to start your point, because Sehwag is far from one of the best ODI batsmen in the world.

Regarding Lara, of course I would. Because Lara was a fantastic player of spin, but that doesn't mean that he was never bothered by a spinner. And if he didn't have a chance to prove himself, it would merit the same comment. You can't assume that someone can face a bowler based on a track record against other bowlers. Especially not if those bowlers in the past are nothing like Mendis.

if you have any doubts then read your own siggy and get a hint from that

Aside from Sreesanth being a bit different from a spinner, I've seen enough of Lara to know that he is mortal and he can be dismissed by a bowler. Surprisingly enough, there are also some bowlers who have consistently dismissed him. Sometimes even for less than 100.

 

[ret]

Late response, I know. Seek the moral from the following:

Ramnaresh Sarwan is a very good player of spin and has, in the past, handled Murali with good success and some authority in Sri Lanka when all but Lara crumbled around him. Added to that, I've seen enough of him to know that's he's a very good player of spin. Sarwan looked utterly clueless against Mendis, and IIRC, Chanderpaul wasn't entirely confident either. His prowess against spin and all bowlers is well documented as of late.

I agree but I like to look at things positively .... if Sarwan and C'paul's performances against Murali and Mendis vary then so be it, why should I be using them as a benchmark .... I have Dhoni, who handled Mendis well in that game, to judge things and conclude that Sehwag would have done equally well

Ouch. What a poor way to start your point, because Sehwag is far from one of the best ODI batsmen in the world.

i have rated Sehwag as one of the best based on his ability

 

[Top_Cat]

There is far too much "playing to the gallery" by the younger lot.

Mendis may have a ball difficult to pick at this early stage of his career but he doesn't turn it too much off the wicket in either direction. If they were more watchful and not rushing into strokes, let alone playing across the line, they would have survived longer and the better ones would have started reading him, maybe.

I cant imagine, Sachin, Dravid or Laxman, faced with a bowler difficult to read, reacting with the kind of batting we saw from Indian youngsters and, now senior, Yuvraj Singh.

I admire Dhoni for trying to play Mendis sensibly. Even he had problems reading Mendis but he will not try to brazen it out. Thats why he is so different from others - some considerably more talented.

Sehwag too disappointed in this respect but he wasn't playing to the gallery or showing his frustration - he was just being himself - a modern day Gilbert Jessop

Yeah true, Dhoni has become a really gutsy player. You're right, he was in real trouble against Mendis the other night but still scored runs by adapting. Great to see because his team will need that more than ever soon enough.

 

[ret]

Dhoni reminds me of Miandad

 

[SJS]

Dhoni reminds me of Miandad

Only in the one respect of being a fighter and never giving up Thats where the similarity ends, thank God

 

[silentstriker]

Only in the one respect of being a fighter and never giving up Thats where the similarity ends, thank God

Miandad was a better Test match batsman than Dhoni will ever be. I'd be ecstatic if Dhoni was like Miandad in that regard.