***Official*** India in Sri Lanka

[Migara]

P'haps they will replace Vaas with prasad for now.A nd when both Maha n Malinga are fit those two will most probably replace both kulasekara n Vaas in the test side.
Jus like in the sanath's incident selectors might be thinking that staying away from tests will most probably lengthen his Carrier in ODI's in which his economical spells are a definite asset for the side.
It's no secret that he has lost the kind of sting he had, and given the formidability of the 4M bowling attack p'haps it is is the right decision rather than taking years off his ODI carrier by wearing him off in tests.
Though this would probably weaken the batting line up given vaases ability to hold up one end and even though his bowling still is still superior to that of maharoof in all the aspects, Giving the 4 M's a chance to work together as a unit will probably be more beneficial in the long run.
so that vaas can concentrate on playin a more pollock like role in in the ODI side.

Good, but I would like Vaas to be selected like a batsman for next test matches. He's averaging 40 in last two years and he can definietly play well at #5 or #6. With hsi strong hooking and pulling he'll be a nice mix to the good spin players in the middle.

 

[Faceless void]

Good, but I would like Vaas to be selected like a batsman for next test matches. He's averaging 40 in last two years and he can definietly play well at #5 or #6. With hsi strong hooking and pulling he'll be a nice mix to the good spin players in the middle.

True..
ATM he is far more consistent and dependable than our new crop of batsmen.
But he will invariably end up bowling at least a few overs.So if we are playing two other specialist seamers it will mean that we r technically playing three o them which is ideal on a fast pitch.Vaasy can certainly handle faster bowlers quite all right ( jus obout enough to occupy the crease whan the bowl is moving around a bit) as he proved in the last English tour,So playing vaasy as a specialist batsmen will be more fruitful if the pitch is on the greener side.
Agreed?

 

[Migara]

True..
ATM he is far more consistent and dependable than our new crop of batsmen.
But he will invariably end up bowling at least a few overs.So if we are playing two other specialist seamers it will mean that we r technically playing three o them which is ideal on a fast pitch.Vaasy can certainly handle faster bowlers quite all right ( jus obout enough to occupy the crease whan the bowl is moving around a bit) as he proved in the last English tour,So playing vaasy as a specialist batsmen will be more fruitful if the pitch is on the greener side.Agreed?

That is my initial thought. Having said that majority of Vass' runs have come on slow pitches. But definietly he's technically more correct and applies himself better than players like Udawatta or Upul Tharanga. So I wuld still gve him a go on a green track as well.

 

[Arjun]

Some observations from another match going on now

• England at 224/8.
• Flintoff hits back the first Ntini delivery for six.
• He hits the next one straight at Ntini's head and it goes for four.
• He attempts a single to keep the strike for the next over before the fifth ball.
• Prince takes a direct hit at the stumps to run out non-striker Anderson.

Surely the Indians can do some of this...

 

[Woodster]

Would never personally have considered Vaas for a specialist batting position, or indeed any higher than the number 8 spot he has regularly appeared at. I think similar to Daniel Vettori, he is a very handy lower order batsman but when faced with the pressures of having to consistently score big runs up the order and not merely hold an end up, I fear he may be find out all too easily.

 

[Uppercut]

Would never personally have considered Vaas for a specialist batting position, or indeed any higher than the number 8 spot he has regularly appeared at. I think similar to Daniel Vettori, he is a very handy lower order batsman but when faced with the pressures of having to consistently score big runs up the order and not merely hold an end up, I fear he may be find out all too easily.

I thought the same. But on especially flat tracks it might be an option, especially in Sri Lanka where all of their batsmen look so much better. An attack like Vaas, Fernando, Malinga, Murali, Mendis would be beautifully balanced.

 

[Sanz]

Few more hours before the massacre starts in Galle. God have mercy on Kumble and his boys

 

[Woodster]

I thought the same. But on especially flat tracks it might be an option, especially in Sri Lanka where all of their batsmen look so much better. An attack like Vaas, Fernando, Malinga, Murali, Mendis would be beautifully balanced.

Looks great variation in that attack and as you say very nicely balanced, the slingy skiddiness of Malinga, hit the deck bowler in Fernando and a bit of controlled swing from Vaas, plus one genius of a spinner and one potential genius, mean they'd be a handful.

It would still have to be an absolute batters dream if I was to bat Vaas any higher than 8. An option being Sanga to take the gloves, so at least there'd be specialist batsmen down to six with Vaas at 7. However, I certainly prefer Sanga as a number 3 with no keeping duties.

 

[ret]

Sehwag to score a big one

 

[Dissector]

At this point I will heave a sigh of relief if we don't get beaten by an innings three times in a row.

 

[ret]

recommended 11

- Sehwag
- Gambhir
- Laxman
- Tendulkar
- Ganguly
- Dravid / Rohit
- Karthik / Parthiv
- Kumble
- Zaheer
- Ishant
- Munaf

unless the pitch a Galle is an absolute turner like the one at Kanpur, I would play 3 seamers as, iirc, Galle has supported both spinners and seamers in the past .... i would put more faith in the pacers than the spinners. most of the spinners like Bhajji are only effective on wickets like the one at Kanpur

 

[honestbharani]

At this point I will heave a sigh of relief if we don't get beaten by an innings three times in a row.

AWTA.

 

[Lostman]

2 overs gone india 10 for no loss,
time for mendis and murali!

 

[Lostman]

Kumble is going to destroy SL on this wicket.

 

[Dissector]

The wicket is looking very flat. Sehwag is clearly determined to hit Mendis out of the attack. Should be a fascinating battle.

 

[duffer]

Sehwag looking in good nick. Please god, don't let him throw this away.

 

[Perm]

Good to see Sehwag showing us what he's capable of.

 

[duffer]

Encouraging signs so far from these two against Mendis. Sehwag is a unique prospective for any spinner, so if he fires it'll be interesting to see how Mendis responds. Loving this series so far, shame there's so little interest in it.

 

[duffer]

Sehwag hammers Murali for four first up. He really eased to 50 here, but we really really need him to make this big.

 

[Top_Cat]

Wow - how well is Sehwag travelling?!