*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[aravinda1234]

AFAICS.

Please man... use that damn f****ng keyboard little bit more.

 

[straw man]

Oram sucks at playing spin, no denying that, but anywhere else in the world he is a bloody good batsman. Has his issues but most of our lot do. His test hundred against Australia back in the day for example was superb.

He's out of form, badly out of form, but if he were to get back to what he's capable of, Franklin and whoever else has been suggested isn't a patch on him.

It's a fairly big 'if' though. It would be great if he could and I'm all for selecting him whenever he's fit* for a while to see if that touch returns. But has always relied a lot more on hand eye coordination than technique so when he's out of form it's pretty awful. Age and injuries aren't on his side and I also have a feeling that bowlers have worked out his strengths and weaknesses fairly well.

Really needs a breakout hundred, perhaps against Pakistan at home later this year, to show that he's still a decent batsman. (Or next test in Colombo would be nice, but that might be asking a bit much).

* except in the subcontinent where it's more debatable.

 

[straw man]

'As far as I can see'... for the benefit of the peanut gallery.

 

[Migara]

Mathews injured and most probably will be replaced by Kapugedara. Kandambi would have been a better bet IMO. Now this throws the bowling lineup off, and SL will need four attacking bowlers.

My XI

Paranavithana, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardane, Samaraweera, Kapugedara, PJ, Prasad, Thushara, Murali, mendis

 

[aravinda1234]

Mathews injured and most probably will be replaced by Kapugedara. Kandambi would have been a better bet IMO. Now this throws the bowling lineup off, and SL will need four attacking bowlers.

My XI

Paranavithana, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardane, Samaraweera, Kapugedara, PJ, Prasad, Thushara, Murali, mendis

So you had enough of Kula ... ya this is a good line up. But what about Kaushal Silva as a specialist batsmen in place of Kapu.

 

[Woodster]

Mathews injured and most probably will be replaced by Kapugedara. Kandambi would have been a better bet IMO. Now this throws the bowling lineup off, and SL will need four attacking bowlers.

My XI

Paranavithana, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardane, Samaraweera, Kapugedara, PJ, Prasad, Thushara, Murali, mendis

I really like the look of the Sri Lanka line-up, especially in their own conditions. The batting line-up is littered wth players that can bat for the long hours, essential on those tracks, the bowling attack has the mystery spin and I've been impressed by Thushara from what I've seen of late also.

 

[Uppercut]

I'll be really interested to see how bowlers like Thushara and Kulasekara fare away from Sri Lanka, because every other country's selectors seem to have concluded that bowlers like that are simply too slow for test cricket. I'm not 100% sure that's the case, and how the Sri Lankan medium-fast men go in the long run could change attitudes all over the world.

 

[Nishan]

Hearath once again maybe left out, but he will be back. They must pick Kapu for Mathews because otherwise Dan vettori will enjoy the tail starting at 7.

 

[Woodster]

I'll be really interested to see how bowlers like Thushara and Kulasekara fare away from Sri Lanka, because every other country's selectors seem to have concluded that bowlers like that are simply too slow for test cricket. I'm not 100% sure that's the case, and how the Sri Lankan medium-fast men go in the long run could change attitudes all over the world.

I think Thushara has more pace about him and will penetrate batting line-ups more successfully than Kulasekara, providing he continues with his accurate areas. Wasn't very impressed with Kulasekara when he played in the Test series in England back in 2006, but it would be unfair to maintain that judgement as it was only his 3rd and 4th Test respectively.

I do think this style of bowler will struggle to replicate the success he has in Sri Lankan conditions in other parts of the cricketing world.

 

[Woodster]

Hearath once again maybe left out, but he will be back. They must pick Kapu for Mathews because otherwise Dan vettori will enjoy the tail starting at 7.

Would certainly be a spin-heavy side should Herath gain selection in place of Mathews. The inclusion of Kapugedara certainly seems to make more sense to me.

 

[Zinzan]

Like the eve of the first test, I see most weather reports suggest rain on all 5 days again

 

[Brett Dale]

Should be a draw then?

Is it the rainy season in Sri lanka?

 

[Hurricane]

When will know the playing 11's.

Can't wait. I tried to put a bet on a draw but the crappy work browser won't let me use the TAB web site properly.

Heard Vettori on the radio this morning and he said it was down to o'brien vs tuffey.

 

[straw man]

Cricinfo:

Jamie Alter, our man at the ground, says, "players are warming up and doesnt look like Tuffey will play as he's giving throwdowns to the slips. Iain O'Brien is bowling at the adjacent pitch so he is playing, it seems. Tuffey is watching the quicks bowl, with a baseball mit on one hand. Unlikely that we'll see his comeback to Tests just yet".

Really like Tuffey but good decision IMO to stick with O'Brien for this match. O'Brien has proven himself in the last year or so and I think he will be pumped to make up for the last match.

 

[straw man]

Cricinfo again:

Some yet-to-be confirmed team changes from Sri Lanka: The word is that Mendis, Matthews and Kulasekara are out and have been replaced by Dammika Prasad, Chamara Kapugedera and Rangana Herath. Not confirmed, though.

Well that's fairly interesting! Knew Matthews was injured but not the others.

 

[straw man]

Sri Lanka have chosen to bat apparently. No surprises there.

Just wish Vettori had chosen to bat first in the first match and had hoped he'd win the toss in Colombo and get to make up for that.

 

[straw man]

Vettori thinks it looks like a road, while someone else says it's a second day track that will spin early.

NZ unchanged, SL with the three changes above.

Really need to somehow nip a couple out with the new ball (esp Dilshan).

 

[Flem274*]

O'Brien listed as right arm medium. Ouch.

 

[Zinzan]

New Zealand bowling pretty well so far, only a couple of streaky boundaries

 

[Zinzan]

O'Brien listed as right arm medium. Ouch.

According to wapedia...........

Classification of fast bowlers (average speed)

Type; mph km/h
Fast 86 + 138 +
Fast-medium 80 to 85 130 to 137
Medium-fast 75 to 80 121 to 130
Medium 70 to 75 114 to 121