**Official** Sri Lanka Domestic Season 2013/14

[Maximas]

Premier League Tournament 2013-14, 3rd day Report : Liyanapathiranage sets up Colombo Cricket Club's close win | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

A good summary of the rounds matches this time, solid performances from Lahiru Thirrimanne and Prassana Jayawardene on the test fringes.

The U-19 team also scraped home in their first match of the WC beating England by 1 wicket

 

[Migara]

Thirimanne, PJ and Kaushal Silva should not have been playing premier league, instead should have been playing Lions in A side. There is no point playing weak teams when you are test specialists. Either it's A teams or county games in England.

 

[YorksLanka]

yes, you're absolutely right..I wasnt aware that thirimmane was fit again and in terms of the other two, yes they should have played..

 

[Maximas]

Thirimanne, PJ and Kaushal Silva should not have been playing premier league, instead should have been playing Lions in A side. There is no point playing weak teams when you are test specialists. Either it's A teams or county games in England.

Especially given the fact that the lions tour games are being played outside Colombo on faster, greener wickets than the flat dustbowls of the premier league, good preparation for the England tour later this year and generally good for their game. Add Dimuth Karunaratne to that list too

 

[YorksLanka]

yes i agree..dimuth needs to be kept in touch for England touras he did well last time we were here..would have liked to see Pradeep and Eranga get as much match practice on quicker wickets as possible..

 

[Migara]

Eranga is a finished product now. He will get better with experience, and is injured as well. For Pradeep, that would be an absolute necessity. Dilruwan Perera is also a candidate.

I'd pick following for the 2nd test.

Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Bhanuka Rajapakshe, Upul Tharanga*, Madawa Warnapura, Prasanna Jayawardene+, Dilruwan Perera, Dhammika Prasad, PHT Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep

This will give England Lions run for their money at Dambulla.

 

[Eds]

Eranga is a finished product now. He will get better with experience, and is injured as well. For Pradeep, that would be an absolute necessity. Dilruwan Perera is also a candidate.

I'd pick following for the 2nd test.

Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Bhanuka Rajapakshe, Upul Tharanga*, Madawa Warnapura, Prasanna Jayawardene+, Dilruwan Perera, Dhammika Prasad, PHT Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep

This will give England Lions run for their money at Dambulla.

Needs more Chaturanga.

 

[Migara]

May drop ***y edges and include him. Since Dilruwan Perera is also capable with bat, would not miss much dropping the captain.

 

[Maximas]

I honestly think Mubarak deserves a place more than Tharanga

 

[YorksLanka]

i personally dont think so, i think he has had plenty of chances but just cant cut it at the top level..still its good to have competition for places as most top teams have( not saying we are yet but that we need players to want to earn their place and hold onto it once they get a chance)

 

[Prince EWS]

i personally dont think so, i think he has had plenty of chances but just cant cut it at the top level

I think this is true of Tharanga more than Mubarak actually. The thing with Mubarak is that when he was selected he was terrible; he hadn't done anything domestically at all to justify his repeated recalls and it was no surprise he failed. He seems to have really improved his game though in that he's now racking up some runs, so unlike Tharanga something has changed.

 

[YorksLanka]

no argument with this but the difference btween the two is that Tharanga has performed well opening in the ODI's with Dilshan..

 

[Maximas]

The 'A' team isn't playing one-dayers though

 

[YorksLanka]

that's true, but my point was that Tharanga has scored runs at international top level whereas Mubarak hasnt and runs in our weak domestic competiton cant compare. I understand that form has to come into it too but the level of competiton that those runs are scored at has to also surely?

 

[Maximas]

Yeah but Tharanga didn't really force his way in through weight of runs in FC cricket, (which is a more legitimate indication of ability than you're giving it credit for IMO) while Mubarak possibly could have. I don't think picking a guy based off a patchy ODI record makes much sense when you've got another guy in good FC form, fact is that neither of them are likely to be much good at test level so I just don't understand why the guy in domestic form wasn't rewarded when the alternative is Tharanga, but you seem to rate him more than I do so whatever

 

[YorksLanka]

and vice versa so bygones!! i sure we agree that irrespective of who we prefer we want the best for our team..i can see your logic but as i said before i dont think our FC ability and level is good enough and we need to make this much more competitive but whilst teams still get picked on who they know rather than what they do/capable of,this will not change..

 

[Maximas]

Haha, he just scored a duck, meanwhile, the rest of the 'A' team is terrible as well, too many of our fringe players on tour playing limited overs cricket or still playing in the Premier League

 

[Maximas]

The 'A' team is off to a good start in their bid to try and save the game, ending day 3 none down with Dimuth and Tharanga each not out on 30 something. Tharindu Kaushal was the only bowler to make a meaningful contribution as the Lions piled on 7-600 odd declared picking up 4-140, he seems like a really good prospect.

 

[YorksLanka]

I am a happy bunny that Tharanga lived up to my billing..Also good to see Dimuth in the runs and i will be even happier if we can get a result out of this match..highlighy improbable but if we are 80 behind thenif we can get a reasonable lead quickly and put it back to England. IMHO, no harm losing trying for a win, as we already lost series anyway

 

[theegyptian]

It's the last day and last session - and there is another test after this.