If South Africa beat India and make the World T20 final...

[Jono]

Who is more likely to choke?

Perennial bridesmaids Sri Lanka who have lost the 2007 ODI WC final, 2009 World T20 final, 2011 ODI WC final and 2012 World T20 final,

or

 

[Burgey]

Sri Lanka is a joke cricketing nation. Everyone knows it, you're all just too polite to say it.

You've got FTB batsmen who are a sad parody outside the SC; spinners who are only playing because they missed the pre-season cut for the NY Yankees; and one quick of any note who's too lazy to even have a crack at test cricket. Honestly, even if SL went on to win this, so what? Call us when you've won a test (not a series, a single, miserable test) in Australia. They're a joke.

The rest of the cricketing world only tolerates them because they need the numbers when it comes to test playing countires. They got elevated to full international status too early, and frankly they've done very little to prove they're worthy of it since. Sure they won an ODI WC, but even that developmentally challenged kid in the US shot a few three pointers to win a basketball game for his school. It proves SFA. They're nothing. Nada. Niente.

Wacko, they've had one good bowler in 30 plus years, and two decent batsmen. You had that Chaminda Vaas bloke open the bowling for them. FMD he'd play second grade here - basically a 1990s version of that numpty who opened the bowling for WI last night. Just awful. Imagine the excitement: "Here's Vaas to start the Test here at the WACA - three short mid wickets and a short cover because he isn't fast enough to have an edge carry to slip". How good would it be to face him for a living? You'd retire a millionaire in 18 months. Give the Netherlands or Ireland a shot, they'd do no worse over the same time frame. It actually makes a mockery of international cricket that a team as low as SL is a part of the pre-eminent international competition in the sport.

At least SA is the number one side over a meaningful period at one format of the game. SL are like Pakistan - they were the best ODI side in the world for a random three week period which coincided with a WC. You'd rather watch grass grow than watch SL. In fact, as much as I love cricket, let's be honest. While ever there's SL playing at the top level, you'll always be able to put your feet up as an opposing fan and not really worry one iota that they'll do anything of any importance against your team. If they were an elderly canine they'd have been put down out of mercy by now. They're the failed experiment of world cricket - we always knew the outcome and it was worth a look in the hope we'd turn a heavy sack of useless lead into gold despite years of evidence to the contrary. But at the end of the day they tell us nothing more than we knew about them 30 odd years ago. Just a low outfit. A minnow dressed up as something worthwhile. Honestly, end them as a full international side. They're just a sad postscript to an otherwise interesting international cricketing contest.

 

[Burgey]

I mean, fmd. It's "Oooh here's Kulsakera. This **** is an excitement machine! He might break a bloke's knee cap".

Wouldn't get a bowl in a Chinese restaurant.

Spare me.

 

[Burgey]

They're the Simon Davis to the other nations' Malcolm Matshall.

 

[Furball]

Sri Lanka is a joke cricketing nation. Everyone knows it, you're all just too polite to say it.

You've got FTB batsmen who are a sad parody outside the SC; spinners who are only playing because they missed the pre-season cut for the NY Yankees; and one quick of any note who's too lazy to even have a crack at test cricket. Honestly, even if SL went on to win this, so what? Call us when you've won a test (not a series, a single, miserable test) in Australia. They're a joke.

The rest of the cricketing world only tolerates them because they need the numbers when it comes to test playing countires. They got elevated to full international status too early, and frankly they've done very little to prove they're worthy of it since. Sure they won an ODI WC, but even that developmentally challenged kid in the US shot a few three pointers to win a basketball game for his school. It proves SFA. They're nothing. Nada. Niente.

Wacko, they've had one good bowler in 30 plus years, and two decent batsmen. You had that Chaminda Vaas bloke open the bowling for them. FMD he'd play second grade here - basically a 1990s version of that numpty who opened the bowling for WI last night. Just awful. Imagine the excitement: "Here's Vaas to start the Test here at the WACA - three short mid wickets and a short cover because he isn't fast enough to have an edge carry to slip". How good would it be to face him for a living? You'd retire a millionaire in 18 months. Give the Netherlands or Ireland a shot, they'd do no worse over the same time frame. It actually makes a mockery of international cricket that a team as low as SL is a part of the pre-eminent international competition in the sport.

At least SA is the number one side over a meaningful period at one format of the game. SL are like Pakistan - they were the best ODI side in the world for a random three week period which coincided with a WC. You'd rather watch grass grow than watch SL. In fact, as much as I love cricket, let's be honest. While ever there's SL playing at the top level, you'll always be able to put your feet up as an opposing fan and not really worry one iota that they'll do anything of any importance against your team. If they were an elderly canine they'd have been put down out of their mercy by now. They're the failed experiment of world cricket - we always knew the outcome and it was worth a look in the hope we'd turn a heavy sack of useless lead into gold despite years of evidence to the contrary. But at the end of the day they tell us nothing more than we knew about them 30 odd years ago. Just a low outfit. A minnow dressed up as something worthwhile. Honestly, end them as a full international side. They're just a sad postscript to an otherwise interesting international cricketing contest.

 

[Jassy]

Some gold from Burgey there, top drawer stuff! Hilarious. Whether or not he was being facetious, there is definitely some truth there. Their Bangladesh basher (a.k.a left handed Bradman) is the epitome of a crap attack bully. 21 centuries in Colombo, Galle and Kandy; mediocre outside the SC and that SSC pitch is a disgrace for cricket. Records there should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even Malik scored a couple of tons there. There's a lot of talk about how India have not won an away test series after 2012 but Sri Lanka's last series win away from SL excluding Sangakkara's favourite opponents came more than a decade ago. And Burgey mentioned Pakistan, they are pretty much the same. A WC win in 1992 aside (which came after rain saved from 72 a.o) they have done nothing of note in L.O cricket. They've won test series in fewer countries than India who themselves are far from flash away from home. That tells you all you need to know!

On topic - SL will win if SA somehow get past India. If this was THE WC, you could bet your house on an Indian win vs SA in a semi final; but in a T20 you just never know. Amla and Abd generally choke in limited overs big games but there is rain forecast and if it becomes an even shorter game, it's a bloody lottery.

 

[Burgey]

For those who are thinking about coming on here and defending the majesty that is SL cricket, just take a moment before you do to imagine what that country has put on the park as being the standard bearer for international cricket over the past 30 years. I know it's hard to imagine because they've been so consistently ****, but imagine it if you can.

Game would have been dead for two decades of that time. Like comparing ladies' softball to major league baseball.

 

[Burgey]

12.3: Graham Le Broy to Dirk Wellham: full and 110kph, fastest ball of the series from a Lankan so far. Punched past mid off for four by Wellham, who calls to the dressing room for his glasses, which he forgot to wear to the crease.

 

[Adders]

Vintage Burgster!!

 

[GIMH]

Pulls it out the hat as BOTM gets intense. Best thread.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Burgey making a compelling case for BOTM here. A timely reminder of his extraordinary talent with the extended rant.

Your move, Jono.

 

[artvandalay]

In fairness that is a scathing indictment of cricket that it can have a world champion like SL in it's history. I guess since it's nearly impossible to break the traditional hierarchy these sort of teams are the best we can hope for.

 

[Burgey]

Here's Art Carney with a salient point....

 

[Burgey]

Sorry for the delayed response, fell asleep on the bus contemplating a Sri Lankan cricketing dynasty.

It was like dreaming of that era where they drew pictures of ladies bowling under arm out the back of the estate to a gentleman in a top hat wearing a monocle.

 

[Muloghonto]

Sri Lanka is a joke cricketing nation. Everyone knows it, you're all just too polite to say it.

You've got FTB batsmen who are a sad parody outside the SC; spinners who are only playing because they missed the pre-season cut for the NY Yankees; and one quick of any note who's too lazy to even have a crack at test cricket. Honestly, even if SL went on to win this, so what? Call us when you've won a test (not a series, a single, miserable test) in Australia. They're a joke.

The rest of the cricketing world only tolerates them because they need the numbers when it comes to test playing countires. They got elevated to full international status too early, and frankly they've done very little to prove they're worthy of it since. Sure they won an ODI WC, but even that developmentally challenged kid in the US shot a few three pointers to win a basketball game for his school. It proves SFA. They're nothing. Nada. Niente.

Wacko, they've had one good bowler in 30 plus years, and two decent batsmen. You had that Chaminda Vaas bloke open the bowling for them. FMD he'd play second grade here - basically a 1990s version of that numpty who opened the bowling for WI last night. Just awful. Imagine the excitement: "Here's Vaas to start the Test here at the WACA - three short mid wickets and a short cover because he isn't fast enough to have an edge carry to slip". How good would it be to face him for a living? You'd retire a millionaire in 18 months. Give the Netherlands or Ireland a shot, they'd do no worse over the same time frame. It actually makes a mockery of international cricket that a team as low as SL is a part of the pre-eminent international competition in the sport.

At least SA is the number one side over a meaningful period at one format of the game. SL are like Pakistan - they were the best ODI side in the world for a random three week period which coincided with a WC. You'd rather watch grass grow than watch SL. In fact, as much as I love cricket, let's be honest. While ever there's SL playing at the top level, you'll always be able to put your feet up as an opposing fan and not really worry one iota that they'll do anything of any importance against your team. If they were an elderly canine they'd have been put down out of mercy by now. They're the failed experiment of world cricket - we always knew the outcome and it was worth a look in the hope we'd turn a heavy sack of useless lead into gold despite years of evidence to the contrary. But at the end of the day they tell us nothing more than we knew about them 30 odd years ago. Just a low outfit. A minnow dressed up as something worthwhile. Honestly, end them as a full international side. They're just a sad postscript to an otherwise interesting international cricketing contest.

easily the biggest pile of drivel i've come across this site so far.

so the basis of the argument is that their success in the subcontinent- the single largest stage of cricketing focus, venues and fan following, is meaningless, whats meaningful is their performance in countries that are peripheries of the cricketing world and play on a different surface, with a bias towards a particular brand of cricket.
Brilliant.

The simple fact of the matter is, SL have been highly successful in the one format that really matters: the limited overs format. Getting the 'honorary degree of success' in test cricket may feel personally gratiffying to many, but it is definitely not the case for all and the corollary ( prioritizing success in the limited overs format) certainly rests on sound reasoning.

 

[Burgey]

I think they've done pretty well when they've toured the west coast of Canada too.

They've had over thirty years (30!!) to make a mark in world cricket, home and away. They've basically accomplished nothing. They're a joke. They tour anywhere and people switch off before their TVs die of boredom. They're mediocrity writ large.

And ftr, no one on here gives a continental - sub or otherwise - what you think. You've already won the award for most annoying and imbecilic new comer to the forum with that idiotic post about Steve Waugh not playing the ball late, so jog on eh?

 

[Muloghonto]

Some gold from Burgey there, top drawer stuff! Hilarious. Whether or not he was being facetious, there is definitely some truth there. Their Bangladesh basher (a.k.a left handed Bradman) is the epitome of a crap attack bully. 21 centuries in Colombo, Galle and Kandy; mediocre outside the SC and that SSC pitch is a disgrace for cricket. Records there should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even Malik scored a couple of tons there. There's a lot of talk about how India have not won an away test series after 2012 but Sri Lanka's last series win away from SL excluding Sangakkara's favourite opponents came more than a decade ago. And Burgey mentioned Pakistan, they are pretty much the same. A WC win in 1992 aside (which came after rain saved from 72 a.o) they have done nothing of note in L.O cricket. They've won test series in fewer countries than India who themselves are far from flash away from home. That tells you all you need to know!

On topic - SL will win if SA somehow get past India. If this was THE WC, you could bet your house on an Indian win vs SA in a semi final; but in a T20 you just never know. Amla and Abd generally choke in limited overs big games but there is rain forecast and if it becomes an even shorter game, it's a bloody lottery.

Its funny how Sangakkara is a crap batsman, despite averaging 50+ in Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and UAE but Denis Lillee is a great bowler, despite only ever succeeding in three nations: England, New Zealand and Australia.

Oh the irony.

 

[Muloghonto]

I think they've done pretty well when they've toured the west coast of Canada too.

They've had over thirty years (30!!) to make a mark in world cricket, home and away. They've basically accomplished nothing. They're a joke. They tour anywhere and people switch off before their TVs die of boredom. They're mediocrity writ large.

And ftr, no one on here gives a continental - sub or otherwise - what you think. You've already won the award for most annoying and imbecilic new comer to the forum with that idiotic post about Steve Waugh not playing the ball late, so jog on eh?

They have made a mark in world cricket.
They have been one of the heavyweights in cricket tournaments over the last 20 years. That is quite credible.

As for no-body, i would let every man speak for himself (or herself) on the matter. I don't recall you being nominated to speak on behalf of this forum.

PS: If you wish to convince non-fanboys of Steve Waugh that he played the ball late, good luck with that. I am sure Curtley would have a chuckle.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

...but Denis Lillee is a great bowler, despite only ever succeeding in two nations: England, New Zealand and Australia.

:

Once again, Isaac Newton quakes in his boots at the prospect of having to take on a superior scientific intellect from the dark recesses of the grave.

 

[Burgey]

Look fool, I stood at the other end (sadly not for long enough) watching him play, and I can tell you, you didn't perform as he did in the 1990s, facing the bowlers he did in those conditions, unless you played the ball late. It was not an era where you could just pick up the line early and hit through it. He had epically fast hands, and he played the ball very late.

You may not appreciate it watching old DVDs mail ordered in from cricket playing countries, but he did. End of.