***Official*** South Africa in Sri Lanka 2014

[YorksLanka]

Our problem is our tail enders simply can't bat and that isn't good enough in test cricket nowadays.look at the EngvInd test, tail enders are contributing significantly. Marvan needs to work with out tail to get them to some level of batting-15 runs from each of them makes a big difference.

 

[Maximas]

They're better than they were, Dilruwan scored 90-odd on debut, so there is obviously some talent there, Herath can bat when he feels like it and Eranga has some batting potential as well, Lakmal is a bit of a bunny though, although at least his attitude has improved lately

 

[YorksLanka]

Tbh I wouldn't class dilruwan as a tail ender as I agree he can bat. Probably more thinking about eranga and lakmal tbh.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Poor Tahir, does everything but get a wicket

 

[Maximas]

This is stupid, will just do more damage for no decent cause

 

[karan316]

Time to bring back Mendis in the next game, 3 spinners with Lakmal and Mathews will be a good attack against this line-up. It'll be a smarter choice to beef up the spin department rather than looking to replace Eranga with a pacer.

A very good performance by SA. Amla looks like a good captain, looking forward to see his captaincy in coming games.

 

[Maximas]

Probably for the best, well played SA

 

[YorksLanka]

well done SA on a deserved victory, we were outplayed and the better team in this game won..congrats to Amla on his first victory in charge too..

 

[Swingpanzee]

Yes.

 

[YorksLanka]

Time to bring back Mendis in the next game, 3 spinners with Lakmal and Mathews will be a good attack against this line-up. It'll be a smarter choice to beef up the spin department rather than looking to replace Eranga with a pacer.

A very good performance by SA. Amla looks like a good captain, looking forward to see his captaincy in coming games.

yes provided that Mathews bowls himself a lot more than he has done inthis matchotherwise we need to bring in a like for like, Prasad probably?

 

[social]

well done SA on a deserved victory, we were outplayed and the better team in this game won..congrats to Amla on his first victory in charge too..

Congrats for being so gracious in defeat as SL have every right to feel hardly done by

After all, Philander tampered with the ball that Steyn used in his match changing spell

Being fined 75% of his match fee seems a paltry penalty for an illegal action that arguably changed the course of the match

 

[karan316]

yes provided that Mathews bowls himself a lot more than he has done inthis matchotherwise we need to bring in a like for like, Prasad probably?

Eranga is the best pace bowler SL has at the moment. Replacing him with a hit the deck bowler(Prasad or Welegedara) will not work in these conditions, and Nuwan Pradeep is too raw, I don't see him in the test side atm, especially in these conditions. Eranga should be replaced by someone who can be threatening to this SA batting lineup. Herath also has been bowling a lot of overs, adding another spinner will benefit him aswell. If Mathews is ready to bowl with the new ball, and maybe a few more overs than the last game, 3 spinners will be ideal.

 

[YorksLanka]

Eranga is the best pace bowler SL has at the moment. Replacing him with a hit the deck bowler(Prasad or Welegedara) will not work in these conditions, and Nuwan Pradeep is too raw, I don't see him in the test side atm, especially in these conditions. Eranga should be replaced by someone who can be threatening to this SA batting lineup. Herath also has been bowling a lot of overs, adding another spinner will benefit him aswell. If Mathews is ready to bowl with the new ball, and maybe a few more overs than the last game, 3 spinners will be ideal.

agree. btw , Steyn, WAG, listening to his MOM interview shows his class and modesty. Make no mistake, irrespective of how strong we have been at home in the past, there is a reason why this SA is #2 in the rankings(personally i think that there is only a whisker between them and Aus at the top)

 

[Jono]

How dare I ever doubt the great man Amla.

 

[Heboric]

Congrats for being so gracious in defeat as SL have every right to feel hardly done by

After all, Philander tampered with the ball that Steyn used in his match changing spell

Being fined 75% of his match fee seems a paltry penalty for an illegal action that arguably changed the course of the match

Please bring forward evidence showing that it helped dramatically, i am keen to see it.

If you have evidence I am sure a tabloid newspaper will buy the story

 

[Maximas]

I don't feel hard done by as far as tampering goes, the umps didn't even change the ball did they? I think losing the toss and then losing our best quick was much more decisive and unfortunate in terms of things to feel hard-done by, but the fact is we got outplayed by a great team, no shame in that.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah when you're playing against SA and have the pace resources of Sri Lanka your best quick by a distance crocking himself is just cruel.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Steyn's wickets kinda overshadowed Duminy's hundred. Genuinely great innings imo... These runs with the tail were so so vital

 

[Flametree]

Please bring forward evidence showing that it helped dramatically, i am keen to see it.

If you have evidence I am sure a tabloid newspaper will buy the story

Why else would Philander scratch the ball unless he was sure it would help the bowlers?

 

[Maximas]

Eranga is the best pace bowler SL has at the moment. Replacing him with a hit the deck bowler(Prasad or Welegedara) will not work in these conditions, and Nuwan Pradeep is too raw, I don't see him in the test side atm, especially in these conditions. Eranga should be replaced by someone who can be threatening to this SA batting lineup. Herath also has been bowling a lot of overs, adding another spinner will benefit him aswell. If Mathews is ready to bowl with the new ball, and maybe a few more overs than the last game, 3 spinners will be ideal.

Given Matthews was unwilling to bowl himself all that much (and plus he's not particularly suited to these conidtions) I think Lakmal needs a proper pace bowling partner. Prasad is more of a hit-the-deck type but Morkel showed you can still succeed with such an approach, plus Prasad might be the impact fast bowler we need to deliver some short sharp spells and make a few breakthroughs, is an ok batsman at home too. Given our two spinners haven't made themselves easy to drop and the Saffers seem to be playing spin quite well I don't think he really warrants a place in the team, probably won't get much assistance from the pitch at SSC anyway.