***Official**** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2014/2015

[Zinzan]

I'm trying to think of a worse "starter" than Taylor of batsmen who average >40 (In tests or ODIs). Ponting springs to mind...any others?

Then you get someone like Williamson who just seems to pick things up from his last innings.

 

[hendrix]

If SL get one of these two out in the next 10 overs they will win the game.

Agreed. We're without key player Tom Latham so quite screwed if one of these two fail.

 

[Flem274*]

He did look much better. Even almost got a cover drive away but predictably hit it straight to the fielder.

Still a sitting duck against anything resembling good/short of a length bowling.

I'm never going to convince you because of your Latham love but Guptill's frailties against back of a length bowling are defensive issues. He has a very good pull and hook shot, or had. Him shelving all his shots in test cricket was the worst thing he could do imo since his rapid 40s became painful 10s. He still brings them out in ODIs when he's in.

He's smacked around almost every attack in white ball formats. He's fine against any bowling when his tail is up.

 

[Daemon]

I'm trying to think of a worse "starter" than Taylor of batsmen who average >40 (In tests or ODIs). Ponting springs to mind...any others?

Then you get someone like Williamson who just seems to pick things up from his last innings.

Clarke's not a great one either

 

[hendrix]

Taylor using his feet is not something I'm used to seeing. Interesting development

 

[Prince EWS]

Taylor using his feet is not something I'm used to seeing. Interesting development

Needed to change something against Herath.

 

[Zinzan]

Taylor using his feet is not something I'm used to seeing. Interesting development

Yes, strange to see, but it's a good thing. Nothing worse than watching Taylor push & poke tentatively from the crease.

 

[hendrix]

I'm never going to convince you because of your Latham love but Guptill's frailties against back of a length bowling are defensive issues. He has a very good pull and hook shot, or had. Him shelving all his shots in test cricket was the worst thing he could do imo since his rapid 40s became painful 10s. He still brings them out in ODIs when he's in.

He's smacked around almost every attack in white ball formats. He's fine against any bowling when his tail is up.

I agree with everything in this post, ftr.

 

[Maximas]

Is it me or does Mathews look a lot quicker than he used to be. Ignoring the speed guns here a bit.

Is bowling a heavier ball than he did a couple of years ago I reckon

 

[viriya]

Herath is the best slow bowler in ODIs in world cricket atm.

Since a certain bowler from Pakistan is no longer legal..

 

[hendrix]

Taylor is running well. Could see some fireworks against Perera.

 

[Maximas]

Yeah Dimuth probably won't be dropped for a while, this experiment needed to happen earlier but they kept picking Kusal and gave up too late, I'm really concerned about no 7 and 8 in this team, neither can contribute meaningfully with the bat or ball, one of them needs to be a specialist IMO

 

[viriya]

If Perera goes for anything less than 6 an over it will be a failure on NZ's part.

 

[Maximas]

Herath is the best slow bowler in ODIs in world cricket atm.

Since a certain bowler from Pakistan is no longer legal..

Senanayake is better by some distance

 

[Flem274*]

Perera the guy we need to target on this deck imo. Enough pace to play with on a slow one. The spinners and mediums will be tough going if they bowl well.

Like that.

 

[hendrix]

If Perera goes for anything less than 6 an over it will be a failure on NZ's part.

Absolutely

 

[viriya]

Taylor is well and truly Herath's bunny now.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah Dimuth probably won't be dropped for a while, this experiment needed to happen earlier but they kept picking Kusal and gave up too late, I'm really concerned about no 7 and 8 in this team, neither can contribute meaningfully with the bat or ball, one of them needs to be a specialist IMO

If Thirimanne is going to continue being block bash at a strike rate of 70 odd then he should open imo.

Yeah we're in trouble here. Elliott on a slow deck against three spinners will be a challenge for him.

 

[jonbrooks]

Really feeling for Taylor here. He's in horrible form. Perhaps he should take a B Mac approach and start hitting out?

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah Dimuth probably won't be dropped for a while, this experiment needed to happen earlier but they kept picking Kusal and gave up too late, I'm really concerned about no 7 and 8 in this team, neither can contribute meaningfully with the bat or ball, one of them needs to be a specialist IMO

The problem is that the specialists in line to replace them are pretty dire. Malinga will come in for one of Jeevan or Perera if he's fit but otherwise I think you're probably better off rolling with this than picking Lakmal or Prasad.