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

Greenlite

U19 Debutant
Would you guys play the first XI for a few games before the WC opener, or keep others guessing until the last minute?
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
Would you guys play the first XI for a few games before the WC opener, or keep others guessing until the last minute?
I'd probably play the first XI once against Pakistan, then continue rotating one or two players for the warm ups.

Fact is our first XI bowling team can change from game to game. Only our batting lineup looks pretty much set in stone. With Latham there to cover injury for pretty much any position in the top 7.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
Have to say that I do love having the new balls at each end. Mills and Boult were able to apply pressure at the top of the innings (excluding Mills' 3 pies and Boults' tendancy to leak a few legside wides). Then when Sri Lanka felt like they could start opening up, Dan our peanut butter strangled them at one end and let the jam (Anderson, Mcclenenen) at the other take the wickets.
 

Jezroy

State Captain
I reckon they should probably give McCullum the next couple of games off. Who'd want to go to Wellington anyway? Talk about others being rested as well - Anderson and Ronchi haven't rested yet. Wonder if/when that'll happen.
 

Jezroy

State Captain
I'd probably play the first XI once against Pakistan, then continue rotating one or two players for the warm ups.

Fact is our first XI bowling team can change from game to game. Only our batting lineup looks pretty much set in stone. With Latham there to cover injury for pretty much any position in the top 7.
Or Latham to cover lack of form.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
I reckon they should probably give McCullum the next couple of games off. Who'd want to go to Wellington anyway? Talk about others being rested as well - Anderson and Ronchi haven't rested yet. Wonder if/when that'll happen.
Wellington is the best city in New Zealand.

If you meant the Cake Tin I'd agree entirely. It's like a concrete piss/sweat/fried box.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
So will the Boult haters show themselves after today? Boult 1 Old Man River 0.
Haha I've been super critical of the Boult selection but you're crazy if you think anyone doesn't actually think Boult is a good bowler. He has shown signs in the last two games that he may warrant his position in the squad, but I think Henry has bowled better than him in recent memory and I also believe Mills has not degenerated as much as you do.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
:laugh:

two good performances in his entire career and Mills takes 0-29 from 6.

Conclusive man, conclusive.
Mills bowled alright as well, a few balls that went wide when his line strayed but he swung it as much as you'd hope in his first two overs.
 

Maximas

Cricketer Of The Year
So will the Boult haters show themselves after today? Boult 1 Old Man River 0.
wow

This whole tour is becoming a bit of a disaster now, our lesser players are having all sorts of trouble contributing and the team balance is all wrong from a selection POV
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
Say what you like about Vettori's strike rate, but 22 runs off 8 overs is murderously tight if you're defending 320.
Was robbed of a wicket by Taylor being so honest.
Regardless of how cricinfo portrayed the situation, the umpire gave him, Mahela was walking and it was Taylor who asked for it to be looked at.
 

Jezroy

State Captain
Wellington is the best city in New Zealand.

If you meant the Cake Tin I'd agree entirely. It's like a concrete piss/sweat/fried box.
I'm sorry. I was trolling. Wellington is a lovely place.

Haven't been to The 'Tin yet though. First time will be quarter final time. I suspect NZ will be playing.
 

viriya

International Captain
wow

This whole tour is becoming a bit of a disaster now, our lesser players are having all sorts of trouble contributing and the team balance is all wrong from a selection POV
yea SL didn't have much of a chance in the WC but this just destroyed any semblance of it.. NZ on the other hand will probably never get a better chance to win the whole thing.
 

Howsie

International Captain
Yeah, I mean Taylor was clearly never interested in the second run.
Taylor was dogging him all day. There was a period of five minutes just after Williamson went past 50 when on one occasion Taylor barely getting out of first gear cost Williamson a second (and Williamson let him have it). And the other an over later where Williamson ran two and pushed Taylor hard (the one where if Perrea was behind the stumps he was a chance of running him out) and again WillIamson turned around and let him know he wasn't happy.

Taylor was a joke between the wickets today and I really hope he gets a rark up over it.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
wow

This whole tour is becoming a bit of a disaster now, our lesser players are having all sorts of trouble contributing and the team balance is all wrong from a selection POV
It hasn't been that bad, the scoreboard may say 4-1 in our favour but it has been a pretty well fought series. Your bowling and late middle order are the big concerns.

You have a top five locked in:

Thirimanne
Dilshan
Sangakkara
Jayawardene
Mathews

All in form and they'll put a lot of teams under pressure. Your number 6 and 7 positions are massively in the air though, I felt pretty bad for Chandimal today since he got so badly sawn off.

I think the bowling is relatively straightforward as well, with Malinga, Kulasekara, Perera and Herath making up your other options.

Perera is there effectively as a specialist "on his day" and death bowler who can bat a bit. You have enough quality in Dilshan and Mathews to carry him IMO. The other options are all pretty class.

Sri Lanka have an outside chance at the semi finals as they pretty much always do. The future after Sangakkara, Malinga, Herath and Jayawardene all go does look a little bleak.
 

Howsie

International Captain
:laugh:

two good performances in his entire career and Mills takes 0-29 from 6.

Conclusive man, conclusive.
Mills was below average today. Didn't even look like taking a wicket and went for 25 off his first five up front. Boult on the other hand was sensational early doors, could've had one or even two and went for 10. Anyone without bias could see that, except for the haters obvs.
 

James

Cricket Web Owner
Good to see Mills come back in and bowled very well considering the lack of cricket he's had through recent times. I don't think we need to be too worried no matter who the selectors go with first game because I don't think there's any bowler within the bowling group who's really lacking form and confidence. Mills has enough experience to not be too troubled I would have thought and he'll probably play the next 3 matches I imagine to recapture his old form.

I suspect we'll see Southee/Mills/McClenaghan as the three seamers for the first WC match.

Haven't been to The 'Tin yet though. First time will be quarter final time. I suspect NZ will be playing.
Hopefully the Kiwis are playing!

Agree with Athlai, the stadium for me is the worst sporting event watching ground in the country.
 

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