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

[Maximas]

Yeah but is it more effective than Herath or Senanayake? Doubt it

 

[NZTailender]

Would play Boult, Mills, Vettori and NcCullum for this match with Anderson & Kane making up the other ten. Make Boult and Mills do some death work ffs.

 

[Bahnz]

Would probably give Anderson a rest and have Neesham play a couple of games. Will be interesting to see how Milne is coming along.

 

[hendrix]

Yeah but is it more effective than Herath or Senanayake? Doubt it

agreed.

Jeevan is probably a nothing spot though. He's been complete rubbish. Better to have a bowler (Ajantha, Eranga) or better yet a proper batsman (Kaushal) in the squad.

 

[hendrix]

Would probably give Anderson a rest and have Neesham play a couple of games. Will be interesting to see how Milne is coming along.

If he's fit he has to play, IMO. I fully agree with the precaution to ensure he's fully fit, but once he's there he needs both the momentum and the actual overs under his belt because both he and Boult are very inexperienced.

I'd go:
Mills, Boult, Milne
NcCullum/Vettori

Anderson also has to keep playing while he's fit.

Once we play Pakistan, put out our top team.

 

[Maximas]

agreed.

Jeevan is probably a nothing spot though. He's been complete rubbish. Better to have a bowler (Ajantha, Eranga) or better yet a proper batsman (Kaushal) in the squad.

Yep, agree with that, a middle order batsmen should have got his spot in the squad, would allow Thisara to bat 8 in the final XI

 

[viriya]

Yeah but is it more effective than Herath or Senanayake? Doubt it

I'm not suggesting either should be dropped for Ajantha.. just that he is twice as likely as Jeevan to get a wicket (45 vs 21 avg).. Whatever the runs Jeevan might get over Ajantha, it's not worth that.

 

[hendrix]

Yep, agree with that, a middle order batsmen should have got his spot in the squad, would allow Thisara to bat 8 in the final XI

I think they've taken a gamble with both Thisara and Jeevan. Even though Thisara has failed he's worth it anyway because of the power he provides at 7. Jeevan has failed in a way they wouldn't have expected.

I think they were hoping he'd be able to bowl 5-8 middle overs and average 20 with the bat, which might've been worth it, but he hasn't even managed that.

He might do better in Aus.

 

[Maximas]

I'm not suggesting either should be dropped for Ajantha.. just that he is twice as likely as Jeevan to get a wicket (45 vs 21 avg).. Whatever the runs Jeevan might get over Ajantha, it's not worth that.

Except Jeevan is actually in the team to score runs whereas Ajantha wouldn't be, so therefore they aren't competing for a spot and a batsmen or another all-rounder should take his place

 

[Flem274*]

I think there's something to work with when it comes to Jeevan Mendis' bowling, but the batting is pretty bad.

20/20 hindsight says use the advantage Sangakkara, Dilshan and Mathews provide you with their ability to bat higher up and pick the best hitter you can find at seven. Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis are good playesr in theory and I can understand their initial selections but they're dire.

I'm not suggesting either should be dropped for Ajantha.. just that he is twice as likely as Jeevan to get a wicket (45 vs 21 avg).. Whatever the runs Jeevan might get over Ajantha, it's not worth that.

Stop it. Ajantha Mendis has been worked out and is a proven spud.

 

[viriya]

Stop it. Ajantha Mendis has been worked out and is a proven spud.

If this is "been worked out" I'd like to see what isn't:
Bowling records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Whatever, SL is a lost cause anyway, Mahela's not gonna open, Malinga is a fat ****, time to jump ship already.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah look I have absolutely no idea how Mendis takes wickets tbh. We have a laugh about Mitch M's luck but he has nothing on Mendis.

Linking to a table that shows Shami and Jordan are apparently the second and third best bowlers in the world is pretty funny though. Thanks.

And Sri Lanka are far from a lost cause. They have a very powerful top five and a good bowling attack if they pick the right players. They're not favourites but they're well in this.

 

[Maximas]

It's a worry how much the team falls apart when the big guns don't fire though, they'll carry us pretty well and we'll threaten to fluke our way into a final or something but without a more even contribution across the team it's hard to see us as true contenders

 

[Flem274*]

Everyone has cracks, even the two favourites South Africa and Australia. Your team should make the semi-finals imo. Unlike India you can bowl and your batting is still h4x enough. It might even be worth swapping Chandimal and Mathews in the order so Angelo can control the end of the innings at #6.

Knock outs are more about nerve than how the teams look on paper anyway, and Sri Lanka have loads of guys who have experience in winning semi finals.

 

[viriya]

Linking to a table that shows Shami and Jordan are apparently the second and third best bowlers in the world is pretty funny though. Thanks.

Obviously I wasn't implying that it was the "best record in 2014" list.. more like the combination of wickets, wickets/match, average make it so that you can't just dismiss his record as mere luck. He's very good vs a new batsmen - usually does a double strike when he gets one.

 

[Flem274*]

He's a spud who gets smacked around or milked until someone spoons one to the field. The economy backs me up.

Senananananananananananana and fatty >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mendis

 

[Bahnz]

Brendon McCullum to be rested as Black Caps freshen up for Cricket World Cup | Stuff.co.nz

Fast bowler Adam Milne is the only confirmed scratching for tomorrow's day-night match.

Still recovering from a side strain, Milne is making good progress and could be considered for a return in Saturday's game against Pakistan.

"Adam is the only one who won't be available for selection tomorrow. He had a bowl yesterday and came through that pretty well. He'll have another bowl tomorrow and if he comes through that well then he'll be available for selection on Saturday," McMillan said.

 

[hendrix]

So excited Latham is opening. Tempted to take the day off. Gonna be glorious.

 

[Dan]

He has 10 career wickets in Aus/NZ/England/RSA combined ffs. His record looks as good as it does because he has 45 career wickets against ZimBang/associates, with the Zimbabwe wickets coming at <10 apiece.

110 of his 148 career wickets were taken in Asia for crying out loud. He averages >50 in Australia (tiny sample size) and has never played in New Zealand. Combine the stats with, y'know, actually watching him bowl, and it becomes painfully obvious that he isn't in Sri Lanka's top 2 spin options for a Aus/NZ World Cup.

There's literally no place for him in the squad. He's an overrated hack. Not even a spud -- he's a genuine hack.

 

[Greenlite]

So excited Latham is opening. Tempted to take the day off. Gonna be glorious.

Is he keeping too? If not then he might have 2 games, one opening and keeping, or opening both and Baz batting at 7. Guptill vs Latham will be more interesting than the game itself.