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

[Zinzan]

Combined ODI side anyone for a World Cup?

Dilshan
McCullum
Sangakkara
Williamson
Jayawardene/Taylor
Mathews
Ronchi
Herath
Southee
Henry
Malinga

You could easily put in the loser of Jayawardene/Taylor, Elliott, Anderson, Senanayake, Kulasekara, McClenaghan or Mills in the team too.

Not a bad side, but I'd have Vettori over Herath in ODI's, yes, even today. Obviously Herath >>>>>>> over Vettori is tests. I do rate Herath as a fine bowler, but he should never ever have been able to claim those freakish figures he did against us in the T20 WC & IMO is a better test than short-form bowler.

Also think Taylor marginally > Jayawardene in ODI's.

I'd select Mathews over Anderson because of his superior bowling, but if it came down to ODI batting alone as a no.5 or 6 I'd actually be tempted to select Anderson for his brutality.

Vettori's selection also strengthens the batting.

Dishan
McCullum (c)
Williamson
Sangakkara
Taylor
Mathews
Ronchi (wk)
Vettori
Southee
Henry/Mills/Boult/Milne/Mitch (seriously still undecided on our bowlers and they're all better than any SL pacer outside Malinga)
Malinga

 

[Maximas]

I'd select Mathews over Anderson because of his superior bowling, but if it came down to ODI batting alone as a no.5 or 6 I'd actually be tempted to select Anderson for his brutality.

You're kidding

 

[Zinzan]

You're kidding

Not at all, considering following a top 5 of Dishan, McCullum, Williamson, Sanga & Taylor with the guy who has the highest SR in ODI history with an average of almost 40, that's the ultimate cream on the cake. So for that reason alone.

Fact remains Mathews is a really cunning an effective short-form bowler & Anderson is generally cannon-fooder, so Mathews gets in overall.

Now, if you're asking who I'd rather bat for my life if the team was 50/4 , it would be Mathews hands-down. But if that strong top 5 laid a platform, I'd prefer Anderson to put the icing on the cake ( can't believe I'm doing it now) than Mathews.

 

[Maximas]

This is obviously true in nearly all cases. I think it's pretty clear watching Mendis bowl that his skills and methods wouldn't really translate to these conditions though.

A lot has been said about Jeevan but I think he was more competing with Chaturanga and Prasanna. His performances against NZ have shown early indications of it possibly being the wrong call to pick him over those two, but I don't think that really has anything to do with Ajantha. Another specialist bowler in the squad would've been overkill given Mathews exists IMO.

Thank you! Anyone who thinks Jeevan's selection has come at the cost of Ajantha to any degree is dreaming, being able to bat was a pre-requisite for getting the spot Jeevan did (he got it over Prasanna, Chatarunga, Vithanage and Priyanjan ftr), Ajantha can't bat, the squad would have been stupidly unbalanced had 3 specialist spinners made it. Priyanjan should have got it IMO but Tharanga may have been a decent pick too

 

[Athlai]

The need for Anderson is canceled out by having Ronchi at 7.

You have a top 6 full of blokes who can strike when they're set already and Mathews is a all-round better ODI player than Anderson (and pretty much anyone). Ronchi at 7 means you have all the late over biffing you could need.

 

[Maximas]

Not at all, considering following a top 5 of Dishan, McCullum, Williamson, Sanga & Taylor with the guy who has the highest SR in ODI history with an average of almost 40, that's the ultimate cream on the cake. So for that reason alone.

Fact remains Mathews is a really cunning an effective short-form bowler & Anderson is generally cannon-fooder, so Mathews gets in overall.

Now, if you're asking who I'd rather bat for my life if the team was 50/4 , it would be Mathews hands-down. But if that strong top 5 laid a platform, I'd prefer Anderson to put the icing on the cake ( can't believe I'm doing it now) than Mathews.

I thought these combined XI's were meant to be more of a reflection of who is a better overall player for the spot rather than who is better for the situation of being in an awesome team that doesn't actually exist tbh, in any case when he has the freedom Matthews is able to hit sixes at will it seems, has an amazing ability to clear the boundary. Also Matthews uses himself as a bowler way better than Bmac uses Anderson.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah mathews is superb with the tail and at finding the fence. plus he's more adaptable.

anderson is a really good cricketer and will be superb but mathews is far superior at everything right now. well anderson is probably better at hitting sixes but by nowhere near enough. mathews can hit a very long ball himself.

 

[YorksLanka]

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.

really? i hope that you are joking as for me, supporting your team in good and bad is what being a true fan is all about. Personally,whilst it frustrates me if we lose, as long as the team gives 100% then as a fan, i cant ask for any more(sometimes you have to accept theopposition played the better cricket), its when they dont perform to their potential then that does annoy me.

 

[Maximas]

really? i hope that you are joking as for me, supporting your team in good and bad is what being a true fan is all about.

One feels that being excessively negative as a coping mechanism is what viriya is all about, can't say I blame him sometimes

 

[Zinzan]

I thought these combined XI's were meant to be more of a reflection of who is a better overall player for the spot rather than who is better for the situation of being in an awesome team that doesn't actually exist tbh, in any case when he has the freedom Matthews is able to hit sixes at will it seems, has an amazing ability to clear the boundary. Also Matthews uses himself as a bowler way better than Bmac uses Anderson.

Did you miss my XI? I selected Mathews & made the point his bowling is much more effective than Anderson's.

But that is a good question about selecting these best combined XI's, whether you just take the best player or whether you look at the balance of the side. If one was doing the latter, then Anderson & Ronchi following that top 5 could really do some damage. But I'd much prefer Mathews if the side was 3-4 down early on.

 

[Maximas]

Did you miss my XI? I selected Mathews & made the point his bowling is much more effective than Anderson's.

Yeah which I agree with, however I think when you compare their bowling the way you described both of them the way they are used as bowlers plays a big role in their respective records, which I didn't feel you took into account, Matthews has had it easier as an ODI bowler from what I've seen

 

[Zinzan]

Yeah which I agree with, however I think when you compare their bowling the way you described both of them the way they are used as bowlers plays a big role in their respective records, which I didn't feel you took into account, Matthews has had it easier as an ODI bowler from what I've seen

Yeah mathews is superb with the tail and at finding the fence. plus he's more adaptable.

anderson is a really good cricketer and will be superb but mathews is far superior at everything right now. well anderson is probably better at hitting sixes but by nowhere near enough. mathews can hit a very long ball himself.

Yeah bingo, your self contradiction there says it all really. Anderson is the better man to finish it if the set-up is ideal.

It's funny how people take things out of context sometimes to quickly jump in with the popular view. I've already said I select Mathews twice now, I just happened to say Anderson might be better at nailing the coffin shut, hardly that absurd a suggestion given one averages 40 at 84 & the other 37 @ 128 (the highest SR in ODI history).

But chill people, I selected Mathews

 

[cnerd123]

Forum's kinda slow today, people need someone to attack.

 

[Maximas]

It's funny how people take things out of context sometimes to quickly jump in with the popular view. I've already said I select Mathews twice now, I just happened to say Anderson might be better at nailing the coffin shut, hardly that absurd a suggestion given one averages 40 at 84 & the other 37 @ 128 (the highest SR in ODI history).

No, but the original post didn't really stipulate your reasoning for deciding that brutality was the only criteria for that particular selection, plus I'm not fully convinced anyway. Also I find myself not liking this use of stats all that much, Dhoni's SR is 89 but who is the better hitter?

 

[Zinzan]

No, but the original post didn't really stipulate your reasoning for deciding that brutality was the only criteria for that particular selection, plus I'm not fully convinced anyway. Also I find myself not liking this use of stats all that much, Dhoni's SR is 89 but who is the better hitter?

Hence why I selected Mathews.

Not sure if you noticed that Maximas.

 

[cnerd123]

Oh Anderson's better than Dhoni as a pure out and out hitter. MSD manipulates bowlers brilliantly, Anderson is like Afridi in that he can hit literally anything out of the park. Defo think Anderson's a better hitter.

 

[Maximas]

Hence why I selected Mathews.

Mate I've been responding to this statement the whole time

but if it came down to ODI batting alone as a no.5 or 6 I'd actually be tempted to select Anderson for his brutality.

 

[Jimbo the giant]

Mathews has never bowled enough as his record would suggest, I don't think that can be considered better use. Anderson frequently bowls in the most difficult situations and as an inexperienced bowler he has been taken to a bit but he will be a better bowler for it.

If you look at their stats bowling wise Anderson is hands down better statistically. Mathews hasn't proven to have near Anderson's wicket taking ability.

 

[Zinzan]

Mathews has never bowled enough as his record would suggest, I don't think that can be considered better use. Anderson frequently bowls in the most difficult situations and as an inexperienced bowler he has been taken to a bit but he will be a better bowler for it.

If you look at their stats bowling wise Anderson is hands down better statistically. Mathews hasn't proven to have near Anderson's wicket taking ability.

See I think Mathew's ODI bowling is much superior to that of Anderson's. I think his overall batting is superior too, I'd just prefer Anderson coming in if the team was perfectly set up for the last 10 over bash. Just like I'd like to see Anderson promoted ahead of Ross Taylor if NZ lost their 2nd wicket in the 40th over batting first.

 

[viriya]

really? i hope that you are joking as for me, supporting your team in good and bad is what being a true fan is all about. Personally,whilst it frustrates me if we lose, as long as the team gives 100% then as a fan, i cant ask for any more(sometimes you have to accept theopposition played the better cricket), its when they dont perform to their potential then that does annoy me.

I am traitorous till the team starts doing well again, then I act like I never left. It's a good strategy to not fall into depression. You should try it sometimes. Right now I'm a diehard NZ fan. When they **** it up I will switch to SA. When they choke as usual I switch to basketball as my main sport.