***Official*** India in Sri Lanka 2015

[weldone]

Come on guys. Don't be so negative before the match. Let us hope Pujara scores a massive century in this match.

 

[YorksLanka]

I would say they should bat him at 4 and Angelo at 5.. Will help Mathews bowl a bit more too, which he should, as the 3rd or 4th seamer in any pitch or conditions.

For me 3.thirri, 4 . Mathews 5.chandi 6. Tharanga , 7 we need to find!!

 

[smash84]

what's up with Sangers not playing full series?

First against pak, and now retires halfway through the indian one?

 

[indiaholic]

Have no idea how Rohit suddenly became the incumbent. So weird.

You know it is a business decision.

 

[YorksLanka]

what's up with Sangers not playing full series?

First against pak, and now retires halfway through the indian one?

The word in SL is that Sanga had already planned to retire before both series and in doing so had given his word to Graham Ford that he would play for Surrey, then the board asked him to reconsider so that we didn't lose Mahela and him at the same time so he compromised by agreeing to miss some of the SL matches to play for Surrey as promised..not ideal for us but I can see both sides tbh..

 

[Cruxdude]

Just weird that you leave the team at 1-1 in both the series.

 

[weldone]

Safe to say that Ashwin would've owned him in the last test too, given how Sanga was defending against spinners with hard hands.

 

[harsh.ag]

He isn't the only one getting hard for Ashwin

 

[weldone]

Is there any team news? What will be SL's batting order? Will Binny be persisted?

 

[Migara]

He isn't the only one getting hard for Ashwin

Use of crease by Sanga was pathetic against him. Player like Ranatunga or Tillekaratne would have played 80% of bowling on the backfoot, and when they pressed forward they made sure they drove it pretty hard, sometimes jumping out of the crease. There was an epic innings from Tillekaratne of 80 in 110 balls in India, against Rajesh Chauhan, who was chucking it big time, bowling close to 100kmph, and spinning it like Murali. SL did crumble but Hashan played a breathtaking innings at #3, best I have seen against an off spinner who is spinning it a mile with pace.

 

[Migara]

The debate on Mubarak vs Kusal Janith vs Tharanga is interesting. For once, I would pick Tharanga as the first batsman in my side after Mathews and Chandimal. Tharanga is one of the batsmen in past who has taken Aswin to the cleaners.

Kaushal Silva, Karunarathne, Tharanga, Thirimanne, Chandimal, Mathews, Mubarak, Prasad, Kaushal, Herath, Nuwan Pradeep

 

[weldone]

Don't think Mathews will bat at 6, especially after Sanga is gone.

 

[Migara]

Mathews and Chandimal can exchange their places.

 

[weldone]

No. 6 is too low for Chandimal too I think. But I also think someone other than Chandimal should keep.

 

[Migara]

Chandimal should not keep, I agree. But Kusal Janith is a non-starter against quality spin. I would use him on an overseas tour instead. He's a player who clearly like pace and bounce

 

[weldone]

Chandimal should not keep, I agree. But Kusal Janith is a non-starter against quality spin. I would use him on an overseas tour instead. He's a player who clearly like pace and bounce

How about opening with Kusal Perera and dropping Kaushal Silva down the order and throwing the keeping gloves at him? Mubarak can surely be dropped.

 

[Migara]

How about opening with Kusal Perera and dropping Kaushal Silva down the order and throwing the keeping gloves at him?

It had been tried before, but Kaushal is way too defensive for a #7. But, he plays spin well, so could be a option against India, but not against any opposition with quality pace, because he takes ages to get in. Against up coming WI tour would be the perfect opportunity to blood in KJP, as the bowlers will be fast and bit erratic, and that's what KJP loves.

 

[harsh.ag]

It had been tried before, but Kaushal is way too defensive for a #7. But, he plays spin well, so could be a option against India, but not against any opposition with quality pace, because he takes ages to get in.

Why is this a problem?

 

[Migara]

Why is this a problem?

We have basically two #10s and two #11s batting after Kaushal (if he keeps). It demands a player who could boss the situation. KJP is for that kind of player, and Chandimal as well. Kaushal Silva cannot boss the proceedings, he is more a limpet like accumulator. He would have been invaluable if we had a bowling line up of Ravi Ratnayake, Vaas and Rumesh Ratnayake, all averaging 15-25 with the bat, and prepared to play the long haul and get some blows from the fast bowlers. Prasad, Herath, PHT and Nuwan Pradeep are not of that class.

 

[Dan]

Not to mention Kaushal is arguably the most underrated opening batsman in the world. Dude's a gun up top.