**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[Legglancer]

So LankanPrince, since you seem to be quite an authority on specially the SL team do you think it was a good Idea to replace Kalutharna with Zoyza ?? I Considered him quite a powerful bat and I watched him thrash NZ and Pakistan couple of years ago and was quite disappointed when you mentioned that he maybe quite ineffective against a competant attack such as the aussies. The Lankan batsman unfortunately are finding it quite difficult to clear the boundary like their old brigade (Aravinda, Arjuna ect) and Zoyza was quite ineffective in the bowling department also .... Who should replace him in your openion be a bowler or allrounder ???? Does SL have anyone who can use the long-handle effectively ???? I dont think they need anymore nudgers.

 

[LankanPrince]

The main reason why Zoysa is usually recalled to the SL team when all else fails is because he is favourite with Sanath Jayasuriya who can still be quite influential (indirectly) on the selectors choices. The truth of the matter is that Zoysa does not have the required fitness and work ethic to play consistently well. He undoubtedly has talent and the physical build to be a dangerous bowler and good slogger. However he has never really been a player who gives 100% effort every match like Chaminda Vaas. The issue you raised in your post has always been a problem with Sri Lanka. We have never had a second fast bowler who has had the consistency or cutting edge to be a permanent partner for Vaas. At the moment the best candidates for second fast bowler position are Prabath Nissanka, Charitha Buddhika and Dilhara Fernando. If Dilhara was fit he would definitely be the second fast bowler in the team. He has true speed and can make the ball move of the seam very well. However his main problem has been his fitness which unfortunately for him has limited his appearances at the top level. Prabath Nissanka also proved his worth in the SL tour of West Indies in 2003 showing prodigious bounce and pace. However his batting ability would not qualify him for the lower order slog position. Charitha Buddhika definitely has a good technique with bat and a FC average of about 20. His bowling is also quite effective being similar to Ajit Agarkar, skiddy and gets swing.

However I really believe that Suresh Perera deserves recall to the team. He can be considered a bowling all rounder in Sri Lanka. He really can clear the boundaries with the bat and is also a handy medium fast bowler as he proved in the 1998 series in England.

The main problem in Sri Lanka is that the candidates who really deserve to play in the position you describe are hindered by selectors interference. They think that picking new 18 year schoolboys for every tour is the solution, it isn't. Sri Lanka need to establish a long term fast bowling partnership like the good old days of Chaminda Vaas and Pramodya Wickremasinghe.

However in Sri Lanka there is a real lack of wreckless, aggressive batsman who will go for the boundary every ball. SL were the pioneers of wreckless batsman in WC 96 and now we are losing the supply of them. Anyway thanx for asking and the complements bro.

 

[Ferd]

He's hardly in the best himself yet!

Clarke got a 5-for and a duck. Pretty average. But how many runs have Bevan socred in the last 2 series? Nothing over 50 in a match if I can remember properly

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Clarke got a 5-for and a duck. Pretty average. But how many runs have Bevan socred in the last 2 series? Nothing over 50 in a match if I can remember properly

Bevan got 75 and 56 of a total of 195 runs @ 32.5 in the recent VB Series.

So far he has 55 runs @ 27.5 in SL.

Clarke has 31 runs @ 15.5 in SL thus far and got 63 as his only fifty in the VB Series. He got a total of 248 runs @ 31 in that series, but player 3 more games than Bevan.

 

[Legglancer]

However in Sri Lanka there is a real lack of wreckless, aggressive batsman who will go for the boundary every ball. SL were the pioneers of wreckless batsman in WC 96 and now we are losing the supply of them. Anyway thanx for asking and the complements bro.

Thanks for your views LP makes sense ....

What do you think of S. Jayantha who is in the SL one day pool .... he is supposed to be quite Explosive and he scored a quick 50 against the aussies at the practice game ...?

 

[age_master]

Clarke got a 5-for and a duck. Pretty average. But how many runs have Bevan socred in the last 2 series? Nothing over 50 in a match if I can remember properly

generally, Bevan bats negativley when hes out of form, spending plenty of time and occupying the crease. Clarke still goes for it, looking to hit boundaries and pushing plenty of singles - bevans also not as good at pushing the ball around as he used to be...

 

[LankanPrince]

Thanks for your views LP makes sense ....

What do you think of S. Jayantha who is in the SL one day pool .... he is supposed to be quite Explosive and he scored a quick 50 against the aussies at the practice game ...?

I haven't heard much about Saman Jayantha. All I really know is that he is experienced batting all rounder in the Sri Lankan first class scene with batting ave 31 and bowling 28. He has a couple of hundreds to his name (First Class) but I do not know how well he will transfer to ODIs. My feeling is that he won't get picked. Sri Lankan selectors tend to be quite ambitious with selecting untried players but they rarely make it to the playing XI. Will be interesting if he is picked because he looks a good player, statistics wise. The district game in Sri Lanka is gradually improving as they have recently introduced a provincial tournament where sides are more balanced. Previously there used to be matches where one team had many of the Sri Lankan ODI players playing against rookie opposition, hardly preparation for international matches. However I have yet to see a player who has recently come fresh from the First Class game in SL and made a big impact in first few matches (with the exception of Thilan Samaraweera). If Jayantha is picked don't expect to see him playing his top level in his first few matches, the step up from FC cricketer to ODI cricketer is steep.

 

[Andre]

I don't like to rave on but... HAIL THE GREAT MAN, MARTYN!

AS much as I hate to say it, his innings was painful to watch.....Little or no idea against the spinners, and it got worse the longer he kept batting.

 

[Andre]

I also think one of Clarke's assets is Bevan's current lack of form...:P

I don't think so at all, considering they are not in competition for a place.

If it works in anyone's favour, it's Simon Katich.

 

[Ferd]

I was thinking that if Bevan was in good form Clarke would be the weakest link but at the moment I believe Bevan is. How old is Bevan now anyway?

 

[cricket_spider]

Who is going to win today

4th ODI
======

Odds are very good on SL


Well, if SL wins the series will be alive & it will make Final more interesting.

What you guys think ??

Any news from SL ?? Any comments ?

 

[Ferd]

What time is the Game EST or Central time or whatever Adeladie is.

 

[cricket_spider]

Game will start in 2 hrs.

===================

Who is going to win today ??

4th ODI
======

Odds are very good on SL


Well, if SL wins the series will be alive & it will make Final more interesting.

What you guys think ??

Any news from SL ?? Any comments ?

Thanks

 

[Craig]

Well Zoysa is out. They will bring in Lokuarachhi or a another pace bowler who'se name I havent heard of.

 

[Gaijin-san]

I thought Lokuarachchi was a leggie. Ah well, I've never seen him anyway.

 

[Craig]

I thought Lokuarachchi was a leggie. Ah well, I've never seen him anyway.

He is.

If you want a similar example, think Cameron White. Lokuarachchi is a similar type of bowler.

Unchanged team for Australia.

Australia 26-0.

 

[Craig]

Gilchrist walks.

Australia 28-1.

 

[Linda]

So all that hoo-ha about whether Gilly would walk again or not have been answered...
Meanwhile, Ponting is a freak, first two balls hit for four.

 

[Linda]

AS much as I hate to say it, his innings was painful to watch.....Little or no idea against the spinners, and it got worse the longer he kept batting.

I like to call it "gritting it out".

 

[Craig]

Martyn must really be lacking some confidence at the moment. Ponting is on fire.