***Official*** South Africa in Sri Lanka 2014

[viriya]

It's not in isolation if you consider the year he's had having. He's clearly changed as a bowler since the beginning of 2013 having spent a lot of time working with Vaas, His stats before this year reflect a bowler who was unable to either contain or strike with any consistency, whereas his stats this year show a bowler who can now contain effectively and make use of the moving ball to take wickets, having watched Lakmal on either side of that break I can certainly see why the stats show such an improvement.

Just watched some of the highlights and I like Lakmal's control - hadn't seen much of him before and with Eranga I think they definitely look good. Didn't know that Lakmal has been better lately - hopefully that continues.

 

[karan316]

SL pacers have improved a lot, some of them are not having impressive stats but there has been a massive change in the way they have bowled recently.

Lakmal is going to make Flem lose his house. Eranga is their best pace bowler for tests who has performed really well so far, definitely a long term prospect. Prasad bowled quite aggressively in England and troubled the batsmen. Kulasekara is a great asset for SL, still think he'll have a role to play in the test side. And Mathews is one of the best pace bowling all rounder currently across all formats.

Also think Welegedara is good as a back up seamer in case any of these guys get injured, due to his age, SL selectors might not look to invest in him, but he can fit in case of injuries or if SL looks to rotate bowlers if required.

Nuwan Pradeep is too raw, don't think he should be around that test squad for now.

And is Isuru Udana doing anything of note to get a place in the WC? I know he is not in the SL selector's radar, but how's he doing overall? His stats look OK on cricinfo for the last few games.

 

[Maximas]

Would be tough for Lakmal to get his average under 40, had a shocking start to his career, he'll need to play a lot of test matches and retain his form for a good few years. Kula is an asset, but with the development of Lakmal and Eranga and the fact that he's not getting any younger (plus he's been quite poor outside the SC throughout his career) I'm beginning to think he no longer has a role to play in this attack. Pradeep is indeed a little too raw at this stage, but there has been some genuine improvement over the last year or so and he has the ingredients to become a decent strike bowler, with Prasad in his 30s Pradeep could eventually develop into his role one day perhaps. As for Udana, looks like his stats are decent lately but from what I've seen the selectors seem more keen on Vishwa Fernanado and Lahiru Gamage going by previous squads and 'A' team selections

 

[karan316]

Last year Colts had selected Kamran Khan in their squad, he is capable of touching 140 regularly, India has given absolutely no opportunities to him so far(Warne backed him a lot and picked him for his IPL team), I felt really nice when he was selected for Colts, they were quite happy to have him, but he just played a couple of games for them in which he did well and disappeared again. Any idea why he didn't play more for them??

M talking about this guy
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/391121.html

 

[Maximas]

Don't know the story, didn't know about him sorry

 

[hendrix]

I like the batting order too providing de Villiers is actually going to keep when he's fully fit. I know there's a big concern about his workload, but when you bat him at five, don't let him captain and don't give him the gloves either, you're really making him much more of a bit part player than he should be.

He's been a specialist batsman for a lot of his career. Don't see the problem in it, tbh.

And Mathews is one of the best pace bowling all rounder currently across all formats.

He's not a pace-bowling all rounder in Test cricket. He's an excellent batsman who bowls about the same as a part-timer.

 

[Maximas]

Yeah, he's especially innocuous at home, can be handy when you actually get something out of the pitch when you bang it in though as we saw at Headingley

 

[viriya]

Yeah, he's especially innocuous at home, can be handy when you actually get something out of the pitch when you bang it in though as we saw at Headingley

I feel like he gives up on himself way too early in Test cricket.. If someone else was captaining him he would be bowling much more.

 

[Maximas]

Big session coming up, a couple of early poles before 300 would be swell

 

[Maximas]

Good reward for a terrific morning spell from Lakmal, has gotten the ball to move just enough and seems to be getting something from the pitch every now and then as well

 

[viriya]

This is the partnership that decides if SA makes <400 or 400+...

 

[hendrix]

That's quite a bit above "meh" from Lakmal.

Especially with Eranga out for the rest of the test.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

We must target 400 at least. Will have to rely on Philander to get us to 450.

 

[hendrix]

Good stuff from SL.

 

[Swingpanzee]

400 would be the bare minimum here. C'mon Philander, we depend on you.

 

[Bahnz]

Fantastic fightback from Sri Lanka so far. Only that fat little **** standing in the way of a keeping SA to a sub-par score in the first innings

 

[harsh.ag]

Why was Quinton de Kock sent ahead of Duminy?

 

[kykweer.proteas]

I think Duminy is more in the team for his bowling these days to be honest. Filling an all rounder roll because his batting is more miss than hit.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

How is the pitch holding up?

111.2
0
Herath to Philander, no run, how did that miss? This not only turned but kept low and missed the outside edge and
the off stump, puff of dust

 

[harsh.ag]

Ah.. I really think South Africa have a really good balance in their side for this series. Hope AB keeps playing as a specialist bat. Though if he does, he should be captain IMO.

Sri Lanka have bowled 80 overs with their spinners. Matthew should be bowling more..