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

[Maximas]

Stop the bull****, get Randiv in.

Indeed

 

[Maximas]

maybe its because he still lacks a potent stock ball.

Yep, this why Narine has become a world class LO spinner and Mendis remains a fringe international spinner, the stock ball is still just a rolled off-break delivered quite quickly, the googly is Mendis' only real potent weapon.

 

[karan316]

Yep, this why Narine has become a world class LO spinner and Mendis remains a fringe international spinner, the stock ball is still just a rolled off-break delivered quite quickly, the googly is Mendis' only real potent weapon.

Its the carrom ball, not the googly. His googly is pretty good as a variation delivery, but the carrom ball can trouble any batsmen. And he has been bowling more carrom balls in ODIs recently. Its difficult to bowl them accurately(hence the higher economy rate), but the more he bowls them, the more are the chances of producing a few unplayable deliveries and picking wickets.

 

[karan316]

Yep, this why Narine has become a world class LO spinner and Mendis remains a fringe international spinner, the stock ball is still just a rolled off-break delivered quite quickly, the googly is Mendis' only real potent weapon.

Mendis has a better international record than Narine In all formats

Narine can be trusted to keep the batsmen quite in all situations though, Mendis can't do that. But at the same time Narine hasn't been that wicket taker that Mendis has been.

 

[Maximas]

Again I don't think career stats are a particularly useful tool in evaluating Mendis compared to other players, but we'll never agree on him.

Moving on, bright start here, good to see us win the toss, hopefully we put a big score on the board and put the saffers under pressure, a good opening stand or a second wicket stand is vital, the top order has been crucial to our success lately.

 

[Maximas]

Kusal starting to get on my nerves with all these soft dismissals, he's gotta stay in the team because he's a matchwinner, and our top order can afford to carry him if he fails, but I'd love to see him get a little more consistent and put a higher price on his wicket sometimes.

Some vintage Dilshan here too, thought his rapid-fire days were all but over

 

[viriya]

Thirimanna's SR is less than 70.. didn't know batsmen like that existed in 2014..

 

[Maximas]

Nice to see him look to settle in, we made a rapid start so we can afford a consolidation period and it's an ideal time for him to find some form and get his mind back in the right place, no 4 seems to be his spot, especially if we lose wickets early like today.

 

[viriya]

All this assumes he knows how to accelerate at the end... My money's on him throwing it away.. Never thought I'd say this but I'd take chandimal's failures over his...

 

[viriya]

Not sure why SL has persisted with Ashan... Isn't this pitch bouncy enough for Thisara? We could definitely use his batting.. Last time he was a t pallekele he **** on Robin Petersen for 34 runs in an over from what I recall..

 

[viriya]

There you go.. what did I say. At least he "fixed" his SR before he left I guess.

 

[Maximas]

He was doing the job of keeping the scoreboard ticking while we batted time and set ourselves up for a big finish, was doing it well too, I'd like to think he's done enough to convince the selectors that he's back in some ok form now, looked much more convincing anyway. Shame he threw it away like that.

The reason we are persisting with Priyanjan is because he's played well at this level and looks to be a good talent for the future, some people don't believe in knee-jerk reactions to everything

 

[viriya]

Not sure how you can say "definite bat" from that reply.. If anything it was overruled cos there was really no way of knowing for sure..

 

[viriya]

Mahela looking like he has trouble reading Tahir.. not a good sign for the Tests..

 

[Maximas]

That is indeed a worry, he's our trump card against spin, however it's always easier against mystery spinners in tests where you don't need to look to attack all the time

 

[viriya]

Let's see how fast the collapse is this time.

 

[Maximas]

This is why 7 batsmen can be handy I spose, our inablity to build big partnerships killing is so far this series

 

[viriya]

SL on track to lose this ODI series quite comfortably.. SA just have a clearly better side.. The Tests might be a bit more even with Herath making the difference.

 

[Maximas]

You are legit the most annoyingly pessimistic fan I've ever seen

 

[viriya]

You are legit the most annoyingly pessimistic fan I've ever seen

It's how I handle disappointment.. Set expectations down to rock bottom and potentially be positively surprised.