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

[Maximas]

@YorksLanka: There's no proper domestic cricket for Kula to go back to, only t20s that won't do him much good, given there's no proper alternatives to him in the squad or anywhere he ought to stay in the side, he'll be back, although I'd still argue he's not really been that bad lately, certainly not with the ball anyway.

And yes, Thisara and Kusal are matchwinners and they ought to be in the side, agreed

 

[Maximas]

With the current team combination, SL needs to let Thirimanne sit out of the ODI squad, give his middle order slot to Ashan Priyanjan and get Thisara in the lower order. Thiri's role isn't a difficult one, yet his returns have been poor, he doesn't have that impact for the shorter formats and is a bit one dimensional. I know Thirimanne is a long term prospect and will do well with time, but for now, he isn't required in the ODI team.

Nah he is, with Kusal at the top of the order we need someone solid who can build a longer innings in case early wickets fall, Priyanjan doesn't fit that bill and Mahela/Matthews tend to be more comfortable coming in later with some more freedom. Thiri's role hasn't been clear because they shuffle him everywhere, but in that no 4 slot he has been comfortable in the past and looked comfortable the other day.

 

[YorksLanka]

i do agree with Max here, although i called for Thirri to be rested in England(as i felt he struggled with those conditions), #4 iswhere he should bat for us and mahela should be at #5 in order to keep the heads of the youngsters around him and guide them..

 

[karan316]

In the long run Thiri is going to play a big role for SL, but I don't find him ready at the moment. It's not like he's batting at number 3(where he has to flexible and see of the new ball in case of an early wicket) , he has to come in at 4 or 5 and just hold one end which he can do, but he has to be consistent in that role. If he averages 29 while doing that, then its actually really bad. He's getting the best opportunity any youngster can get, without any pressure of scoring at a good pace, and his returns are less than what they should have been.

I do agree with the fact that Kusal and Dilshan can be aggressive, and if SL loses early wickets he can have a role to play, but you would rather give someone else an opportunity and see how it goes rather than giving a free run to thiri.

 

[91Jmay]

I remember the last time a team picked 'hit the deck' bowlers rather than their actual best bowlers in Australia.

Didn't end that well IIRC...

 

[viriya]

In the long run Thiri is going to play a big role for SL, but I don't find him ready at the moment. It's not like he's batting at number 3(where he has to flexible and see of the new ball in case of an early wicket) , he has to come in at 4 or 5 and just hold one end which he can do, but he has to be consistent in that role. If he averages 29 while doing that, then its actually really bad. He's getting the best opportunity any youngster can get, without any pressure of scoring at a good pace, and his returns are less than what they should have been.

I do agree with the fact that Kusal and Dilshan can be aggressive, and if SL loses early wickets he can have a role to play, but you would rather give someone else an opportunity and see how it goes rather than giving a free run to thiri.

agreed for an accumulator with a SR <70 he really shouldn't be averaging <30.. that's pre-96 SL batsmen stats i'm afraid..

 

[Maximas]

In the long run Thiri is going to play a big role for SL, but I don't find him ready at the moment. It's not like he's batting at number 3(where he has to flexible and see of the new ball in case of an early wicket) , he has to come in at 4 or 5 and just hold one end which he can do, but he has to be consistent in that role. If he averages 29 while doing that, then its actually really bad. He's getting the best opportunity any youngster can get, without any pressure of scoring at a good pace, and his returns are less than what they should have been.

I do agree with the fact that Kusal and Dilshan can be aggressive, and if SL loses early wickets he can have a role to play, but you would rather give someone else an opportunity and see how it goes rather than giving a free run to thiri.

His average is that bad because he hasn't had the opportunity to play that role consistently, he's been shunted all around the order during his career without a decent run at any position, he looked good as an opener in the Asia cup but then failed in England, however he has always looked good at 3 or 4 or even 5, where his averages are 46, 28 and 31 - pretty decent for a young guy who struggled early in his career and hasn't really had the chance to settle into a particular role .

 

[Maximas]

Ew, Dilruwan Perera is now in the squadto replace Tharanga, while I'd probably prefer him to Mendis it's a little disheartening to see he is ahead of Randiv in the pecking order after the latter took 3/47 against SA in that practice game where everyone else got punished

 

[karan316]

His average is that bad because he hasn't had the opportunity to play that role consistently, he's been shunted all around the order during his career without a decent run at any position, he looked good as an opener in the Asia cup but then failed in England, however he has always looked good at 3 or 4 or even 5, where his averages are 46, 28 and 31 - pretty decent for a young guy who struggled early in his career and hasn't really had the chance to settle into a particular role .

No matter which number he has batted on, his strike rate has been quite low. I can understand if he is told to change his game according to the batting position or if he has had to do something different. He has maintained a bad strike rate throughout along with an equally bad average. I can agree that he is a lot better than his numbers suggest, but don't think other Sri Lankan youngsters have had it so easy. His role in the team has been really simple which any decent batsman can play.

 

[Maximas]

How is being constantly moved from different spots in the order (everything from opener to no 7) making it easy for him?

 

[karan316]

How is being constantly moved from different spots in the order (everything from opener to no 7) making it easy for him?

Not that, the fact that he just has to hold one end up. Since the SL batting line-up has guys like Dilshan, Kusal, Mahela, Angelo, Thisarra,etc. who are all impact players. All Thiri has to do is give a good support to the others without having to change gears most of the times.

Again, I know he has a lot of potential, and is a long term prospect, but a strike rate of below 70 and average under 30 means he is not ready for the job right now.

 

[viriya]

Ew, Dilruwan Perera is now in the squadto replace Tharanga, while I'd probably prefer him to Mendis it's a little disheartening to see he is ahead of Randiv in the pecking order after the latter took 3/47 against SA in that practice game where everyone else got punished

Why the Mendis hate? He has been SL's best ODI bowler in the past year..

 

[Maximas]

Not that, the fact that he just has to hold one end up. Since the SL batting line-up has guys like Dilshan, Kusal, Mahela, Angelo, Thisarra,etc. who are all impact players. All Thiri has to do is give a good support to the others without having to change gears most of the times.

Again, I know he has a lot of potential, and is a long term prospect, but a strike rate of below 70 and average under 30 means he is not ready for the job right now.

That is a massive over-simplification of both his role and the situations he comes into

Why the Mendis hate? He has been SL's best ODI bowler in the past year..

Lol, Sachi, Kula, Malinga and hell - even Matthews saying hello right now. While his stats look very impressive, you have to consider the conditions (which have been spin friendly in many of the matches he has played), the situations he bowls in (rarely the powerplay like Sachi/Malinga or Kula) and the impact he has compared to the other bowlers

 

[Maximas]

Kula out and Herath in - 3 spinners on the fastest pitch in Sri Lanka, go figure

 

[viriya]

Lol, Sachi, Kula, Malinga and hell - even Matthews saying hello right now

I did say last year:
Bowling records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

You still think he hasn't been our best ODI bowler in that time?

 

[viriya]

Actually of those who have taken at least 10 ODI wickets during that period, only Dale Steyn has a better average..

 

[Maximas]

stats really don't tell you the whole story mate

Also, two things:
- How come Sachi is opening the bowling from that end when the drift and new ball would assist Herath much more?
- Malinga is bowling pies

 

[viriya]

Interesting team change, but I don't know why Angelo isn't opening the bowling..

Maybe a good thing looking at how Malinga is getting taken apart here..

 

[viriya]

stats really don't tell you the whole story mate

That's a cop-out - he's taken 34 wickets in 13 innings with an average of 16 and strike rate of 20.. and you want him dropped? At least admit he shouldn't be dropped man.

 

[viriya]

- How come Sachi is opening the bowling from that end when the drift and new ball would assist Herath much more?

Because Herath is a *****.