***Official*** Sri Lanka in England

[luckyeddie]

If you think Colly offers same chance of winning as KP does then well I guess we can agree to disagree. IMO as long as KP/Tresco/Freddie are there batting, I feel that England are with a chance to win. Unfortunately same cant be said about Colly.

No, I didn't say that and I don't think it - just pointed out the dangers of sweeping statements.

If we had a half-decent one-day side, Collingwood would probably be a half-decent 'finisher'

 

[JASON]

Next ODI at Chester-le-street gives England the best chance of coming back into the series, given it can be a very seamy pitch at Durham.

4th ODI at Old Trafford, 5th At Headingly .

England can pull off 3rd and 5th ODIs with their current bowlers given these 2 pitches are likely to be helpful to seamers . Although they may have a difficult decision on whether to bat first or bowl first. Given a very significant percentage of ODIs are won these days by Team batting first, there will be a temptation for both captains to choose to bat first at Durham. But the conditions may help the bowlers initially at Chester-le-street.

 

[JASON]

For the ODI at Chester le Street , I would go with the following-

Jayasuriya
Tharanga
Jayawardene
Sangakkara
Dilshan
Kapugedera
Maharoof
Vaas
Malinga
Fernando (if not recovered Perera)
Murali

 

[Lostman]

i see that you are getting tired of Russel "dab to 3rd man" Arnold as well. i might be tempted to play bandara ahead of maharoof.

 

[superkingdave]

Chapple was supposed to be playing for Lancs seconds yesterday and providing he came through the opening stages okay he was to leave that match early and rejoin the England squad. However, he didn't play so guess he wasn't fully fit.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Collingwoods a "finisher" who never finishes, him and Geraint Jones are consistently rubbish when it matters

2001 - 77 v Zim
Entered at 113-3.
Left at 276-8 of 280-9.

2001 - 56* v Zim
Entered at 151-3.
Not out at 229-3.

2002 - 71* v India
Entered at 113-3.
Not out at 250-7.

2002 - 100 v Aus
Entered at 39-3.
Left at 258-9 of 258-9.

2003 - 63* v Aus
Entered at 40-4.
Not out at 252 all out.

2003 - 66* v SA
Entered at 110-4.
Not out at 246-8.

2004 - 79* v India
Entered at 105-4.
Not out at 307-5.

2004 - 80* v Zim
Entered at 123-4.
Not out at 299-7.

2005 - 112* v Ban
Entered at 179-3.
Not out at 391-4.

2005 - 53 v Aus
Entered at 19-4.
Left at 149-6 of 196-9

2006 - 93 v Ind
Entered at 78-4.
Left at 223-8 of 245 all out.

2006 - 64 v Ind
Entered at 110-3.
Left at 267-6 of 288 all out.

2006 - 56 v SL
Entered at 116-3.
Left at 222-5 of 273 all out.

That seems to suggest to me that his performances do tend to coincide with situations when they are needed. He may not perform everytime it counts, but when he performs, it's almost always at a time when it counts.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I saw last two games, He did make solid contributions, but did he actually win the game ? NO. Now check KP, Tresco and Freddie, you will see them taking the match away on their own. I am not saying Colly is a garbage player, I am saying is that @ best he is a role player someone like Today's Md. Kaif. He can make decent contributions once in a while or steady the innings when things are down, but hardly win a game for your team. I simply dont consider him anywhere close to Tresco , KP and Freddie.

The thing is, you need role players in just about any good ODI side. You can't pick XI matchwinners. It's just not possible. So you best pick the matchwinners available and complement them with role players who can adjust to situations as needs be.

 

[James]

This might even it up a bit....

 

[TT Boy]

Big blow but Malinga Bandara is pretty decent replacement in the one day arena, out bowled Murali on more than a few occasions in the VB series.

 

[Neil Pickup]

It also doesn't help our seamers to be more accurate than an Under 12 bowling for the first time.

 

[aussie]

Big blow but Malinga Bandara is pretty decent replacement in the one day arena, out bowled Murali on more than a few occasions in the VB series.

thats right, plus England have regularly been exposed to quality leg-spin, Bandara may not be world class as yet but he has all the toys to do so thats for sure.

 

[Lostman]

hope all is well..

 

[JASON]

This might even it up a bit....

I hope all's well with Murali and his family .

As in the words of Michael Henderson , Sri Lanka needs its "Maradonna " (Murali )

 

[JASON]

Big blow but Malinga Bandara is pretty decent replacement in the one day arena, out bowled Murali on more than a few occasions in the VB series.

Agree Bandara can do the job in Murali's absence in ODIs .

Given Murali's absence and next ODI at Chester-le-street, I would go with 4 seamers + Sanath J/Dilshan/Arnold to fill spinner's role and pick Bandara for Old Trafford ODI only.

Sanath J
Tharanga
Jayawardene
Sangakkara
Dilshan
Kapugedera
Arnold
Maharoof
Vaas
Malinga
Dilhara Fernando (or Malinga Bandara if Dilhara not recovered)

 

[dinu23]

huge oppotunity for Bandara to make an impact.

 

[Lostman]

thats right, plus England have regularly been exposed to quality leg-spin, Bandara may not be world class as yet but he has all the toys to do so thats for sure.

this will be a real big test for bandara, he did good in australia but murali was bowling at the other end when he was bowling. The batsmen had to attack bandara in order to score runs because they didnt want to lose wickets to murali.

 

[wpdavid]

I hope all's well with Murali and his family .

As in the words of Michael Henderson , Sri Lanka needs its "Maradonna " (Murali )

But not such an issue in the odi's, surely.

 

[dinu23]

what SL will miss is the pressure Murali puts from one end to keep the runs down.

 

[wpdavid]

what SL will miss is the pressure Murali puts from one end to keep the runs down.

Sure. But whereas you really couldn't see SL beating England in tests without Murali, you'd still fancy them to win on Saturday because their whole side is better than England in this form of the game (with 2 or 3 honourable exceptions).

 

[dinu23]

Sure. But whereas you really couldn't see SL beating England in tests without Murali, you'd still fancy them to win on Saturday because their whole side is better than England in this form of the game (with 2 or 3 honourable exceptions).

yeah, can't disagree there. but SL can win tests without Murali in SL.