***Official*** Sri Lanka in India

[honestbharani]

My impressions on the players who took part in this series and on their performances...


India



Virender Sehwag - Got off to starts throughout the series, which was a pleasant change from his woeful form last season, but hasn't converted even one of them. He has to figure out what is going wrong and how to set it right soon, for big runs from an opening batter is almost a must these days.



Sachin Tendulkar - Came back with a bang and has been a positive influence on the young side. Seems to have gone back to his old aggressive methods, which is a welcome thing, atleast in ODIs. Had a lean trot in the middle of the series, but looked to be back near his best in the last game.



Gautam Gambhir - Was very impressive in the limited opportunities he got. Greg Chappell rates him very high as a prospect in both forms of the game and he showed us why with that 100 at Ahmedabad. Hopefully, should get more chances so that he can try and cement a place in the main XII.



Rahul Dravid - Amazing series both as a batsman and as a captain. His batting showed how much he has come on as a one day player and his captaincy was superb. Can still improve in the field, though.



Yuvraj Singh - Had a surprisingly poor series. He was the man in form going into this series, having done reasonably well in Sri Lanka and in Zimbabwe and after having had a really good challenger trophy. It was good that he found back some form in the penultimate game, for he adds a lot to the side. Hopefully, can kick on to big things in the series against South Africa.


Mohammed Kaif - Still looks a little rusty. His fielding was sharp as ever, except for that dropped catch. Hopefully will be back to full flight in the SA series.


Suresh Raina - Impressed both as a batsman and as a fielder in the limited opportunities he got.


Venugopal Rao - Played a good knock at Pune but was unfortunate to be dropped later on. But he has to keep performing, for that is the only way to get back into the side.


JP Yadav - Was decent with the ball in a few games, but was taken on in some other games with success. Has some ability with bat,ball and in the field though, and deserves to be given more chances.


Harbhajan Singh - Was a bit of an unsung hero throughout the course of the series. Should consider bowling within the powerplays to try and pick up more wickets.


Murali Kartik - Superb one game, erratic the next. The usual story. But again, he deserves a longer rope so that he can not only show his wares but also learn to be more consistent.


Sree Santh - Worked up good pace, seems to have a good yorker and slower one. Seems to be trying too much and as a result, going for a few runs. But a good prospect nonetheless.


RP Singh - Find of the series, IMO. Doesn't have the banana swing of Pathan or Nehra, but seems to be able to get it to swing both ways (even though it is rather mild), works up good pace, has a good bouncer and has a very good effort ball that can surprise many batsmen.


Irfan Pathan - Did well with both bat and ball. But is still rather expensive and should definitely improve his bowling at the death.


Ajit Agarkar - The CW legend's best series in a couple of years, IMO. But what the heck happened to his batting?


MS Dhoni - Had an awesome series with the bat. Showed that he can bat in many gears and pace himself according to the situation. Can still improve as a keeper, even though he seems to have gotten better than the last series.

 

[honestbharani]

Sri Lanka


Sanath Jayasuriya - Unfortunately, could never get going in the series. The injury limited him from attempting tough catches and bowling as well and ended being a liability to the side. Very unfortunate for one of the best cricketers Sri Lanka has ever produced. Hopefully, he will still stage a comeback.


Marvan Atapattu - His captaincy was rather flat at times. As a batsman, though, he got better and better as the series went on. Might prefer the test matches more than the ODIs.


Kumar Sangakkara - Was in great touch, but found ways to get himself out. Still played one of the better ODI knocks in recent times at Jaipur, only to be upstaged by his counterpart from India. Maybe he should be made vice captain of the side. The added responsibility might just bring out better results from him.



Upul Tharanga - Looks a very talented young player. He got out at the wrong times but I am sure that with time, he will learn to go on when he has got a start. He also got a couple of really good deliveries.



Mahela Jayawardene - Was as inconsistent as ever. But looked fluent while he was at the crease. More application needed from him.


Tilekeratne Dilshan - Was the biggest plus for Sri Lanka from the series. He seems to have come of age as an ODI batsman, finally. Maybe the time has come for him to move up the order.


Russell Arnold - Got better as the series went on and played with a lot of common sense. Might not be a bad idea to use both Dilshan and Arnold up the order.


Upul Chandana - Was taken to the cleaners while he was bowling his legspin. Still showed his utility with the bat and on the field, though.


Fervez Maharoof - Looked very ordinary. I have not seen a bowler bowl so wide of offstump since Balaji, and at least Balaji pitches them up. Hopefully, he can go back to the basics and get better, for he seems to be a useful lower order batter and a good fielder. I felt he looked like Agarkar when he first came on to the scene, I hope he doesn't end up like him.


Dilhara Lokuhettige - Seems a strong hitter, but his bowling is very ordinary and I am not sure about his fielding. Sri Lanka needs to rethink their strategy of running after bits and pieces men. With the super sub rule in place, specialists seem more viable.


Muttiah Muralitharan - Was the best bowler for Sri Lanka but the Indians played him sensibly and didn't allow him to take too many wickets. But will still be a big big threat in the test matches.


Chaminda Vaas - Poor series for the stalwart. His bowling was nothing threatening as he seems to have lost his swing, and while his batting and fielding are useful, they are not going to win anyone any matches.


Dilhara Fernando - Worked up good pace and bowls a great slower delivery, but is still WAY too inconsistent.


Nuwan Zoysa - I don't think he is good enough to be in the Lankan side anymore. Seems another Ashish Nehra to me.


Thilan Samaraweera - Got only two games, was not used at all in the first and didn't impress in the second. Will have to wait and see how he goes in his main thing, the test matches.

 

[magsi23]

I personaly think worlds two most inconsistent teams are India and Pakistan, one day they will thrash best team in the world and next day they will struggle to beat zimbabwe? anyone agree?

 

[dinu23]

add Sri Lanka to that list and u got it right.

 

[SJS]

add Sri Lanka to that list and u got it right.

Add Zimbabwe. One day they lose in four days and another day they dont last the first two

 

[lionheart]

Okay…I see several problems exposed in the one dayers, but the most crucial is the style of team we are selecting. Regardless of form and injury, I think this team probably would have been much more effective pre super sub/power play. The new system works completely against the dogma of Sri Lankan Administration and its selection process. Players such as Chandana, Maharoof and Lokuhettige are obsolete in the capacity they were groomed and selected to play in.

We need to find another genuine frontline pace bowler. The obvious choice is Malinga but the selectors keep up this ludicrous policy of only playing him in test-matches because he is undisciplined...explain to me how Zosya, Fernando and Maharoof are any different? I know some are calling for Fernando's head to also roll, but I disagree, he needs to continue to be developed and refined regardless of the expense inherent in this pursuit, as is the case with Malinga. Maharoof needs to go and Zoysa’s needed to go for many years. The other bowling change that needs to be made is the ol' switcheroo of Chandana for Bandara.
I don't think we can afford to play 5 bowlers (well, 4 bowlers, and one bowler of questionable ability masquerading as an all-arounder...yes I'm talking about you, Maharoof) with a line-up which falls apart faster than a Chinese motorcycle.
Jayasuirya's time is up, he needs to go away and reinvent himself. So who replaces him? Honestly I don't know. Sure, there are the same couple of names that get thrown around over and over but they never get selected, and now we've got some kid still wet behind his ears, Kapugedera selected for the test series...well...lets just say, I’m reserving judgment but I'm still finding his selection am awfully hard pill to swallow.

I see what the administration does in preparation for the Australia/New Zealand tour is going to be a litmus test for the future of Sri Lanka cricket, which could either be a blessing in disguise or just the first of many shameful exhibitions of inept cricket to come.

 

[JASON]

^ ^ ^ ^ Well said Lion Heart !! Those are exactly my thoughts too !! Well said .

 

[Jono]

I too think its time for Zoysa and Maharoof to go for SL. I still don't understand why Malinga isn't in the ODI team. He'd be a much better bet than either of those afforementoned players.

 

[honestbharani]

Dada is back for the tests.

 

[Arjun]

one bowler of questionable ability masquerading as an all-arounder...yes I'm talking about you, Maharoof

He's still more effective than that thin, undersized all-rounder known as LHD. Even MTT Mirando is worth a try.

I don't think we can afford to play 5 bowler

Well, they can try out a selection similar to SA, and pack the side with all-rounders, with three of Lanka de Silva, Maharoof, Mirando, Zoysa and Nimesh Perera.

 

[Arjun]

About the Indian Test side, it's good to see MS Dhoni in the team. No doubt it has been hard on Dinesh Karthik, but the selectors were looking for a genuine wicketkeeper-batsman, and Dhoni is a lot closer to that role. Let's just see how he performs behind the stumps. RP Singh's inclusion is good, but the selection of Agarkar and Murali Karthik is a return to the stone age. JP Yadav is unlucky to miss out.

 

[honestbharani]

I am actually reasonably happy with the test squad. India have been relatively solid in test cricket for a while now and I don't think much needs to be changed. And this is obviously the last shot for Sourav.

 

[adharcric]

About the Indian Test side, it's good to see MS Dhoni in the team. No doubt it has been hard on Dinesh Karthik, but the selectors were looking for a genuine wicketkeeper-batsman, and Dhoni is a lot closer to that role. Let's just see how he performs behind the stumps. RP Singh's inclusion is good, but the selection of Agarkar and Murali Karthik is a return to the stone age. JP Yadav is unlucky to miss out.

Agarkar and Kartik have both been bowling well of late. Yadav has never been a test berth contender, so why would he certainly be in the running after not getting a single one-day match lately. With Pathan's emergence as a handy batsman, Yadav's chances arent as bright.

 

[Arjun]

Agarkar and Kartik have both been bowling well of late. Yadav has never been a test berth contender, so why would he certainly be in the running after not getting a single one-day match lately. With Pathan's emergence as a handy batsman, Yadav's chances arent as bright.

Agarkar and Karthik have been lucky of late, without bowling very well, but sooner than later, they'll end up bowling enough rubbish to cost a tournament. Moreover, Yadav and Powar are a lot better with the bat than these two. It is shocking to find Yadav omitted from the Test team so often, when tiny pie throwers like Agarkar and a one-match wonder like Ganguly make it. Yadav's been practising both skills for a lot longer than these two, and a lot harder. Why should he be left out? Moreover, he's a lot more reliable as a batsman, while Irfan is merely a striker, like Shahid Afridi, Ricardo Powell and Shaun Pollock. No, I'n not one of those cynics who say that Irfan is not an all-rounder, but he's a different kind, and the team needs one more.

 

[JASON]

Chappell's latest Gaffe is likely to cause ongoing issues between him and Ganguly to rumble and I find it difficult to see how the relationship within the Team can be cordial between Ganguly and Chappell/Dravid.

Indian selectors could've considered this and made a smarter decision to keep Ganguly from the Test squad a little longer, in the interests of Team Unity and Team building IMHO.

Its not as though Indian Test Team was desperate in terms of their batting capabilities for his urgent recall to the Test squad.

 

[SJS]

Chappell's latest Gaffe is likely to cause ongoing issues between him and Ganguly to rumble and I find it difficult to see how the relationship within the Team can be cordial between Ganguly and Chappell/Dravid.

Indian selectors could've considered this and made a smarter decision to keep Ganguly from the Test squad a little longer, in the interests of Team Unity and Team building IMHO.

Its not as though Indian Test Team was desperate in terms of their batting capabilities for his urgent recall to the Test squad.

Its getting worse.

It is being openly claimed, Siddhu said it atleast twenty times yesterday on different channels last night, that the Calcultta Cricket Association intentionally prepared a green top to check Dravid-Greg duo. It seems the skipper and coach got into a major spat with the curator a day before the game.

The curator was on TV a lot trying to defend what has never happened in an ODI before, tufts of grass over a one day wicket in India.

Its a bad scene. India and its cricketing interests are lost somewhere. Individuals and parochialism of states and communities seems to matter more.

Its disgusting.

 

[JASON]

If I am correct, India likely to drop AA, Karthik, Yuvraj + 4th person to miss out of the final XI -likely to be a toss up between Gautam Gambhir and VVS.

My personal opinion would be to drop VVS but at home he has in the past batted well and Indian selectors may choose to retain him over Gambir .

Sehwag
Gambhir
Tendulkar
Dravid
Ganguly
Kaif
Dhoni
Pathan
Harbhajan
Kumble
RP Singh

 

[Pratters]

My personal opinion would be to drop VVS

Based on what should Kaif and Ganguly get a nod over VVS?

 

[JASON]

Based on what should Kaif and Ganguly get a nod over VVS?

Merely speculative on my part based on recent form. But maybe you are right, and Kaif may be the one to miss out . I doubt having brought Ganguly into the Test squad , Indian selectors will have the nerve to make him 12th man !!

 

[adharcric]

I think it's clear that Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman should be locks. Gambhir is averaging 45 in test cricket and forms a solid opening pair with Sehwag, so he should be in (plus he is solid in the field). For that final battle between Ganguly, Yuvraj and Kaif, Ganguly will get the chance in the first test and he should, as this is his defining moment, essentially his do or die time. The thing that worries me more is how much our fielding will be affected with Ganguly and Laxman in and Kaif and Yuvraj out. Lets see how things go. Agarkar should also not be there, he cant stick to a consistent line and length that often. Zaheer should be in alongside Pathan and RP Singh right now, maybe we'll see a change after the first test.