***Official*** Sri Lanka in South Africa 2016/2017

[SeamUp]

Rest Rabada for Newlands ?

No Steyn, Morkel, Morris so will have to be Parnell unless a newbie is called up.

 

[Burgey]

Jeez that didn't take long.

 

[YorksLanka]

Congrats to SA on a big win. In terms of my team, despite never being pleased we lost, it is good to see that we were in the match at some points and that we made it to day 5. In the next test, we need mendis at 3, de Silva at four, Mathews at five, Chandi six and tharanga in at seven. Our tail is never going to make many runs for us and we need to strengthen the top 7. I still think we will lose the tests 3-0.

 

[StephenZA]

Disappointing end for SL. SA did not seem to get out of 3rd gear. Our fielding is very up and down, needs some work. Good pitch this year in PE, nice to see.

Rest Rabada for Newlands ?

No Steyn, Morkel, Morris so will have to be Parnell unless a newbie is called up.

I would like to see Rabada rested; I do think he needs to be given more clear directions on field though, don`t think he knows whether to try bowl fast for short spells or whether to bowl slower and keep it tight and is getting caught inbetween. When he opened the bowling he just went all out, clearly understanding his role.

Parnell should get the nod, CT is also his home ground so should be a good place for him to make a good come back on....

Ultimately think they will change nothing for the next test, barring injury.

 

[Rasimione]

Is Bavuma under pressure to perform?

 

[SeamUp]

Jeez that didn't take long.

Tails need to contribute in cricket now. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka's theirs looks very weak.

Congrats to SA on a big win. In terms of my team, despite never being pleased we lost, it is good to see that we were in the match at some points and that we made it to day 5. In the next test, we need mendis at 3, de Silva at four, Mathews at five, Chandi six and tharanga in at seven. Our tail is never going to make many runs for us and we need to strengthen the top 7. I still think we will lose the tests 3-0.

Thanks mate.

I would go for that top 5.

I suppose the other option would be for Perera to take the gloves and go to 7 and then Chandimal can concentrate on his batting but that is me saying that without knowing where Perera is with his keeping.

 

[SeamUp]

Disappointing end for SL. SA did not seem to get out of 3rd gear. Our fielding is very up and down, needs some work. Good pitch this year in PE, nice to see.

I would like to see Rabada rested; I do think he needs to be given more clear directions on field though, don`t think he knows whether to try bowl fast for short spells or whether to bowl slower and keep it tight and is getting caught inbetween. When he opened the bowling he just went all out, clearly understanding his role.

Parnell should get the nod, CT is also his home ground so should be a good place for him to make a good come back on....

Ultimately think they will change nothing for the next test, barring injury.

de Kock with an usual drop from him ? 2nd one was tough.

Rabda with a few lapses in concentration but Cook desperately needs to up his game. He is no AB, JP, Faf, Rossouw, Miller, Bavuma but he can at least try and get to a good level like where Elgar/Amla are.

Parnell's 'home' ground. Of course SGP is where he has played most of his cricket. He is in the squad and they back him so no doubt it would be him. Newlands probably does suit him though but I want to see more from him when he gets his chances.

 

[SeamUp]

Is Bavuma under pressure to perform?

I suppose he is but so are Cook, Elgar, Duminy in a way.

I still don't know what will be done when AB comes back.

 

[SeamUp]

Also really happy with how Keshav bowled this test match. But its such a volatile position in SA cricket that he has to keep pushing himself to nail down the position.

 

[Bijed]

Cook must have got himself a bit of credit with his recent performances, Elgar I would think is doing enough of a job? Duminy needs to make some big scores though, although he's not been awful. Guess he's most under threat though as I'd imagine de Villiers would be looking to slot back in to a 4/5 position?

 

[Zinzan]

281 is better than I thought they'd score in the 2nd dig, even if they did fall on their faces in the end.

 

[SeamUp]

Cook must have got himself a bit of credit with his recent performances, Elgar I would think is doing enough of a job? Duminy needs to make some big scores though, although he's not been awful. Guess he's most under threat though as I'd imagine de Villiers would be looking to slot back in to a 4/5 position?

Yeah I think the openers are showing what a specialist position it is and it's vital to get good starts. 2 100-opening stands is what the doctor ordered.

So you would think JP and Bavuma are under most threat.

Duminy got the 100 in Perth and played a good counter-attacking innings in the first innings here and played a crucial knock v New Zealand as well so showing a bit of consistency with crucial knocks at 4. But if Bavuma plays another crucial knock or two in Cape Town and Joburg then you got to say Duminy is under the most threat.

 

[Heboric]

I suppose he is but so are Cook, Elgar, Duminy in a way.

I still don't know what will be done when AB comes back.

Cook should not be under pressure for his place, he has done enough

 

[SeamUp]

281 is better than I thought they'd score in the 2nd dig, even if they did fall on their faces in the end.

Probably the best innings to bat in the match though as there was minimal movement. It probably came down to inexperience and technique in these conditions that was too much for some of them. Whilst Mendis and de Silva are talented you probably need the most experienced guys to get those 100s if Sri Lanka want to compete in these conditions.

 

[SeamUp]

Cook should not be under pressure for his place, he has done enough

Yeah I suppose he has but then again Elgar/Duminy have played match defining innings in recent times (Perth) and Bavuma has been consistent without that big score. Not so long ago Cook looked a lost man out at sea.

That is why I can't put my finger down on who they going to leave out yet. Suppose there are 2 more tests to help us find out.

Then we've got some talented young bats like Rossouw, De Bruyn + others really wanting that debut.

 

[Daemon]

Mid 2016 Sri Lanka at least looked like they were going somewhere with their pace attack. Pradeep 2.0, Eranga, Lakmal and Charmander seemed like they could make a below average but acceptable attack.

Don't have much hope atm going by the way Chameera bowled this time and how pedestrian Pradeep looks.

 

[YorksLanka]

Tails need to contribute in cricket now. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka's theirs looks very weak.



Thanks mate.

I would go for that top 5.

I suppose the other option would be for Perera to take the gloves and go to 7 and then Chandimal can concentrate on his batting but that is me saying that without knowing where Perera is with his keeping.

KP is a decent keeper but I think he is a better fielder than Chandimal. Thing is I do like him but tharanga has been scoring runs recently so should be picked ahead of Perera at present IMO. If the selectors do keep faith with KP then he has to bat at seven(where I think he will do ok). Fully agree with you about the tail having to contribute in modern cricket but ours never have and it's changing this mindset that is the problem for us I think..Even if they can't score runs,it would be good if they could hang around a bit..

In terms of this performance let's not forget how good SA are proved by the fact that they just demolished the Aussies home and away so it's a tough task to say the least!!

I really love the way they play their cricket in terms of the energy on the field and the sense of fun too. I really think it's great how they go about themselves off the field too .I read recently that they had been to the townships to visit fans-simply brilliant..

 

[Shady Slim]

fmpov aside from chameera when he's on their pace attack is a lil samey

like if you look at some of what their spin attack did so well against us it was that each spinner had different tricks so you couldn't really settle against all the bowlers

 

[Bahseph]

It's disappointing that Eranga and Prasad weren't fit to tour. They are two genuine Test bowlers. The two of them with either of Chameera/Lakmal or Pradeep would have been a decent attack.

I really thought Mathews would be more of a bowling threat earlier in his career. Injuries really took their toll on him.

 

[Daemon]

Eranga is done imo. He was chucking.