***Official*** VB Series 2006

[Hondo]

What a bowling performance by Bandara !!

If anything he is a real find for SL . Its well known for opposition teams to strategise against Murali by not taking risks and playing out his overs while giving the other spinners the stick, But until Bandara's emergence the number 2 spinner was not really capable of utilising this to get wickets. ... Until Bandara's emergence that is ........

I can see Bandara outshining Murali not just in this game .... but in future in Test Cricket... too....


In fact I hope the SL selectors give the other young spinning prospect Weerakoon a go in the near future as well........ and then we may find Murali will have to compete for his position in the Team or even......consider ..... his future......Too early to contemplate this . .......

This is comming for a guy that Said Bandara wasn't up to scratch to play in the VB series when I pointed out how good a spinner he was.

Changes your tune now have u?

 

[ohtani's jacket]

The best thing to do when touring Australia is not to panic when you get absolutely cremated, because Aussie tours usually do long term damage to peoples careers..

I agree. There's no point dropping anybody based on results in Australia. Besides, South Africa didn't even play that badly this tour.

 

[Tim]

I think they'll be concerned though, that they look very brittle in the middle order without Kallis.

 

[chaminda_00]

Well done Sri Lanka, if i was a South African fan i wouldn't be too disappointed. They were competitive in the Tests and only reason they struggled in the ODIs, is the injuries to their quicks. If Nel, Ntini and Kallis were there i wouldn't be surprised if they were playing in the Finals against Australia.

For Sri Lanka its time to drop Mubarak, Arnold is nothing special, but a hell of a lot better then Mubarak. Its nice to see Atapattu at the top of the order for the time being.

 

[Jono]

Yeah but it scares me that after all these years, Sri Lanka are still back to Atapattu and Jayasuriya at the top, and Sangakkara holding the hopes in the middle. Dilshan and Jayawardene are decent to good, but honestly Sri Lanka's lack of youth coming up is a worry. Bandara looks real promising, and I still believe Tharanga will become a good young batsman but if we were to go back 4-5 years the main players for SL are still the same. Hopefully that changes soon.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yeah but it scares me that after all these years, Sri Lanka are still back to Atapattu and Jayasuriya at the top, and Sangakkara holding the hopes in the middle. Dilshan and Jayawardene are decent to good, but honestly Sri Lanka's lack of youth coming up is a worry. Bandara looks real promising, and I still believe Tharanga will become a good young batsman but if we were to go back 4-5 years the main players for SL are still the same. Hopefully that changes soon.

It scares me also and i don't think there is anyone comming through the current U19s. But i think Tharanga, Kapugedera, Vandort, Maharoof, Malinga, Bandara and Suraj we have some good youngsters. But it might take a couple years for them to reach their potential.

 

[honestbharani]

Tharanga >>> Mubarak. It is a pity that the Lankan selectors fail to see this.

 

[33/3from3.3]

Atapattu = Opener
Mubarak = crap
Tharanga = Homie G

 

[Blaze]

Mubarak suffers from lack of belief IMO. He has talent and shots he is just too afraid to play them. Tharanga is still better though.

 

[marc71178]

You can't forget either that South Africa had won 12 games on the trot not so long ago.

But who was it they beat? IIRC there were 4 or 5 Zimbabwe games in there.

 

[irfan]

Tharanga >>> Mubarak. It is a pity that the Lankan selectors fail to see this.

I totally agree. I think there is some politics behind Mubarak's continous inclusion, not sure what but maybe the Sri Lankan forum members can enlighten you

 

[Nate]

Agreed that Tharanga should be up there.

Just remember, I called Bandara first.

 

[Right arm fast]

yea imo tharanga is better and should be in the team. btw where is the first final being played?

 

[SquidAU]

yea imo tharanga is better and should be in the team. btw where is the first final being played?

The wonderful city of Adelaide, of course.

Too bad I live about 4 hours away and apparently, someone pays me for doing something called work...

Hence, the large 55" TV that is demo'd in the store....

 

[JASON]

Sri Lanka's inability to accelerate to top gear in the last 10 overs and drive home the early advantage has been very clearly seen throughout the VB series.

The lack of a genuine Slogger/allrounder has been the cause of this failure , Bandara seems a capable slogger on the one occasion he got going , while there is a genuine slogger and allrounder in the form of Kaushalya Weeraratne in SL. Unfortunately was not considered worthy of selecton by the selectors !!

With the added batting ability of Bandara , I wonder if SL Team selectors would play him in the Team (instead of as a Super Sub) and may be slot in Murali or Dilhara as Super sub for tomorrow's game ....

 

[Lostman]

Fernando for super sub that way even if bowl first we might be able to get 10 overs form dilshan and sanath

 

[lionheart]

Yeah definitely put Bandara in the starting line-up make Fernando the super-sub. What's up with Kulasekera? I rate the kid more than Fernando. If he is available, we’d be better suited playing him in the finals situation, the man is a metronome.

Mubarak needs to get the boot, bring Arnold back in his place. I take back calling for him to be shot, he’s actually showed he has some talent this series, a surprise to us all, but he wastes it by being too obtuse for his own good. I’ve also wanted to see Arnold out of Sri Lankan cricket for a few years now but clearly we don’t have the depth to show him the door just yet.

As far as lower order slogging, if Maharoof could bring some constancy into both his batting and bowling he could do the job. Is Kaushalya Weeraratne really that good? Isn't this the guy who scored the fasted 50 off some 40-something slow-medium bowler? I've never seen him bat but some how I'm not confident in his ability.

 

[age_master]

With the added batting ability of Bandara , I wonder if SL Team selectors would play him in the Team (instead of as a Super Sub) and may be slot in Murali or Dilhara as Super sub for tomorrow's game ....

The problem with Murali as a super sub would be ofcourse if you lost the toss you would have to use him immediatley.

 

[parttimer]

SL win the toss and bat. Interesting to note Taylor did not expect the pitch to change much for the 2nd innings which could negate the Murali and Bandara factor that SL will need to get over the line. Should be a fascinating match.

 

[Blaze]

Should be a fascinating match.

I doubt it. Aus to win by 5-7 wickets with 4 or more overs left.