***Official*** Sri Lanka in India

[Salamuddin]

I've heard VRV Singh is quicker than Sree Santh....will be interesting to see how he goes in the Duleep trophy.
If he does well, he could get picked for the Sri Lanka tests.

 

[adharcric]

The three tearaway pace bowlers are Munaf Patel, VRV Singh and Abid Nabi. Patel has been injured lately, VRV Singh could be close to a national berth with some more impressive domestic performances, and Nabi needs to seize any opportunities he gets to play for a zonal squad right now and not just J&K. As of now, I'd rank VRV first, followed by Nabi and then Patel. Then again, Patel plays for Mumbai while Nabi plays for the obscure J&K team. Hopefully they all fulfill their potential so India can develop a formidable pace attack to complement Irfan Pathan.

 

[chaminda_00]

Pakistan and India seem to be producing tearaways, where are the Sri Lankan tearaways

 

[cricketboy29]

tearaways?!?!!?, howsthat again?, since when has india produced tearaways, im an indian myself, and when and only when i see the speedgun pass 150km/h, from a ball that an indian bowler has bowled. In an international match, can you say that india has produced a tearaway.

 

[adharcric]

so far it hasnt, but there are a few bowlers on the domestic scene who can bowl in the 140s, which is genuine pace. in no way am i suggesting that pathan, balaji, khan or even the quicker nehra are anything close to 'tearaway' bowlers.

 

[aussie]

My suggested teams for the 1st ODI:

INDIA:

1.Virender Sehwag
2.Sachin Tendulkar
3.Mohammad Kaif
4.Yuvraj Singh
5.Rahul Dravid*
6.Suresh Raina or Vengopaul Rao - dont know who u indians prefer
7.Mahendra Dhoni +
8.Jai prakash Yadav
9.Irfan Pathan
10.Agit Agarkar
11.Harbhajan Singh
12.Mural Karthik

SRI LANKA:

1.Sanath Jayasuriya
2.Upul Tangara
3.Marvan Attapatu*
4.Kumar Sangakkara+
5.Mahela Jayawardena
6.Russel Arnold
7.Tillkaratne Dilshan
8.Upul Chandana
9.Chaminda Vaas
10.Farveez Maharoof
11.Muttiah Muralitharan
12.Dilhara Fernando

Well for India i see the sqaud is for the 1st 2 ODI's, are blokes like Nehra & Khan injured if not i find their axing's very strange. Also i think instead of guys like Raina & Roa Ganguly(yes i still think he still has something left in him in ODI's) & Laxam who could come at 3.

 

[chaminda_00]

My suggested teams for the 1st ODI:

INDIA:

1.Virender Sehwag
2.Sachin Tendulkar
3.Mohammad Kaif
4.Yuvraj Singh
5.Rahul Dravid*
6.Suresh Raina or Vengopaul Rao - dont know who u indians prefer
7.Mahendra Dhoni +
8.Jai prakash Yadav
9.Irfan Pathan
10.Agit Agarkar
11.Harbhajan Singh
12.Mural Karthik

SRI LANKA:

1.Sanath Jayasuriya
2.Upul Tangara
3.Marvan Attapatu*
4.Kumar Sangakkara+
5.Mahela Jayawardena
6.Russel Arnold
7.Tillkaratne Dilshan
8.Upul Chandana
9.Chaminda Vaas
10.Farveez Maharoof
11.Muttiah Muralitharan
12.Dilhara Fernando

Well for India i see the sqaud is for the 1st 2 ODI's, are blokes like Nehra & Khan injured if not i find their axing's very strange. Also i think instead of guys like Raina & Roa Ganguly(yes i still think he still has something left in him in ODI's) & Laxam who could come at 3.

The Sri Lankan side looks about right, Chandana and Dilhara (either one actually) fighting for the last spot and the super sub place.

I think Dhoni would come in at three, Dravid 4, Yuraj, Kaif and Rao to follow. When it comes to there bowling attack, then expect anything, i wouldn't be surprised if they pick a few of these rookies.

 

[shaka]

anyone heard about the freak accident involving Jayasuriya?

http://www.supercricket.co.za/default.asp?id=160736&des=article&scat=supercricket/international

Sri Lankan allrounder Sanath Jayasuriya's recovery from a dislocated shoulder has suffered a setback after a freak accident playing water polo when he collided with the team physiotherapist.

Sri Lanka had hoped before the accident he would have recovered sufficiently to bowl during the seven-match one-day international series in India starting next week.

Skipper Marvan Atapattu told reporters: "We had some water sports in Bentota (a beach resort) and unfortunately this accident happened."

Jayasuriya sat-out a warm-up match on Tuesday, but Sri Lanka are optimistic about his chances of playing as a batsman in the first game next Tuesday in Nagpur.

Atapattu, looking forward to the series, said: "We are expecting a tough challenge from India and we are now all geared up for the tour. We know we have done well in Sri Lanka but it is different when you face the Indians at home."

After the one-dayers, the Sri Lankans will return home before a three-match test tour in December.

 

[honestbharani]

Well, I hope Sanath is still able to play, even if it means him smashing the Indian bowlers around for the 2472347th time.

 

[Arjun]

Pakistan and India seem to be producing tearaways, where are the Sri Lankan tearaways

Dilhara Fernando was very fast in the early 2000's, but he seems to have lost a little too much pace. I heard Mirando was the fastest in SL, but he didn't get too many games. Maharoof was a lot faster in his debut ODI, but not tearaway. Not too sure about Malinga- he's got a lot of pace, but lacks the body build to sustain it for a long time.

 

[adharcric]

My suggested teams for the 1st ODI:

INDIA:

1.Virender Sehwag
2.Sachin Tendulkar
3.Mohammad Kaif
4.Yuvraj Singh
5.Rahul Dravid*
6.Suresh Raina or Vengopaul Rao - dont know who u indians prefer
7.Mahendra Dhoni +
8.Jai prakash Yadav
9.Irfan Pathan
10.Agit Agarkar
11.Harbhajan Singh
12.Mural Karthik

SRI LANKA:

1.Sanath Jayasuriya
2.Upul Tangara
3.Marvan Attapatu*
4.Kumar Sangakkara+
5.Mahela Jayawardena
6.Russel Arnold
7.Tillkaratne Dilshan
8.Upul Chandana
9.Chaminda Vaas
10.Farveez Maharoof
11.Muttiah Muralitharan
12.Dilhara Fernando

Well for India i see the sqaud is for the 1st 2 ODI's, are blokes like Nehra & Khan injured if not i find their axing's very strange. Also i think instead of guys like Raina & Roa Ganguly(yes i still think he still has something left in him in ODI's) & Laxam who could come at 3.

Nehra is injured, Khan hasnt performed as he should so his removal is justified. Also, Kaif is injured and not in the side for the first 2 ODIs. I think the team should be:

Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Rahul Dravid*
Yuvraj Singh
Venugopal Rao
Mahendra Singh Dhoni+
Jai Prakash Yadav
Irfan Pathan
Ajit Agarkar
Harbhajan Singh
Sreesanth/Murali Kartik
Supersub: Suresh Raina

 

[Arjun]

The absence of Sanjay Bangar won't help the Indian ODI team in any way. He's a better change seamer than Dhoni is a wicketkeeper, and he's also a good hard hitter of the ball. Sure, he may not be as 'talented' as the Zaheers, Yuvis and Agarkars, but taking his all-round contribution into perspective, he's a good selection. To get the big hundreds, you have Dravid, Yuvraj and Tendulkar. To get a bagful of wickets, you have Harbhajan and Irfan. This man can be a more-than-useful support act for the frontliners, but the selectors seem to have ignored it. Disappointing.

What? Too slow? Name one Indian pacer who's genuinely fast. Besides, his movement off the pitch can make up for that and his (lack of) pace can complement the faster bowlers well. As a stock bowler, he's a good potion. He doesn't need to take too many wickets- as long as the strikers are getting them, that's enough.

Can't score too many? At least he can score them quickly. He's a lot more useful than these so-called wicketkeeping all-rounders to have played for India (Dhoni is a debatable one), because he can serve that one purpose these others can't. Scoring quickly when the team needs it. Often we see the Indian batting side fizzle out in the final overs. Bangar, in the limited opportunities he got, scored that explosive 50- just one, but we haven't seen an Indian wicketkeeper do that, have we?

 

[Arjun]

Well for India i see the sqaud is for the 1st 2 ODI's, are blokes like Nehra & Khan injured if not i find their axing's very strange. Also i think instead of guys like Raina & Roa Ganguly(yes i still think he still has something left in him in ODI's) & Laxam who could come at 3.

When Zaheer's running hot, he should be an automatic selection, otherwise, keep him out. Nehra is injured, and he's got a problem with the new ball, so you'll have to be careful.

Ganguly, still has it in ODI's?

• He can't field.
• His running between wickets is dreadful.
• His Test weaknesses have crept into ODI's too.

Let him prove himself as a complete ODI player in domestic matches first, and not just by scoring big.

I'd say your squad is quite good, but you can actually keep one batsman out of action if there are many wickets in hand and few overs left. Then promote the pack of JP Yadav, Dhoni and Irfan. If something still goes wrong, then get in that extra batsman. A specialist keeper would be preferred, though. Not to mention, a fresh set of spinners for ODI's.

 

[dinu23]

Dilhara Fernando was very fast in the early 2000's, but he seems to have lost a little too much pace. I heard Mirando was the fastest in SL, but he didn't get too many games. Maharoof was a lot faster in his debut ODI, but not tearaway. Not too sure about Malinga- he's got a lot of pace, but lacks the body build to sustain it for a long time.

DIlhara's runup can be compared to a hopping ballerina. and the loss of Nissanka is also sad. Mirando is the fastest in SL but he's wayward like Tait.

 

[lord_of_darkness]

The absence of Sanjay Bangar won't help the Indian ODI team in any way. He's a better change seamer than Dhoni is a wicketkeeper, and he's also a good hard hitter of the ball

Btw i dont think Bangar is worthy of a spot in the indian team again any time soon.. everytime he gets an opportunity he fails..

My XI

1.Sehwag
2.Ghambir
3.Tendulkar
4.Dravid / Kaif
5.Kaif / Dravid
6.Yuvraj
7.Dhoni +
8.Yadav
9.Irfan Pathan
10.Sree Santh
11.Harbhajan Singh
12.Karthik

 

[honestbharani]

Well, Rao is in hot form, so he HAS to be played in the eleven. Otherwise, the selectors saying that domestic performances is what they base their selections on will be nonsense.

 

[Arjun]

Btw i dont think Bangar is worthy of a spot in the indian team again any time soon.. everytime he gets an opportunity he fails..

He's hardly ever got an opportunity, with the ball in particular. In just four matches, he's got to bowl as many overs as Balaji, and he's got very good figures then. As for his batting, he may have disappointed, but he can perform a role none of the specialist batsmen can- to mount a charge on the bowling attack, particularly in the final overs. He's not very talented, but he serves a purpose, be it as a batsman, bowler or fielder. That's good enough to get him back. We find similar players playing for Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies and New Zealand, so why should India not play him? Instead, we find the likes of Parthiv Patel, MSK Prasad, Deep Dasgupta, Dinesh Karthik and a very reluctant (and inept) Rahul Dravid playing as wicketkeeping all-rounders, so Bangar should be considered again.

 

[Arjun]

DIlhara's runup can be compared to a hopping ballerina. and the loss of Nissanka is also sad. Mirando is the fastest in SL but he's wayward like Tait.

Dilhara was very fast when he played in the early 2000's, and I remember him bowling with enough pace to push the Indian batsmen on the backfoot in mid-2001. Nissanka was also good, but he lacked accuracy and unfortunately, the people in command failed to help him overcome that. They've had the same problems as their Indian counterparts. Let's just hope that doesn't happen in the future.

 

[aussie]

When Zaheer's running hot, he should be an automatic selection, otherwise, keep him out. Nehra is injured, and he's got a problem with the new ball, so you'll have to be careful.

Ganguly, still has it in ODI's?

• He can't field.
• His running between wickets is dreadful.
• His Test weaknesses have crept into ODI's too.

Let him prove himself as a complete ODI player in domestic matches first, and not just by scoring big.

1. Why even if Khan is not in TOP form, should he be out of the side?, & of recent i've seen Nehra coming on as a 1st change bowler not with the ball & he seems to have great wikcet-taking ability, so to be both should be automatic selections

2. Agreed on your points about Ganguly.

 

[Pratters]

Ganguly, still has it in ODI's?

• He can't field.
• His running between wickets is dreadful.
• His Test weaknesses have crept into ODI's too.

Let him prove himself as a complete ODI player in domestic matches first, and not just by scoring big.

Ganguly has never been a complete one day player. Yet at his best he has been a very good one day player. So the aspects regarding the fielding, running between the wickets, his test weakness creeping in his one day batting (the off drives seem horrible when he doesnt hit them, brilliant when he hits them) are all not as important points.

What is of vital importance to India is to have Ganguly back as a quality one day batsman. I think you will agree he is a proven one day batsman. Ganguly, for his own and India's sake, should concentrate much more on his batting than he ever has.

I think he should leave the captaincy troubles to Dravid for at least 6 months. We can see where it goes from there. Ideally I would like Dravid or some one else to be announced captain till the world cup but it is not going to happen.

In the next 6 months, Ganguly should let his bat do the talking and leave no alternative than for the selectors to bring him back to the one day side. Dravid did it and made his way back to the one day team.

Ganguly obviously has problems with his batting right now. But I think it is not over for Ganguly as a one day player. If he can come even close to the Ganguly - the one day batsman of the past, he would do India good in 2007 as a player.