Nuwan Kulasekara

[Arjun]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Nuwan Zoysa. He's a giant, and that's a good thing for a seamer. As a defensive stock bowler, he can do a very good job. He's got several matches on his side to help. He too is very accurate, and may even sustain it for a longer time. His only problem (apart from an obvious lack of pace or movement) is that he's not much good without the ball, be it in batting or fielding– under-achieving with the bat (could have been a dangerous six-hitter if nothing else) and lazy on the field. Many Lankan fans have complained about his lethargic attitude, and may be right.

Back to the discussion, one can't expect Kulasekara to even match Dilhara at his peak. He's only medium pace, and that's not much for a specialist. The lack of power is just too obvious, in all Lankan seamers. None of them are McGrath clones in accuracy, barely lasting seven overs. None of them have the firepower to grab quick wickets in good time. We still find Dilhara able to do that. Yes, he's got a high RPO, but he still gets wickets. That's what matters for a strike bowler. His only problem is that he bowls one no-ball too many, and that's common in nearly every Lankan seamer. He hasn't been used as a new-ball bowler too often, and we often see seamers who've bowled well with the new ball struggle to make an impact when the ball gets old.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Perera = Chucker

When he gets it right, Fernando can be pretty good, he just needs to be more consistent.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yes, he's got a high RPO, but he still gets wickets. That's what matters for a strike bowler.

My point is though, they don't need a strike bowler, especially if it's going to be as poor as Fernando. They need a support bowler to tie an end up with accuracy to keep the pressure on for Murali, Malinga and Vaas. Kulasekara is the man for the job.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Vaas and Malinga are a perfect strike bowling partnership, they need someone like Maharoof and Kulasekera to keep it tight in the middle overs, and then you have Murali if it all goes wrong.

 

[NUFAN]

Gun call Prince.

LOL at Ganegama btw.

 

[Athlai]

Princey with a brilliant call from way out.

Guy should be selecting every international team. Besides NZ (unless we can somehow erase Sinclair from is memory)

 

[thierry henry]

pffft

As mentioned in the thread, I was on the bandwagon (the one man bandwagon) about 12 months before this thread.

 

[thierry henry]

I went to the 2004 NZ v SL boxing day ODI (of course, we all know why that tour was abandoned the next day) and saw Maharoof and Kulasekara, who were both totally new to me, bowl live.

Funnily enough I though Kulasekara was gun (not surprising since he had awesome figures that day), and I thought Maharoof was one of the worst international seamers I'd ever seen....he honestly looked pedestrian enough for me to face him.

Maharoof has gained some pace since then (he was mid-120s when he first started tbh) and probably improved a bit, but I actually think that my first impressions have *eventually* been proved right.

 

[chaminda_00]

I'm not convinced yet, he needs to perform more consistently against quality sides. Probably still our best seamer after Malinga though atm.

 

[Migara]

Yeah I heard he had very good control over his line and length. They should really give him more chances, Maharoof and Fernando are both very ordinary bowlers. Maharoof is very mediocre, while Fernando has been an under achiever for most of his career.

And Sri Lanka will need someone with Vaas like line and length control soon. I heard he bowls at a pretty decent pace as well and can get the ball to reverse.

Compare him to Zaheer Khan, excluding minnows and non test playing teams,

Maharoof: Matches - 65, Wickets - 67, Avg - 32.7, ER - 5.0, SR - 39.1
Zaheer: Matches - 123, Wickets - 154, Avg - 33.6, ER - 5.1, SR - 40.0

Two ordinary bowlers

 

[Uppercut]

Maharoof has gained some pace since then (he was mid-120s when he first started tbh) and probably improved a bit, but I actually think that my first impressions have *eventually* been proved right.

Nah, they'll both have their ups and downs. You can't just say that at a precise moment in time where Kula's at a peak and Maharoof's in a trough

 

[pup11]

Compare him to Zaheer Khan, excluding minnows and non test playing teams,

Maharoof: Matches - 65, Wickets - 67, Avg - 32.7, ER - 5.0, SR - 39.1
Zaheer: Matches - 123, Wickets - 154, Avg - 33.6, ER - 5.1, SR - 40.0

Two ordinary bowlers

I think those stats really don't tell you the full story, Zaheer plays most of his ODI cricket on dead Indian pitches which have nothing in it for seamers, the second thing those stats also don't indicate how much Zaheer has improved over the last two years.

He is more fitter and has more variety in his bowling then before, and he is a much much better bowler than Maharoof.

 

[Migara]

And convieniently forgotten that Maharoof is few years behind Zaheer, so he could very well develop them as well.

 

[Migara]

On "dead" Indian tracks, against test class opposition

Z. Khan, M - 41, W - 53, Avg -33.6, ER - 5.3, SR - 38.0
Maharoof, M - 14, W - 18,Avg - 27.3, ER - 6.0, SR - 27.3

Even better than his careet stats.

Once again, two ordinary bowlers!

 

[Jono]

Zaheer's an 'ordinary' bowler who has won a couple of series for his team recently though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Princey with a brilliant call from way out.

Guy should be selecting every international team. Besides NZ (unless we can somehow erase Sinclair from is memory)

Haha, thanks I guess.

TBH, not even I would pick Sinclair now unless a few batsmen failed spectacularly. I'd love nothing more than to see him recalled and I think the selectors are quite a bit at fault for his disappointing Test career but I don't actually think he's the best option for the team as it stands. I'd have all the current lot plus Fulton and maybe Hay ahead of him ATM. I'd like it to be different, but it isn't.

 

[Athlai]

Haha, thanks I guess.

TBH, not even I would pick Sinclair now unless a few batsmen failed spectacularly. I'd love nothing more than to see him recalled and I think the selectors are quite a bit at fault for his disappointing Test career but I don't actually think he's the best option for the team as it stands. I'd have all the current lot plus Fulton and maybe Hay ahead of him ATM. I'd like it to be different, but it isn't.

You can select NZ too.

 

[Prince EWS]

Go Nuwan!

 

[DaRick]

Well, he's certainly been very impressive against Pakistan.

To be honest, I always thought of him as just being a one-day bowler. He always struck me as being another generic line-and-length merchant, able to put it on a spot at medium to medium-fast pace with slight movement in helpful conditions but not do much else. A bit like Farveez Maharoof.

That being said, I wonder how much his performances can be put down to him, or whether the failings of the Pakistani batting line-up are just being shown up (spectacularly).

 

[Prince EWS]

Bowls innies IIRC.