***Official*** Sri Lanka in the West Indies

[aussie]

Notwithstanding the fact that Ganga’s been a pretty consistent failure at test level since his debut in 1998, he hasn’t made a test 50 since the 1st inns at Karachi (Nov 06). His last 12 test inns are (most recent first): 11, 3, 22, 3, 45, 33, 6, 0, 0, 5, 9, 5. Of course, this is a little selective, as the scores immediately prior reflect something of a career purple patch, but even then his average from the NZ tour in early 2006 up to & including the Lords test was a shade under 40.

Ramdin hasn’t made bucket loads of runs in his comparatively short test career, but he contributed in each innings of the last 2 tests in South Africa and kept well throughout the series.

Ganga, a specialist batsman, doesn’t make many runs, drops his fair share of catches and is a very occasional bowler. On the rare occasions when he does make a start, he tends not to carry on, despite the fact that – unlike Ramdin – he is rarely handicapped by being stuck with a weak tail.

Overall, not a good comparison, though Browne did impress in South Africa and might get a run in the ODIs.

I most countries Ganga would have been banished a long time ago to domestic cricket, but in my time of watching the windies play they always seemed to pick him & after he seemed to be breaking through vs IND in 06 he had a very solid 2006. Then you drop him after the ENG tour (when no batsman other than Chanderpaul made real runs) after one bad series when he seemed to be finally progressing after IMO investing in him for so long. They could have gave him 1 last series.

On Ramdin he contributed in small bulks in SA yea, but from what i saw from Browne in SA, in Standford 20/20 & the knowledgeable feedback i get from relatives in trinidad, Browne gives a more solid batting option while there keeping abilities is far apart & in an age where Gilchrist factor has transforred the way keepers are viewed Browne seems to be the better go ATM.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Well with the selectors not willing to keep Ganga anymore despite 1 bad series in England after he seemed to be transforming his game as a test opener since IND 06, i am a bit surprised they kept Ramdin after he has just been getting starts & not carrying on with Browne coming on very well in SA.

ODI cricket is way way different from Test cricket. I'm yet to see anything in Browne's game that indicates he would be a better choice than Ramdin for Test cricket. And in fairness Ganga had 2 poor series since his good 2006.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Then you drop him after the ENG tour (when no batsman other than Chanderpaul made real runs) after one bad series when he seemed to be finally progressing after IMO investing in him for so long. They could have gave him 1 last series.

Er, they gave him one last series. Against South Africa. He failed.

On Ramdin he contributed in small bulks in SA yea, but from what i saw from Browne in SA, in Standford 20/20 & the knowledgeable feedback i get from relatives in trinidad, Browne gives a more solid batting option while there keeping abilities is far apart & in an age where Gilchrist factor has transforred the way keepers are viewed Browne seems to be the better go ATM.

I very much doubt that any Trinidadian who follows cricket would call Patrick Browne a better batsman than Denesh Ramdin, let alone a better wicketkeeper. Ramdin scored bucketloads of runs at all age levels and then was thrust into first-class and Test cricket at roughly the same time.

He has shown great promise since then, but also frustrating inconsistency. And yet he still looks closer to the genuine article than Browne. I would not go as far to call him a pure slogger, but Browne is certainly nowhere near the class of Gilchrist and will probably never be. You seem to favour him purely on the evidence of a couple of limited overs innings, but nothing in those innings suggested that he could cope with Test cricket. Even in one-day cricket he averages under 20 domestically.

 

[Woodster]

Ramdin will also be in reasonably confident mood with the bat following his 63 and 103 not out for T&T against a decent Jamaica attack at he start of the month.

 

[chaminda_00]

Likely Sri Lankan ODI squad:

M Udawatte, U Tharanga, T Dilshan, K Sangakarra (wk), M Jayawardene (c), C Silva, C Kapugedera, T Kandamby, C Vaas, M Bandara, T Thurshara, N Kulasekara A Mendis, C Welegedara, I Amerasinghe

Official squad

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Malinga Bandara, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Ishara Amerasinghe, Mahela Udawatte, Thilan Thushara.

Wasn't too far off. Was more hopeful of Kandamby getting a spot over Muburak, but not really surprising. Disappointing but not surprising. Weeraratne recall is a bit of surprise, but Welegedara has already been pencilled in a home tour specialist it seems. Even though both are similar type of bowlers. With Thurshara he might add a bit with the bat down the order. Would have loved them to go with one of theyoung batting all rounders in Matthews or K Kulasekara.

 

[roseboy64]

Pedro Collins unavailable for the WI.

 

[JASON]

Isn't it time for Jayasuriya to retire from ODIs as well !! Can't believe he wants the selectors to keep dropping him repeatedly and go the rough and tumble route to retirement...take the honourable route I would say-- retire now man, for God's sake...

 

[JASON]

Sri Lanka currently sitting in an over rated 3rd position in Tests and very under rated 6th in ODIs .http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/page/211271.html



West Indies likely to thrash SL in this series before the Crucial Australian tour to West Indies coming up...so they will come out in full strength to ensure a Series win here before they themselves get pummelled by the Aussies who come after SL..

 

[Migara]

West Indies likely to thrash SL in this series before the Crucial Australian tour to West Indies coming up.

For that Windies batsmen have to ba really well. We saw how good was SL bowling during CB series.

 

[chaminda_00]

For that Windies batsmen have to ba really well. We saw how good was SL bowling during CB series.

And Murali was non existent that series as well. If our batting steps I reckon we might have a chance here. Windies would have to be favorities though in ODIs.

 

[Migara]

Has to be. Mahela and Kumar are so good in the test matches, wih Vandort also making big scores. But the telling problem is in ODIs where batsman are unable to score quick.

This data will give an insight the problem SL is facing.

Source

The old timers de Silva and Jayasuriya are leading the list with SRs (who have played t least 50 matches). Only Zoysa, Maharoof and are above these two. And remember that when de Silva and Jayasuriya played the normal SR was around 70 for a batsman. Now it is around 80, and even the current best ODI batsman SL have lagging behind it.

In current ODI team,

Tharanga - 72.9
Sangakkara - 73.6
Jayawardane - 76.0
Silva - 69.7
Dilshan - 80.1
Kapugedara - 67.7
Maharoof - 86.8
Vaas - 73.0

It's not impressive at all except for Maharoof and Dilshan. SL needs a real big hitter in that order

 

[chaminda_00]

Has to be. Mahela and Kumar are so good in the test matches, wih Vandort also making big scores. But the telling problem is in ODIs where batsman are unable to score quick.

This data will give an insight the problem SL is facing.

Source

The old timers de Silva and Jayasuriya are leading the list with SRs (who have played t least 50 matches). Only Zoysa, Maharoof and are above these two. And remember that when de Silva and Jayasuriya played the normal SR was around 70 for a batsman. Now it is around 80, and even the current best ODI batsman SL have lagging behind it.

In current ODI team,

Tharanga - 72.9
Sangakkara - 73.6
Jayawardane - 76.0
Silva - 69.7
Dilshan - 80.1
Kapugedara - 67.7
Maharoof - 86.8
Vaas - 73.0

It's not impressive at all except for Maharoof and Dilshan. SL needs a real big hitter in that order

Mathews and Kolsea Kolasekera ftw...

 

[roseboy64]

Pedro Collins unavailable for the WI.

Something about a previous contractual agreement.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Something about a previous contractual agreement.

The Kolpak deal with Surrey that he signed ages ago.

 

[roseboy64]

Found out a while after I wrote that. Forgot he did.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He must really be fed up with West Indies cricket (read the WICB) given that he's signed away his international career with a few years left in him and arguably at the peak of his powers. Hugely disappointing. I still rate him as the best seam bowler in the region, on form. Would have been great to see him shepherding Taylor and Edwards for a bit.

 

[roseboy64]

Ay. Hopefully Powell won't fall to pieces if he plays.

 

[TT Boy]

Day 1- Sri Lanka 343 for 5 (Warnapura 132, M. Jayawardene 99) vs. Guyana President's Select XI

Cricinfo- "In addition to dropping four catches (significantly Jayawardene when on 6), the President's XI were handicapped early in the day when the genuinely quick Jamaican teenage pacer Jason Dawes pulled up' and was forced to leave the field after bowling 2.1 overs."

 

[roseboy64]

If Sri Lanka don't win that match............

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I don't see the point of fielding such a weak team against touring opposition. We're just playing the tourists into form. Should put forth something closer to a West Indies second XI, or at least a third XI.