Clarke or Samaraweera?

[Cricketismylife]

I would definitely agree with PJ having an attitude problem against spin, remember him recently getting carried away with attacking Ojha and that wasn't the first time.

Ranatunga was a top notch player of spin, had both power and finesse. Can't say I thought of Tillakaratne being amazing against spin, but now that you say it you're probably right. Jimmy Adams should have taken tips off Tillkaratne as how to play spin defensively. Controversial as it may sound I actually rate Tillakaratne as a better test batsman than both Jayasuriya and Atapattu who were ultimate flat track bullies in test cricket, as much as I loved them.

Must admit I've been waiting for Kaushal to enter the side; he's been talked about for a while. Haven't seen much of him. What's he like? I heard he's technically a very sound batsman...any chance of him playing as a pure batsman?

[Spark]

Originally Posted by Got_Spin

Only if Hussey was playing at home though

yeah this. at home though... the list of players comparable to hussey is very very short.

[Migara]

Originally Posted by Cricketismylife

I would definitely agree with PJ having an attitude problem against spin, remember him recently getting carried away with attacking Ojha and that wasn't the first time.

Ranatunga was a top notch player of spin, had both power and finesse. Can't say I thought of Tillakaratne being amazing against spin, but now that you say it you're probably right. Jimmy Adams should have taken tips off Tillkaratne as how to play spin defensively. Controversial as it may sound I actually rate Tillakaratne as a better test batsman than both Jayasuriya and Atapattu who were ultimate flat track bullies in test cricket, as much as I loved them.

Must admit I've been waiting for Kaushal to enter the side; he's been talked about for a while. Haven't seen much of him. What's he like? I heard he's technically a very sound batsman...any chance of him playing as a pure batsman?

Hashan was a very defensive batsman and good one at that. Might have score a lot more against current bowlers. But I'd never rate him as a great batsman, and so are Jayasuriya and Atapattu. They are better than a good batsman, but not great by any stretch of imagination.

Kaushal Silva is very compact batsman wit very little mannerisms, and as the new crop of SL batsmen, better against pace than against spin. So will be breathing down PJ's neck for the English test tour. But he's not the high class keeper that PJ is. On the other hand PJ will be lamb to slaughter in English conditions were pitching the ball up gives you maximum results (PJ is quite good against short stuff). Fingers crossed till that tour begin.

[Cevno]

Originally Posted by Migara

Samaraweera is not in Chappel's league as a batsman. But jhe's in his own league when it comes to playing spin. Better player of spin that Chappel IMO. Easily the second or third best player of spin SL has in his entire history after Ranatunga and Tillekaratne

Samarweera has looked dodgy against Kumble /Harbhajan in every innings he has played in India.

He may have gotten out to Harbhajan too,but against Kumble he looked like getting out every ball specially starting his innings.

Playing spin in India and Srilanka are different kettles of fish ,as Ponting also shows.

[Migara]

Originally Posted by Cevno

Samarweera has looked dodgy against Kumble /Harbhajan in every innings he has played in India.

He may have gotten out to Harbhajan too,but against Kumble he looked like getting out every ball specially starting his innings.

Playing spin in India and Srilanka are different kettles of fish ,as Ponting also shows.

And did you mention that these two were taken to the cleaners by Samaraweera in SL? I agree that playing spin in India in 90s was difficult. But current Indian pitches are not those snake farms that 90s used to have. Contrary to that SL wickets always have been spinning wickets other than SSC and Asgiriya.