Sri Lanka Thread

[chaminda_00]

I can understand why people don't rate him that highly yet, his only had a couple good series. But a lot of his matches he played for Sri Lanka have been as the main spinner, with Murali not in the side, as we have hardly two spinners lately. I he showed in the VB Series how effective he can be bowling in tandem with Murali. But regardless i expect us to play the extra seamer, due to power plays and the form of Dilshan and Jayasuriya with the ball.

Is Chandana a better option then Bandara, as a speicialist spinner I still rather Bandara. But because we always want to play five bowlers, Chandana batting probably makes him a better option. Still think we should always play seven batsmen, as Dilshan a better bowler then our back up seamers.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

An ER of under 5 is not bad at all in ODIs these days, especially if your taking wickets. Also Jayasuriya generally bowls at the death, whereas Dharmasena only bowled in the middle overs.

I don't agree that <5 = good, myself, I say <4.5 = decent and <4.4 = good. How often has Jayasuriya actually bowled at the death? I mean, he's a pretty reasonable death-bowler but often I've seen Vaas (who's not) bowling instead of him. Even if he was someone who always bowled at the end, Dharmasena's ER is, what, 0.6 better? Which is a huge difference and not simply explicable by one bowling at the death and the other exclusively in the middle.

Zoysa is one of the most limited bowlers ever to play ODIs. When on song his very handy, but when he any slight problems with line and lengh or no balls, he just leaedk runs. His only ever had two short periods in his career where he was an effective bowler. Really we need more consistant bowlers. Until he learns to be that type of bowler, he shouldn't be anywhere near the national team.

Not for a second am I disputing any of that but he's still a darn sight better than anyone else Sri Lanka have produced bar Vaas and, of late, Laaaasith Maaaalinga.

The Dharmasena and Murali combination was effective, but really anyone who bowled in tandem with Murali was seemingly effective. Chandana did a job, Jayasuriya done a job and even Vaas looks a lot better with Murali at the other. The think with Dharamasena unlike Bandara or even Chandana, he did pretty much nothing when Murali wasn't there.

TBH I'd be interested to see his record in non-Murali-playing games, but you can't possibly say that Chandana, Jayasuriya, etc. did equally good jobs, their ERs are far, far higher.

[Evermind]

Originally Posted by Richard

I don't agree that <5 = good, myself, I say <4.5 = decent and <4.4 = good.

It's silly and nonsensical posts like these that result in you not getting taken seriously.

Brett Lee's econ is 4.69. According to you, he's not even a "decent" bowler.



Oh stupid Pakistan and Australia! Why mourn the loss of Akhtar and Brett Lee? They were useless anyway, good riddance! (Australia and Pak collectively breathe a sigh of relief).

[Richard]

Tell me where exactly did I say economy-rate was everything and everything...

And tell me - how precisely would you know how seriously I'm taken?

[Evermind]

Originally Posted by Richard

Tell me where exactly did I say economy-rate was everything and everything...

Yeah right here:

http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/show...42#post1099142

[Richard]

Easy to misinterpret I suppose.

I was referring to that case, not saying SR and avg are never remotely important.

[chaminda_00]

Originally Posted by Richard

I don't agree that <5 = good, myself, I say <4.5 = decent and <4.4 = good. How often has Jayasuriya actually bowled at the death? I mean, he's a pretty reasonable death-bowler but often I've seen Vaas (who's not) bowling instead of him. Even if he was someone who always bowled at the end, Dharmasena's ER is, what, 0.6 better? Which is a huge difference and not simply explicable by one bowling at the death and the other exclusively in the middle.

Jayasuriya generally bowls in the early death overs, 40 to 45.

I think your clutching at straws TBH when minnor differences in ER have a major bearing and a bowlers effectiveness. 4.4 to 4.5 its one run in ten overs. Also i've take six runs an over, the difference between Dharmasena and Bandara if it means one or two more wickets. ER is important but its about balance, you need to take wickets and keep it tight. Clearly wasn't Dharmasena wasn't able to do the later.

In saying all that he did do a servicable job for Sri Lanka and the role required at the time. But i think you'll find during this WC and in the future for Sri Lanka, we need to find regular wicket taking options outside Vaas and Murali. Thats where someone like Bandara may come in. In reality he wont play, like Chandana and Dharamasena who missed plenty of matches overseas, due to the selectors preference to play an extra seamer away from Sri Lanka.

I agree with you about Zoysa, but to be fair to the other seamers outside Maharoof, Malinga and Dilhara none have ever been given a decent run to show what they are capable of.

[Richard]

Hmm...

I'd say as long as Murali was around Dharmasena would always be likely to be a good compliment to him. Sure, whenever Murali does retire the Lankans are going to have to hope someone else can come in and do a wicket-taking job - but I also reiterate that if you tie runs down, wickets will come, whoever they go to it doesn't matter.

4.4 to 4.5 is far, far more than 1 run for every spell, though. It's a big difference once you've played any decent number of games. Overall economy-rates aren't as simple as breaking things down to every game. Economy is also more important than taking wickets because the overs are limited, and you've got to be hellish good at wicket-taking to compensate for expensiveness. The opposite is not true, because wicket-taking is a consequence of economy.

[chaminda_00]

I think we might have to agree to disagree here, or we'll go around in circles.

I personally rather a bowler who has an E/R of under 5 and averages of under 30, over someone who has an E/R below 4.5 and average of 35. It will always be a combination of bowl. But i can understand why you would prefer bowlers with lower ER regardless of whether they can take wickets.

[JASON]

Given Bangladesh game is on Wednesday and India game is on Friday, SL team need to take stock re-fitness for the crucial Match Friday.

For Bangladesh Match , SL must play their best Team , because it is a must win game and a loss would mean early flight back to SL.

IMO the best SL selection ATM is (in batting order)

Sanath J
Tharanga
Sangakkara
Chamara Silva
Mahela
Atapattu
Dilshan
Maharoof
Vaas
Malinga
Murali

[Lostman]

I just hope they wont open the bowling with malinga.

[JASON]

Originally Posted by Lostman

I just hope they wont open the bowling with malinga.

Malinga is best at bowling yorkers at the death and restricting run scoring at the death.

But I would still give him 3-4 overs at the start to make a few early inroads as he is capable of doing.

After India's loss to Bang , I am wondering if SL should consider playing a 5th bowler in Dilhara ....

[chaminda_00]

Dilhara actually got an ok record against Bangladesh from memory. But i think we need to score as many runs as possible against them. As Bangladesh have never won a game against a top side when they scored over 250.

[JASON]

Selecting Dilhara as 5th bowler means Mahroof comes in at 7 with Vaas at 8....Can we take that risk or our batsmen more dependable than India ...

[chaminda_00]

TBH no our top order known to collaspe, from memory thats how we lost our last match against Bangladesh.