SJS
Hall of Fame Member
Its a very interesting battle. Lets examine.
Batting :
1. Depth versus Starpower Sri Lanka has three real stars in Jayasuriya, Sangakarra and Mahela. But the rest of it is not so classy thouch Chamara has been very impressive. If Tharanga had been in good form the depth would have been there. Today they seem to rely heavily on the fabulous trio.
Kiwis do not have star power but they do have depth. Right upto number eight they have the strength to provide match winning performance. I never give up on a Newzealand innings like I never do for Aussies. Imagine someone like Oram so low in the order and Vetori can bat, cant he.
Skills versus Spirit : While Sri Lankans look very good on the batting crease its the Kiwis who display nerves of steel. As John Wright has written this morning, a lot of resolve with some skill will go a long way while a lot of skill with poor resolve may flounder. I am not saying that will be Sri Lanka's fate but its a stark difference.
Playing to Win : Of late, I have not seen a Kiwi side give up on a chase just because they have lost many wickets to early. They dont mind being bowled out in 30 overs by trying to achieve the impossible rather than play out the fifty overs with some wwickets and a hundred runs stil to go. It has some clear advantages
a) There are no draws in ODI's
b) Miracles may be very rare but they have happened but they never happen to those who dont believe in them.
c) Even if you are going to lose in a futile run chase, it is a great lesson to the lower order batsman to be put in that situation and made to fight every inch of the way. Lessons on dour batting can be learned elsewhere.
Unfortunately subcontinental teams prefer pride howsoever hollow (I hope Sri Lanka wont) as do teams like England. Kiwis dont and I like that.
Bowling
Depth and variety Inspite of whats been written elsewhere i dont think either team lacks depth and variety in attack. Both have pacers, medium pacers, and a couple of spinners each. Sri Lanka may just appear to have more variety and Kiwis more depth. Where they differ is the emphasis of the strike bowlers.
Spin wizard versus Super Fast Bowler With all the other bowlers around him Bond is the star and real match winner in the Kiwi line up. The Srilankan destroyer is a spinner and thats a big difference and maybe the wicket will help one more than the other.
Although the others in the line up are not to be dismissed easily. Vetori as the main spinner (ably helped by Patel so far) in NZL and Malinga and Vaas to help Murali makes these two sides very impressive in the bowling department. I think if you add Franklin, Oram and Styris in one side and Jayasuriya, Fernando and Dilshan to the other you find the Sri Lankan side slightly better looking.
The plus for Kiwis is Bond and thats because he strikes early.
Fielding
These are two fabulous fielding sides and will provide a great spectacle on the field. I will rate Kiwis higher in slip catching and hitting the stumps and the Sri Lankans in catching in the outfield and wicket keeping.
I think we have a tie here.
Conclusion :
I think we have a very close match up here. Whether it results in a close game too is to be seen. I would rate Sri Lanka higher but I think if Sri Lanka bat first we may see an early decider to the match. Jayasuriya can take it one way and Bond the other. I would love Sri Lanka to bat first and se this for myself before my tired eyes force me lower on the pillow before the second innings gets underway. But I have a funny feeling, those who stay awake will be rewarded handsomely.
Oh yes. One more thing and very important.
I think Kiwis handle pressure better particularly when batting.
AND Fleming is a better captain while Mahela has an edge in resources.
Batting :
1. Depth versus Starpower Sri Lanka has three real stars in Jayasuriya, Sangakarra and Mahela. But the rest of it is not so classy thouch Chamara has been very impressive. If Tharanga had been in good form the depth would have been there. Today they seem to rely heavily on the fabulous trio.
Kiwis do not have star power but they do have depth. Right upto number eight they have the strength to provide match winning performance. I never give up on a Newzealand innings like I never do for Aussies. Imagine someone like Oram so low in the order and Vetori can bat, cant he.
Skills versus Spirit : While Sri Lankans look very good on the batting crease its the Kiwis who display nerves of steel. As John Wright has written this morning, a lot of resolve with some skill will go a long way while a lot of skill with poor resolve may flounder. I am not saying that will be Sri Lanka's fate but its a stark difference.
Playing to Win : Of late, I have not seen a Kiwi side give up on a chase just because they have lost many wickets to early. They dont mind being bowled out in 30 overs by trying to achieve the impossible rather than play out the fifty overs with some wwickets and a hundred runs stil to go. It has some clear advantages
a) There are no draws in ODI's
b) Miracles may be very rare but they have happened but they never happen to those who dont believe in them.
c) Even if you are going to lose in a futile run chase, it is a great lesson to the lower order batsman to be put in that situation and made to fight every inch of the way. Lessons on dour batting can be learned elsewhere.
Unfortunately subcontinental teams prefer pride howsoever hollow (I hope Sri Lanka wont) as do teams like England. Kiwis dont and I like that.
Bowling
Depth and variety Inspite of whats been written elsewhere i dont think either team lacks depth and variety in attack. Both have pacers, medium pacers, and a couple of spinners each. Sri Lanka may just appear to have more variety and Kiwis more depth. Where they differ is the emphasis of the strike bowlers.
Spin wizard versus Super Fast Bowler With all the other bowlers around him Bond is the star and real match winner in the Kiwi line up. The Srilankan destroyer is a spinner and thats a big difference and maybe the wicket will help one more than the other.
Although the others in the line up are not to be dismissed easily. Vetori as the main spinner (ably helped by Patel so far) in NZL and Malinga and Vaas to help Murali makes these two sides very impressive in the bowling department. I think if you add Franklin, Oram and Styris in one side and Jayasuriya, Fernando and Dilshan to the other you find the Sri Lankan side slightly better looking.
The plus for Kiwis is Bond and thats because he strikes early.
Fielding
These are two fabulous fielding sides and will provide a great spectacle on the field. I will rate Kiwis higher in slip catching and hitting the stumps and the Sri Lankans in catching in the outfield and wicket keeping.
I think we have a tie here.
Conclusion :
I think we have a very close match up here. Whether it results in a close game too is to be seen. I would rate Sri Lanka higher but I think if Sri Lanka bat first we may see an early decider to the match. Jayasuriya can take it one way and Bond the other. I would love Sri Lanka to bat first and se this for myself before my tired eyes force me lower on the pillow before the second innings gets underway. But I have a funny feeling, those who stay awake will be rewarded handsomely.
Oh yes. One more thing and very important.
I think Kiwis handle pressure better particularly when batting.
AND Fleming is a better captain while Mahela has an edge in resources.
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