April 2 - India v Sri Lanka - The Final!

[Adarsh]

Haha, this is no april fool's joke. He's seriously considering Sreesanth ahead of Ashwin.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

Matthews is a big blow to SL. Peerera's a decent replacement, but no way is he as good or consistent as Mathews.

More pressure on the top 4.

 

[shravi]

Haha, this is no Easter joke. He's seriously considering Sreesanth ahead of Ashwin.

Well, if it's true, I'm at a loss for words.

 

[Lassana Dias]

Mathews is a big blow!!! But have to deal with it. Best option I see is drop herath and play both perera and suraj who both can bat, then we will still have 2 fast bowlers and 3 spinners. Batting order would be also not so bad

 

[Papa_Smurf]

I would have dropped Herath anyway for Kulakasekra. If he can keep all 3 of UAkmal, Afridi and Razzaq quiet at the death, then he would easily do the same to Dhoni and Raina.

Takes some pressure of Malinga as well.

 

[Lassana Dias]

I would have dropped Herath anyway for Kulakasekra. If he can keep all 3 of UAkmal, Afridi and Razzaq quiet at the death, then he would easily do the same to Dhoni and Raina.

Takes some pressure of Malinga as well.

But kulasekara is not a very reliable batsman, in order to cove mathews we need more batting depth.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

If Silva and Samaweera can't bat, then I fail to see how Randiv and Peerea would do any better. You guys have to play to your strenghts - and that is your bowling and top-order. The top-order should be good enough to take on the Indian bowling. But you're going to need all your bowlers agaisnt the Indian batting line-up.

 

[Lassana Dias]

If Silva and Samaweera can't bat, then I fail to see how Randiv and Peerea would do any better. You guys have to play to your strenghts - and that is your bowling and top-order. The top-order should be good enough to take on the Indian bowling. But you're going to need all your bowlers agaisnt the Indian batting line-up.

If you take pereras record I don’t think it will be so bad even as a bowler. He is a wicket taking option, bowls very well at the depth and can get up to 140ks. Kulasekara is basically a very good new ball bowler but kelasekara is not so fast therefore people like sewag can take advantage of him early…. I don’t know, really wish we had mathews, he is so reliable!!!

 

[s2sschan]

Cousin

hmm...is it just me or is anyone else experiencing a "Thanda" atmosphere ahead of the finals.

many of my friends arent THAT interested. according to them, beating AUS and PAK = winning WC.

also, the media too have mellowed down drastically.

lets hope the men in blue arent experiencing such attitude...

We consider Sri Lankans more like cousins from the South.

The Rivalry and Animosity which we have with Pak and Aus is just not there.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

If you take pereras record I don’t think it will be so bad even as a bowler. He is a wicket taking option, bowls very well at the depth and can get up to 140ks. Kulasekara is basically a very good new ball bowler but kelasekara is not so fast therefore people like sewag can take advantage of him early…. I don’t know, really wish we had mathews, he is so reliable!!!

Yeah, I agree about Perera. Which is why I say drop Herath for Kulasekara and bring in Perera for Matthews.

This gives you a more balanced side. Malinga, Perera and Kulasekara as 3 seamers. Dilshan, Murali and Menids as 3 spinners. Tbh, I know Herath has bowled decentley, but he hasn't over impressed me. Dilshan is in better form with the ball.

Plus, with Perera, you've got a hitter down the order as well. If I was Sangakarra, I would go in with this XI:

U Thranga
T Dilshan
K Sangakarra (wk/c)
M Jayawardene
C Silva
T Samaraweera
T Perera
L Malinga
N Kulasekara
M Muralithran
A Menids

 

[Lassana Dias]

I get your point totally, but I still feel we need bit more assurance if our top 4 misfire this game.

For me it will be

U Thranga
T Dilshan
K Sangakarra (wk/c)
M Jayawardene
C Silva
T Samaraweera
T Perera
S Randiv
L Malinga
M Muralithran
A Menids

This way, even 6 down we will have capable batsman !!! and still having 5 attacking bowlers

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Although I have picked 5 off spinners, they are very different to each other

 

[Papa_Smurf]

That does make sense, and in normal circumstances I would agree with you. But you know you're going in an over-the-top defensive mindset when you're worried about your batting against the Indian bowling

My only worry is that you would be going in with only 2 seamers. Let's say the spinners are taken to the cleaners - you won't be left with too much of an option. I know it's worked so far, but this is one of the areas which Matthews would have covered.

Although, I do agree with the point where the spinners are totally different to each other. Except maybe Randiv and Dilshan.

 

[Lassana Dias]

Come to think of it, you made a very good point!!! And yes I have to say my team looks bit negative to yours, you are trying to attack the Indians and I am going on damage control?.. hmmmm thank god I would never become a selector !!! after my cricket I a gona become a umpire

 

[Haarithan]

U Thranga
T Dilshan
K Sangakarra (wk/c)
M Jayawardene
C Silva
T Samaraweera
T Perera
L Malinga
N Kulasekara
M Muralithran
A Mendis

Spot on there
One thing i would swap though are the batting positions of Silva and Samaraweera .
@ Lass : Imo , Kulasekara can bat pretty well , so cheer up .
Oh , and what is Malinga doing at number 8 ??

U Tharanga
T Dilshan
K Sangakkara (wk/c)
M Jayawardene
T Samaraweera
C Silva
T Perera
N Kulasekara - use him cleverly during the first 10 and the last 10 , the game is definitely SL's
L Malinga
M Muralithran
A Mendis

 

[King Cricket]

also, the media too have mellowed down drastically.

Media have mellowed down? Just tonight, I saw a local news channel comparing the game with Raam-Raavana War (!), and airing live footages of temples where people are worshipping, and doing 'yagnas' for an Indian victory. Others, like Times Now and CNN-IBN, have been ceaselessly debating the final ever since India beat Pakistan. Even Lata Mangeskar, the singing legend, who fasted for team India in the last match, is now praying for Sachin's 100th hundred against Sri Lanka. If anything, the frenzy has escalated to a ridiculous high.

I hope the team is able to stay focused amidst all the public euphoria. I also hope Dhoni doesn't make any captaincy blunders this time, and doesn't commit the cardinal sin of picking Sreesanth instead of Ashwin. Orthodox captaincy and lack of pragmatism don't help the cause at all. This is their golden chance to curve out a perennial place for them in the history of Indian cricket. It won't be an exaggeration to say that if they manage to win the Cup, they will literally be immortalized by the fans.