Omissions and inclusions in Sri Lankan team

Since the past one year or so, all that the Sri Lankan team has been found to do is to make a mess of their cricket on the field which reached its high in the finals of the world cup where they could not defend a total of 274 against India. Since then, if not for a 2-1 ODI series win against Australia at home, there is nothing much that the Sri Lankan team can rejoice. Since then, their record reads a 2-1 ODI and 1-0 test series loss to England, 1-0 test and 4-1 ODI series loss to Pakistan with a tournament against South Africa due next month.

In addition, they have a 1-0 test series loss to Australia at home. Whatsoever, with such series results in front, the first thing to take the blame would be the chairman of selectors which would in turn point their fingers undoubtedly towards the 15 member squad. The major decision taken by the selectors in this regard is to drop senior batsman Thilan Samaraweera who, though at present is out of form, has contributed a lot towards Sri Lankan cricket in most of the matches he has played. Moreover, Samaweera is a household name in Sri Lankan cricket, dropping whom needs a reconsideration.

Now, it is being heard that Ajantha Mendis is all set to make a comeback to the Sri Lankan team for the forthcoming series against South Africa. It is believed that Mendis had his name felt ahead of some Suraj Randiv whose name is still yet to reach the ears of cricket fans. It is agreed that Mendis is not in the form that he was some three years down the lane. But, I doubt whether the SLC has any better option but to include Ajantha Mendis? As a matter of fact, even the retired ace spinner Muralitharan was not at his very best in his last few days.

If one can take a look at the current Sri Lankan team that is due to host the Proteas, then it is learned that there are hardly any experienced fast bowlers in the squad with Dilhara Fernando being the lone exception. With Kumara Sangakkara in the team, person who would be keeping wickets behind the stumps would be a new-comer in Kushal Silva may be to prepare him for forthcoming tours that would include the T20 world cup next year. Whatever be the case, one thing that would be evident from the 15 member squad would be that their bowling would suffer like never before.

200+ partnerships & Sri Lanka

After the West Indies, the next best thing that could happen in the ongoing world cup would be the elimination of England who can only play a spoilsport with lack of talent and hard work. And this was very much evident when England became the 2^nd team after the mighty losers-West Indies to be the team to hand over a 10 wicket win to a sub-continent nation. But, if England has lost to Sri Lanka by 10 wickets with over 200 on board, questions will definitely be raised regarding their caliber in international cricket. England is not that bad a team to lose so badly in the crucial stages of a tournament.

I think I have just got to Enjoy what's fun and funny with the English language keeping in mind the way the English campaign is going on. An effortless win for Sri Lanka yesterday seemed as though the Sri Lankans were playing some Netherlands and not England and the game was not a quarter-final but just another game in the league stage or some stupid friendly match. Though England have not been favorites to win the cup or make it to the semi-finals, such a bad thrashing was not at all expected by anyone. Sri Lanka never needed Muralitharan to do the damage.

An ordinary Herath and Mendis were enough to restrict the Englishmen from posting a demanding total. In fact, Muralitharan didn't even bowl his full quota of 10 overs and instead settled with 9 overs despite being the most successful bowler with two wickets to his credit. Let alone taking a wicket, there was not even dropped catches to say that England missed a chance. In the 1^st match between Pakistan and West Indies, West Indies posted just 112 on the board and a 10 wicket win for Pakistan was almost expected. But things would not have been the case had they got a decent 200+ on board.

After the 4^th quarter-finals between the teams mentioned above, one has to notice the Sri Lankans having two 200+ partnerships, with the 1^st one coming against Zimbabwe and the second yesterday. They just fell short of breaking their record for the highest 1^st wicket partnership when they lost their first wicket for 282. Yesterday, had this been known beforehand, may be the Sri Lankans would have conceded another 40 runs which would have seen them into the record books. As a matter of fact, Sri Lanka hold the record for the highest 1^st wicket record against England in ODIs when they made 286.