Finally the T20 squad was named just as the plane was calling for last passengers. If any surprise selections are there they must be running to airport half dressed and with cricket gear falling out of bags. Whatever that caused the delay...
As Cricinfo reported the squad is;
Lasith Malinga (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay
The selectors apparently held Jeffrey Vandersay away from playing in India as he was already in!!!
The test on Seekkuge Prasanna ended negative. Kasun Rajitha could have been an asset but he may have to make way for recovered Kulasekara. Danushka has lost his slot to equally failing Niroshan Dickwella as Dilhara, Asela Gunaratne and Shaminda Eranga never got a fair chance at all. Their replacements look rich as Malinga, Kulasekara, Rangana and Angelo will revamp the bowling completely. Allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya - who was unfairly dropped last time - gets a fair recall.
As it looks, even Chandimal's position is unsure. If we play 6-1-4 (allrounder Tissara, 4 bowlers in Chameera, Malinga, Kulasekara, Rangana), and reserve Angelo, Milinda and opening batting slots, there are two batting places for Chandimal, Kapugedara, Shehan, and Dasun. So Chandimal may find it hard to compete with the others while boasting less than 100% strike rate.
But someone may come up with the revolutionary idea of one of the four middle order batters opening so that the rush for two middle slots reduce. For an example a player like Dasun Shanaka is fitting material to partner Dilshan. I think it would be a great idea, something as good as sending Kalu at the top effectively changing the entire paradigm of ODI cricket and perhaps planting the seeds of T20 cricket 20 years ago.
As I mentioned before bowling slots should be straight forward, unless injuries change the landscape. Rangana Herath is back after his miracles in the previous Asia cup and world T20. If Lasith Malinga finds a faction of himself and Kulasekara can keep things tidy, additional strength of Chameera will surely build a hard wall for anyone to scale.
In my last post I mentioned that the old mansion kept in the hands of poor new generation is falling apart now. So we called back the old fading giants to hold onto its walls. Great idea, but looking at long term future it is just a stylish approach of buying time.
All the best Sri Lanka anyways !!!
As Cricinfo reported the squad is;
Lasith Malinga (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay
The selectors apparently held Jeffrey Vandersay away from playing in India as he was already in!!!
The test on Seekkuge Prasanna ended negative. Kasun Rajitha could have been an asset but he may have to make way for recovered Kulasekara. Danushka has lost his slot to equally failing Niroshan Dickwella as Dilhara, Asela Gunaratne and Shaminda Eranga never got a fair chance at all. Their replacements look rich as Malinga, Kulasekara, Rangana and Angelo will revamp the bowling completely. Allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya - who was unfairly dropped last time - gets a fair recall.
As it looks, even Chandimal's position is unsure. If we play 6-1-4 (allrounder Tissara, 4 bowlers in Chameera, Malinga, Kulasekara, Rangana), and reserve Angelo, Milinda and opening batting slots, there are two batting places for Chandimal, Kapugedara, Shehan, and Dasun. So Chandimal may find it hard to compete with the others while boasting less than 100% strike rate.
But someone may come up with the revolutionary idea of one of the four middle order batters opening so that the rush for two middle slots reduce. For an example a player like Dasun Shanaka is fitting material to partner Dilshan. I think it would be a great idea, something as good as sending Kalu at the top effectively changing the entire paradigm of ODI cricket and perhaps planting the seeds of T20 cricket 20 years ago.
As I mentioned before bowling slots should be straight forward, unless injuries change the landscape. Rangana Herath is back after his miracles in the previous Asia cup and world T20. If Lasith Malinga finds a faction of himself and Kulasekara can keep things tidy, additional strength of Chameera will surely build a hard wall for anyone to scale.
In my last post I mentioned that the old mansion kept in the hands of poor new generation is falling apart now. So we called back the old fading giants to hold onto its walls. Great idea, but looking at long term future it is just a stylish approach of buying time.
All the best Sri Lanka anyways !!!
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