World Cup – select our team wisely
Posted on March 31st, 2011
Anuradhini
In recent matches we have seen Sri Lanka chose to go with three full-time spinners and succeeded. Against Pakistan, however, only two full-time bowlers were used and we saw Pakistan winning the match marginally.
How should Sri Lanka adjust the squad to challenge India ? Hardly any batsmen adjustments possible but bowlers should selected wisely.
The following statistics are based on all the recent world cup matches played against India by all the teams.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
| Bowler Type | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Runs per Over | 5 wicket hauls |
| Fast | 177 | 1025 | 34 | 5.8 | 3 |
| Slow/spin | 189 | 1063 | 18 | 5.6 | 0 |
This clearly shows that fast bowlers were able to take nearly double the number ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ slow bowler wickets. India lost one match andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tied one match. In both instances fast bowlers took 5 wicket hauls. Even though spin bowlers seems to be slightly more economical, wickets are extremely important and Sri lanka should strike early to prevent India amassing a huge total.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If Sri Lanka chooses to use the same team as for the match against New Zealand and England, Sri Lankan selectors are fools. Statistics show clearly that Indians cannot be beaten with spin.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is also a fact that the three fast bowlers who took five wicket hauls against India are capable of bowling over 140 kPh. Therefore, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Malinga alone is surely insufficient. Unless another fast bowler could assist him he too will be punished.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With the available bowlers from the pool, Dilhara Fernando and the Indian specialist Perera are the only candidates who could be chosen to beat India. While Dilhara is able to touch 150 kPh, Perera could also reach 140 kPh. Although speed alone is not sufficient these two bowlers have proven track record to bowl effectively. Although Kulasekara is a very good line and length bowler who could occasionally get Indian batsman, we have seen many times him getting punished by Sehwag.
Even the young Pakistani players got the better of Kulasekara. Vass is not effective now andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sehwag will hammer him.
Going with a spinner to open bowling may also ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not work with India.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If we are to choose both Dilhara and Perera to improve our chances, who are the players to be dropped ? Number one candidate is Chamara Silva. Perera will surely make up for him in batting.
The other will have to be a spinner. My choice will be to drop Mendis, because, a left arm bowler (should be a slight irritation than Mendis. This is a difficult decision, on his day, Mendis can be better than Herat.
With our hero Angelo suffering from injury Sri Lnaka will have no other choise but to include Perera. However, inclusion of Dilhara Fernando, if that ever happens, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ may prove to be the best gamble the selectors ever made.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Good luck Sri Lanka ! DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t let the Indians win easily.
March 31st, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Lies —> damn lies —> statistics!
Excuse me for not liking off-ground cricket pundits and armchair defence consultants.
March 31st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Lorenzo,
This is a fact, not lies.
Indians are weak agaist good fast bowling. They will absoulutely hammer our spinners. Vass may not be a bad idea. Even Welegedara , although got hammered by Sehwag at times got Sehwag’s wicket many times.
We should not play 3 spinners and we should not play weak fast bowlers.
I wonder our friend Sunil Vijepala still supports India.
March 31st, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Nanda – I need to reiterate what I mentioned in my article. I presumed India never won the World Cup and thats why I said they deserve to win. My passion for cricket was over when it became another corrupt phenomenon – all fighting, betting based on money. These Indians are mad over this game – read my earlier comments. In fact as a Sri Lankan I wish we win but to tell you the truth I don’t give a damn who wins and who loses as I said I lost the passion for this game. As someone said the best team should win, not based on ‘deserve’ idea. In fact no team in this tournament stands out – any team can win/lose a game on the day of play. Sorry to hurt your feeling fellow contryman. Well I call myself a Sinhala Buddhist first and formost before even I call myself Sri Lankan as you are a composite entity of all the traits you inherit from each Nation you live – in my case Canada, Australia and above all my mother land Sri Lanka. I have fought for my country in my way in Sri Lanka, Canada and a bit in Australia- only my friends are aware and those have have read my articles over the past 30 years.
April 1st, 2011 at 12:23 am
Sunil,
No worries mate ! No need to defend. We all know you well.
Sri lanka Jindbad ! my Bangla friend just wished.
April 1st, 2011 at 2:10 am
She has a point. Indian top order almost always fell for fast bowlers, not spin bowlers.
Also agree Kulasekara and Vaas are not very suited than the others. Thisara Perera is a must. Yes, Chamara Silva must be dropped. He is going through a bad patch. There is no way he can perform now after so many failures.
April 1st, 2011 at 6:12 am
I’m thinking out loud here.
LTTE terrorists can try to discourage our only two Tamil players from playing in the final. They can use threats to harm them, their relatives, etc. This is a real possibility. I’m not saying it happened but it is a real possibility.
April 1st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
No. Not possible. Murali is half Indian now. Angelo is not playing – they dont consider him Tamil anyway.
But actual terrorism is always possible in stupid India. They are animals. They did it is Pakistan.
April 1st, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Pace v spin at Wankhede in ODIs since 2000
Bowler Type Wickets Average ER
Pace 57 29.56 5.12
Spin 39 26.41 4.59
possible team
Angelo – out Perera – in Silva – out Kula – in
April 2nd, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Lorenzo,
Looks like statistics were in fact perfect. Against India , table now extended to 37 wickets by fast bowlers to 19 slow. Dilrook was correct. We should have played poor Dilhara.