Points to Ponder From Pakistan: Part Two

Continued from last week...

Different Formats 

The selectors’ inability to understand that different players are suited for different formats is confusing. One would expect such experts to know and understand Cricket a lot better than us mere spectators. The Test batting lineup continues to confound me. Kusal Perera hit two centuries in the unofficial test matches against Pakistan A. Then he went on to score another hundred in the practice match against the Pakistan Team. Somehow he missed out on a place in the Test team. 

Kusal Perera has been categorized as a limited overs specialist. This labeling is not based on any facts. Kusal Perera’s first class batting average is 51.35 with an amazing conversion rate of 11 centuries and 10 fifties. However, his list A average is only 31.47.  This shows that Perera is more suited to the longer format. Why the selectors continue to ignore this fact is hard to understand.  

Frustration again and again!

Spin on Spin

Rangana Herath has been bowling superbly for the past few years. After only two disappointing matches  against Pakistan, Herath finds himself carrying the drinks. On the other side of the coin, Tharindu Kaushal gets selected after just one good outing.

Dropping Chandimal and Thirimanne from the T20 format was a very good decision. Apart from the fact that both Chandimal and Thirimanne are unsuitable for the format, it is of paramount interest that they should try out new players. The onus should be on building a T20 squad for the next world cup.

Trying out new players have unearthed the likes of Milinda Siriwardene who have performed outstandingly well. Getting new capable players instead of playing musical chairs amongst the same set of players makes a lot of sense.

Captain Confused

Captaincy has a lot to be desired for in Sri Lanka’s T20 team. Malinga showed his immaturity as the captain during the matches. In the second T20 the decision to hold back Thisara Perera and Binura Fernando, when they were bowling so well, was a very poor decision. Instead of going for the kill, Malinga was more focused on bowling the 20 overs. 
In the last T20, Anwar Ali's wagon wheel showed that all his sixes and boundaries came from the on side. He simply slogged all deliveries on to the on side. The lines mainly bowled were  straight on middle and leg. It was a result of poor field setting and bad coordination between the bowlers and captain.These are probably the factors that cost Sri Lanka the final T20 match. 

At the end of the tour, hopefully, the selectors and the team think tank would have learned something useful for the upcoming series against India. It is also prudent to keep in mind that Sri Lanka is a team in transition, in the building stage, after the exit of certain key players. Therefore patience and persistence is of utmost importance. 

Points to Ponder from Pakistan: Part One

Assessment of situations, when they are over, is a relatively easy task. However, sometimes even the seemingly obvious is clouded by impaired judgement. As Pakistan leaves the shores of Sri Lanka, the question at hand is, are the Sir Lankans left with more questions after the series than when they began.

Poor Performer

As usual, Sir Lankan selectors have preserved their capability of not selecting properly.  Lahiru Thirimanne, the Sri Lankan vice captain, has had a horror time in Test Cricket. During the previous calender year, Thirimanne averages an appalling 13.30 with the bat with a highest score of 38.

This year, so far, he averages 25.33. The question is, what compels the selectors to persist, with Thirimanne in Test match Cricket If the reasoning behind his selection was talent, then I’m afraid the selectors should watch more Cricket. There are many technical deficiencies in Thirimanne which are unfortunately exposed in the longer format. His weakness of sparing at deliveries outside the off-stump shows a lack of judgement as to where his off-stump is. Also, his balance into the stroke is on most occasions not correct. This will cause theball to go in the air even when he is driving.  

In all fairness, Thirimanne had done well in ODI Cricket. The important fact is that             the selectors cannot seem to differentiate between the different formats of the game.

Chandimal The Wicket-keeper

Using Chandimal as the Test wicket-keeper allows Sri Lanka to play the extra batsman. Out of the youngsters,  Chandimal is probably the most talented. Making Chandimal keep wicket and batting him at number seven is a complete waste. Chandimal should be handled in the same way Sangakkara was handled in Test  Cricket. Chandimal should bat at number four without the added burden of having to keep wicket. The glove work should be handed over to Prasanne Jayawardene. Jayawardene would bring a lot of much needed experience to the team and can contribute even more as the vice captain of the team.

To be continued...