India vs Sri Lanka

This has to be the funniest comment I've read in a long time, it was posted on rediff website by an Indian fan ...

"Sehwag was probably watching the bowlers foot to see if bowler was going to bowl an intentional no-ball. That's why he got out"

I do agree with you Spinny but I only wanted to highlight the fact that most of the times people are too harsh on these minnow teams.

one thing is for sure though the gap between BAN, ZIM and the main nations has reduced and also the gap between the associate nations (esp IRE and NET) and BAN and ZIM has also reduced. come WC 2011 and I guarantee that we'll see some serious upsets... the top 8 test playing nations won't make it to the Quarters, I'm sure.

The most dangerous side among the minnows will be Bangladesh, and I'm saying this because they are normally good in subcontinental conditions... their spinners may turn out to be very very dangerous (esp in summer season with high temperatures) and Tamim Iqbal, I think, will be the man of the tournament, no kidding!

With plenty games in the first round, chances of any of the minnow team going through gets remarkably slimmer, compare to the 2003 WC where one bad day could throw out a team, like Pakistan and India saw.  I expect all the top dog teams to make the next round, yes, even West Indies, unless they pull off another strike.

Virender Sehwag is a stunning player, so much for moving your feet.  In seaming conditions, yet another century, well done, sir and that's why you're my favourite batsman around today.

Originally posted by spin wizard Virender Sehwag is a stunning player, so much for moving your feet.  In seaming conditions, yet another century, well done, sir and that's why you're my favourite batsman around today.

like.no.other

SL looked very good. It's a joy to see such a battle between bat and the ball. Very mid 90 like ODI series. ODIs need such sporting pitches rather than roads.

For the WC squad, Dinesh Chandimal, a hard hitting wicket keeper batsman might come in, instead of woeful Kapugedara. Tharanga also should go. Even on the flat tracks of India he never scored run a ball.

The best XI for WC would look like,

Dilshan, Jayawardane, Sangakkara, Samaeraweera, Chandimal, Mathews, Perera, Randiv, Kulasekara, Murali, Malinga

Reserves would be Thushara, Mendis, Herath and Kandambi. Against sides like Inida and Pakistan SL might play extra pace man (Thushara) and Mendis may replace Randiv / Murali against sides like English, Saffies or Windies.

If SL can put that 15 players, all of them fit, they have a huge shout on the WC.

Yes, you're right Milkman, that normal ball/carrom ball is all to easy to play now, just play him like a medium pacer which Sehwag does and just uses his pace to whack him off a length or steer him square.  he got to use his off breaks more now but generally, if you see mendis give the ball air, look out for the one that turns like the off break becaues it's either the off break, googly or top spinner.  The carrom ball has on backspin, which means it can't get plenty air, else it would land to much up under the batsman.

Originally posted by milkman A back to form and a 'smarter' Ajantha Mendis would do wonders for SL in the test arena too with Murali out. He's certainly for more about him than Herath, while Randiv is very good too. Mendis is no longer that mystery bowler of a couple years back , but he's got all that raw talent there that can be converted into great talent if he does the right things. What he doesn't need is a lot of people telling him what to do and sending him mixed messages. Certainly he needs to put a lot of emphasis on his off break, that's a key delivery for him.

Hit the nail on the head milky. That is the perception down here as well. Adding to that his off break do turn quite a distance and drift as well.  During the test series with NZ, he bowled peach of an off break that drifted, dipped, spun and bounce to took Vettori's edge who was batting on a century IIRC. If he has a potent off break then his carom ball will become very dangerous. And he should add the medium pacer to his repertoire as well. That will allow him to bowl darts during power plays mixed with his spinners, and it'll be a very dangerous delivery for lefties when bowled round the wicket.

He has a very decent googly/leg break. He's certainly capable of bowling both finger and wrist spin and spinning the ball in both directions. He should use his variations wisely and ensure that he's looking to toss the ball up. Bowling flat and straight carrom balls which deviate somewhat are no better than leg cutters - that's not going to make him a world beater.