India tour of SL, Aug 6 - Sept 1

[Arthur Crabtree]

Without Sanga, the SL top order looks very fragile....
:no
The keeper's batting with the tail now.

They are going to struggle for a while, I can see Bangladesh being better than them

Especially when herath retires

I've been thinking recently how resilient they are. Though the loss of Sanga changes things. I suppose Herath hasn't too many miles left to run.

[backfootpunch]

Without Sanga, the SL top order looks very fragile....

The keeper's batting with the tail now.

They are going to struggle for a while, I can see Bangladesh being better than them

Especially when herath retires

I've been thinking recently how resilient they are. Though the loss of Sanga changes things. I suppose Herath hasn't too many miles left to run.

There will be a lot of pressure on Matthews and chandimal to take over the mantle from kumar and Mahela


The retirement of dilshan, and the big two will leave a big hole in the batting and mean Matthews no longer gets the protection he has been used to

[Aidan11]

India struggling at 180/7 but with the lead almost 300 you'd feel they have enough runs already.

[mikesiva]

A round 50 for Rohit, and a 49 from Binny...sorry, Red, you're stuck with Stuart!

[Dr Cricket]

Yep think Sri lanka might struggle big time since their essentially lost most of their all time great team and everything is really going against them.

Population 20M
Hasn't really got a good first class system, Sanga, Jayawardene want loads of changes to it since they feel it is too amateur, I reckon Bangladesh first class system is stronger and that is saying something.

If the next golden generation don't come through they in big trouble especially since Sri lanka rely so much on Raw talent and not really producing players through clubs/academy.

In terms of population, facilties and first class system Sri lanka should really be the 4th best team in Asia but the golden generation in the 90s/00s have made them overachieve.

Sri lanka First Class Competition is still 3 Days.

[Aidan11]

India could be thinking about a declaration shortly.

[Aidan11]

India all out now. SL need 386 to win.

[mikesiva]

Yep think Sri lanka might struggle big time since their essentially lost most of their all time great team and everything is really going against them.

Population 20M
Hasn't really got a good first class system, Sanga, Jayawardene want loads of changes to it since they feel it is too amateur, I reckon Bangladesh first class system is stronger and that is saying something.

If the next golden generation don't come through they in big trouble especially since Sri lanka rely so much on Raw talent and not really producing players through clubs/academy.

In terms of population, facilties and first class system Sri lanka should really be the 4th best team in Asia but the golden generation in the 90s/00s have made them overachieve.

Sri lanka First Class Competition is still 3 Days.

A good analysis....

Prasad and Pradeep get four-fers.

Time for the rain-dance....

[Aidan11]

Tharanga gone already. 1/1.

[Aidan11]

3/2. Could be all over by tonight.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Chandimal's out.

Whenever SL are in a corner, they tend to produce something. Maybe not to win the game, but at least to offer resistance. As they have in this game. It'll be a poor result to lose at home to India, but they won a Test, and had some good performances. Their derided seamers offered some threat. From 3-7 in the rankings is pretty even, and any of those sides can beat each other. They aren't Bangladesh just yet. People have been anticipating the demise of SL since Murali went but results have held up, admittedly with Sanga in incredible form.

Wasn't Australia's population about 20m until recently? NZ are on an up, with a small population. England's larger population means nothing if the game is only played in public schools. The best cricket producing country of all time is Barbados, with a population the size of Wakefield.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Though at 30-3, I'm offering a more robust defence than SL at the moment.

[Dr Cricket]

TBH Australia/NZ have the money/Facilities to make full use of their small population.
Sri lanka don't so they can't rely on Raw talent or players just coming through.
Remember watching a show or doc about West indies cricket and past player/administrator said if West indies cricket authorities didn't get complacent during the 70/80s cricket wouldn't be in such a bad decline now there.
At the time West indies always assumed fast bowlers/cricketers will always be there and never invested in their domestic cricket and producing players.

NZ are on the up because their have a golden generation once that is over their will probably be back down where their usually are.

[mikesiva]

The top order gone again....

Mathews fighting the rearguard with support from the keeper.

[greyblazer]

Mathews is technically better than Smith, Root, Kohli and KW. Yes, I won't change this opinion. Looks really rock-solid at the crease.