MINODE, DHANAJAYA & ASHEN ARE THE WEAK LINKS IN T20 BATTING LINE UP &
SHOULD BE REPLACED BY BETTER BATTERS
Can we do that in the next match. I don’t think so. Our cupboard is empty and we have to wait until our first choice options (Kusal Janith & Bhanuka) are recovered from their injuries. However Minode & Ashen are playing as the second choice replacements for Kusal Janith & Bhanuka R. So hopefully Bhanuka R will be available for the next match.
It was obvious that the above three batter’s performances and their shot selection were far below the level that is required for T20 format & was the main reason for our defeat in the first match. Lot of improvement in the batting of the two youngsters Minode & Ashen is required. However when our first choice batters (Kusal P & Bhanuka R) are available both these two young players will get a break and the batting line up will be much stronger.
However since there is no batsman available (Pathum Nissanka may not be a good replacement) to replace Dhananjaya we may have to bat DDS towards the end of the batting line up. The following team combination should be a good proposal to overcome the difficulties faced in batting in the first match.
1 Minode Banuka (1st choice is Kusal P who is injured)
2 Avishka Fernando
3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa
4 Charith Asalanka
5 Dasun Shanaka
6 Wanindu Hasaranga
7 Dhananjaya de Silva
8 Chamika Karunaratna
9 Dananjaya Lakshan
9 Praveen Jayawickrama
10 Dushmantha Chameeera
SUSANTHA JAYAWARDENA
We should be patient. Those players will find their groove soon.
I think you are correct, I don’t think ashen Bandara is International level, caus we all saw how he batted yesterday, And the fact that the t20 world cup is near and that we will only have Kusal perera as the keeper, means that if he has a injury we’ll have no keeper, I think SLC Should groom a new wicketkeeper, Obviously somebody who has the talent of Dickwella but better Discipline, Because though minod keeps well he’s batting style is nothing to tell good about, because he can’t play T20s.. However DDS Will have to bat as he is the only experienced batter!
As SL has adopted a 6 batters, a wkt keeper and 4 bowlers combination, to get the best team balance we must play 7 batters in the team. So the wkt keeper has to be a good batter. As we have seen Minode has kept the wkt nicely but his batting is no where close to the expectation. So SLC need to experiment with another young wkt keeper to play as our second option wkt keeper batter (In case of any injury to KJP in future).
Even DDS’s place? I am not sure whether he can be played as one of the batsmen. As he is the vice captain only option we have now is to play him lower in the batting order. Probably 6 or 7.
Yes I agree with you But I think DDS Should bat ahead of Wanindu! He can bat at number 6, Wanindu at 7 other than that I totally agree with your xi!