Kalof
The current cricket squad of Sri Lanka prefers test cricket than ODI. The team doesn’t know the winning formula in ODI’s. First of all we have to identify the top teams in world who are doing well at the moment and understand their game plan. Also we have to agree that test cricket is more intresting than 50 over game because of it’s stupid laws. The power play is not logical. Field restrictions doesn’t filter the better teams from the rest.
It does not provide any kind of logical improvement to the game as DRS. Anyway Sri Lankan team does not know the exact formula of winning in 50 over game. If you have studied last 2 years matches England is far beyond other teams in win/lost ratio ,run rate and total team batting average both batting first and batting second. India is second. Most of the team has won matches when batting second. Mainly due to this power play rule. England win percentage more higher when batting second. Also Sri Lanka has more success when batting second.
Main rules to follow for winning,
1) Do not get all out
2) Top 6 batters atleast till 45th over
3) Top 3 batters bat atleast first 20 overs
4) The openers should score big innings more often 100 plus scores
5) Unlike test cricket now, ODI cricket demands top 6 batters to remain not out during the whole 50 overs
6)Safety first approach
7) No risky shots
8) Remain not out,keep wickets in hand
Look at current Indian team their first 3 batters are their for long time (5 years or more). They score big ,then dhoni is there to guide when there is a collapse. He can axerlerate at the end as well.
Our team has the talent but our approach is wrong. We loose wickets 4 or 5 inside 30 overs most of the time. Changes had to made as below,
1) Dickwella should not open
2) His batting style influence negatively on team batting approach.
3) Even he scores heavily in first ten overs ,just adter he gets out the second power play will be not good as the first
4) The second power play,over number 11 to 40 is realy important according to current rule
5) The second power play is not suitable for Sri Lanka
6) Sana and Kalu style is not working now.
7) The current format more suitable for Thendhulkar,kholi,sanga,mahela,ponting,root kind of batters.
8) So better send dickwella at number 6 or 7
9) Tharanga should open with someone like sadeera samarawickrama (who is not in squad), so avishka fernando is ok
10) Openers should build a platform to utilize the second power play
11) Do not expect Thisara perera to make miracles
12) If a team depends on one hitter at the end that team will not matches consistently
The current squad is ok. But dickwella risky approach never going to give a momentem to the team. He should bat before thisara perera. Top order should have players like rohit sharma or dhawan. Tharanga is good. Kusal janith is good at number 5. Oshada is good at number 3 and kusal mendis is good at 4.
Just follow this plan. Then rest of the things will be ok.