Viewing 5 comments - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

  • For me, Kusal Mendis isn’t a t20 player. I see it as a issue with his mindset than his skill. For example, even when he gets a good start, he tends to settle down and defend balls that other batmen would have scored of. So he doesn’t maximise from the scoring opportunities he gets from the number of balls he faces (which I think was the main reason for us losing the 1st 2 NZ games, even though we batted well, we were about 15 runs short, and Mendis wasn’t the only one to do this). What stood out from Bhanuka’s and Oshada’s recent innings was they kept scoring boundaries and rotating strike throughout their innings. And they didnt slow down their innings to get from 46 to 50 with only singles, which I’ve seen Mendis do before. You cannot afford to do that in a t20 game. I’ve nothing against Mendis and I think he is our best batsman. But he needs to change his mindset if wants to play t20. Or we are always going to end up 10-15 runs short.

    I dont think we should be making lineup predictions for the world cup just yet. But I would like to see this XI being tried for the 1st t20 in Australia.

    1) Danushka Gunathilaka
    2) Avishka Fernando
    3) Kusal Perera
    4) Bhanuka Rajapaksha
    5) Oshada Fernando
    6) Dasun Shanaka
    7) Isuru Udana
    8) Wanindu Hasaranga
    9) Kasun Rajitha/Lahiru Kumara/Lakshan Sandakan
    10) Nuwan Pradeep
    11) Lasith Malinga

    12) and 13) Kasun Rajitha/Lahiru Kumara/Lakshan Sandakan
    14) Shehan Jayasuriya
    15) Kusal Mendis
    16) Angelo Mathews

  • I don’t see how both Angelo and Kusal got out to 2 very good balls. Kusal was poking way outside the line of the off stump to defend a pretty much a straight ball and Mathews looked really confused. Looked like he didn’t know if to attack or defend. I think he tried attacking second ball avoid a collapse like the last innings where he went into a full defensive mode and ended up nicking. But unfortunately he played a very half hearted shot.

    My XI at the moment:

    Avishka Fernando
    Kusal Perera
    Dimuth Karunarathne
    Angelo Mathews
    Dananjaya De Silva
    Kusal Mendis
    Thisara Perera
    Isuru Udana
    Suranga Lakmal
    Lasith Malinga
    Nuwan Pradeep

    I think Kusal Perera should either open or play at 6. Avishka is unpredictable, so if he play at 3, he poses the risk of causing a collapse. Therefore, him and Kusal should open. Dimuth’s role shouldn’t change much at 3. Dananjaya always seem very nervous at the start of an innings and ideally I don’t want him as one of my top 6 batsmen, but he stays because of the lack of options and his economical bowling. I always thought Mendis should play 6 during this world cup. He is down on confidence but has the ability to hit boundaries with his great timing, and will take on a less pressured role as 6.

  • Hey guys, just someone passing through. Saw the very constructive replies on this site and thought I should add my preferred lineup as well.

    1)Dimuth Karunarathna
    2)Avishka Fernando (I think one test opener is enough, too bad he didn’t get a bat in the warm ups)
    3)Dananjaya De Silva (Doesn’t have enough power to bat late in the order, crying watching him trying to clear the fence with power, economical spinner)
    4)Angelo Mathews (I would like him to bat as high up as he can, we tend to lose a wicket early and then a second wicket trying to catch up to the run rate before the power play ends, dont want that to be him )
    5)Lahiru Thirimanne (Tends to nick the swinging ball, his okay form in the warm ups has him ahead of kusal perera)
    6)Kusal Mendis (Although not a power hitter, has the ability to clear the fence with timing and play to a tempo as the situation requires)
    7)Thisara Perera
    8)Isuru Udana
    9)Jeevan Mendis
    10)Nuwan Pradeep
    11)Lasith Malinga

    I’m not a cricket pro. What are your thoughts?

Viewing 5 comments - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)