It’s a great decision to keep the maximum age limit to 70 yrs. The best joke is that some affected seniors are getting ready to challenge this decision at courts using SLC funds. Every effect should be made to stop this nonsense. Let them do that with their personal money.

I hope that similar legislation will be implemented soon & the same rule (of 70+ age limit) will be applied to current Old Politicians who are not capable of doing their job properly but only ruining the country.

If you look at the performance & results of the matches played so far India, SA (from group 2) NZ, Eng &Aus (from group 1) are the teams which are good enough to play in the knockout stages. SL are still playing at a below par level on many areas due to the failure of their power hitters (both Banuka & Dasun), inconsistency in top, middle order batting, fast /spin bowling and fielding. If these areas are improved in the next two games, we can think about the Semis. Otherwise, we dont deserve to be playing in the semis.

Due to the very inconsistent way SL is performing currently they don’t deserve to be among the 4 teams for the knockout matches. Four major reasons for our poor show are.

(1) Inconsistency of the batters (both top order and middle order)
(2) Inconsistency or the fast bowlers as well as spinners
(3) Poor ground fielding/catching.

All the above weak areas were clearly exposed during the last match played against NZ few days back

Lot of credit is given to SL on how they cover the whole ground when a match is interrupted by rain

https://www.espncricinfo.com/video/what-makes-the-sl-spinners-a-threat-even-in-australia-1341178

Great performance by our top order batters. But our middle order batters form is a big concern. Our two power hitters (Banuka & Dasun) must improve their shot selection to suit to the big grounds in Australia. In simple words they must avoid hitting sixes in front of the wicket covering the areas from cover point to mid wicket (atleast in the next few matches untill they find form). Unless you can hit a 90 meter six you are always at the risk of giving a catch to the deep fielders in that area. Asalanka is also making the same mistake even yesterday he was dropped giving a simple catch. Kusal is executing the sixes perfectly (most of the sixes he scored were in mid wkt / scuare leg areas.

Banuka has not scored a single six in the three matches he batted. We can beat Ausies tomorrow if our middle order batters improve their batting and maintain the same momentum shown by our bowlers in todays match. Good luck SL in the next match,

Above mentioned experiment can be done in the second match as Afg is a tougher team and it’s better to play our tested opening combination for the first match. I would propose the following team for the match against BD. But I doubt whether our think tank may not go with this experiment during the Asia Cup.

1 Banuka
2 Kusal M
3 Pathum N
4 Charith A
5 Chandimal / DDS/ Ashen B
6 Dasun
7 Hasaranga
8 Chamika
9 Asitha F
10 Theekshana
11 Madushanka

Agree with AJ. Pramodaya has done a wonderful job in team selection during the last few years. Even during a time where five of the T20 certainties (Kusal P, Avishka, Lahiru K, Chameera & Binura) cannot play due to injuries he has picked the best squad. My only complain is about the selection of Vandersay.

Opening with Banuka is totally a responsibility of the coach (Pramodaya has done his part by including him in the squad), and I also have a feeling that we must have a more aggressive opening pair (than Danushka / Pathum) to exploit the field restrictions during the first PP overs to increase the initial RR. So opening with Banuka & Kusal M may be tried in at least some matches.

Dont agree for the above combination, due to the omission of the best top order power hitting batter SL have who is presently in prime form.

Forgot to include Bhanika Rajapaksa ???

It’s a wise decision to include both leg spinners (Prabath & Wellalage) in the squad. It was obvious during the Aussie matches, that in Galle wicket, finger spinners are more effective than the wrist spinners. So playing Vandersay will not be a good option. Although both Prabath & Wellalage are left arm orthodox spinners they both have different capabilities. Dunith can generate more turn and he can also be used as a reliable lower order batter as well. So the best team combination for the test will be,

(1) Dimuth K
(2) Pathum N
(3) Kusal M (WK)
(4) Angelo M
(5) Chandimal (WK)
(6) DDS
(7) Wellalage
(8) Ramesh M
(9) Prabath J
(10) Asitha F
(11) Kasun R

If they decide to play only one seamer, Mahesh Theekshana can play in place of Kasun Rajitha.