The T20 series between Australia and Sri Lanka has just concluded, with Australia notching a 3-0 clean sweep of the island nation. Here are my thoughts from the series for both sides.
Warner 2.0 is a man on a mission
David Warner’s form in Test cricket may be waning, but his white-ball credentials will never be questioned. The opener looked unstoppable and was unbeaten in all three matches with two half centuries and a century.
At the MCG, he showed that he was willing to dig through a rough patch rather than slog his way out on a sluggish pitch. The pre-sandpaper Warner would never have done that in a T20 game. Pakistan’s bowlers pose more of a threat than the Sri Lankan bowlers but Warner’s form will keep Mohammad Amir and co a tad bit worried.
Malinga was not good enough as captain
From ball one, Lasith Malinga’s captaincy was poor this series. Kasun Rajitha had an off day with the ball in Adelaide yet Malinga kept on persisting with him. The result? Rajitha conceded 75 runs in his quota of four overs.
He had other bowling options in Dasun Shanaka (who only bowled one over that day) and Danushka Gunathilaka but his stubbornness proved very costly.
He is the Sri Lankan Unai Emery. Get Dasun Shanaka back as captain. He led the team brilliantly in their clean sweep of Pakistan and always looked for wickets rather than taking the defensive option.
(Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images)
Thisara Perera was sorely missed
Not having one of the strongest hitters of the cricket ball in the Sri Lankan squad is baffling. The balance of the Sri Lankan line-up was affected heavily with no Thisara Perera.
Their tail was too long in the first two games while in the third T20, Malinga didn’t have a proper fifth bowling option, relying on part-time offies by Shehan Jayasuriya.
Perera is a very destructive player who has improved immensely with bat and ball in the last two years. He understands his own game very well.
When Sri Lanka lands on Australian shores next year, the seam-bowling all-rounder has to be one of the 15 men on the plane to Melbourne.
Chris Green or Ashton Agar for the World Cup?
With Adam Zampa nearly locked in as Australia’s number one T20 spinner, we have a battle on our hands for the second spinner role.
With Glenn Maxwell’s ability to bowl a few overs of off spin (hopefully he recovers from his mental health issues soon and is back in Australian colours soon), the selectors will be looking at the bowling all-rounder who can bowl four overs of spin.
Ashton Agar has shown how handy he can be as the second spinner, but he doesn’t have the spot locked in. Chris Green’s form as a finisher with the bat and his ability to bowl at any stage of the innings as shown in franchise cricket lately keeps him in the selectors’ eyes.
Green should get a few games before the T20 World Cup to prove his worth before we can judge whether Green or Agar will be the bowling all-rounder in the final 15.
Young Lankan side gain experience
Yes, Sri Lanka were massively outplayed this series. But the experience they gain from this before they come to our shores again will be beneficial for them in 12 months’ time.
The Sri Lankan selectors need to show more faith in their team rather than chopping and changing every game. This Sri Lankan T20 side is more capable than what they have shown.
Should they show more intent with the bat and run between the wickets a bit harder, they will cause havoc.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Would like a brick wall to bang your head against there General? May be easier and less painful. :thumbup:
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
I apologize wholeheartedly for my mistake in my post. Agar's average of 51.75 is in ODI's and explains why he has not been picked.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Oh and by the way, all the T20 leagues around the world have many international players. In fact the ICC have limited players to 3 tournaments a year. The recent Canadian tournament had Chris Lynn, JP Duminy, Brendon McCullum, George Bailey, Faf Du Plessis, Kane Williamson, Shahid Afridi etc. etc. I suppose you will call that a weak league as well.' and would struggle to beat a Sydney grade side.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
"its hard to know the point you are making". I was replying to your comment that the players mentioned by Josh H were weak links. I give you their figures and you go on rambling as per usual. Stats do matter, those players played 9 0r 10 games, and so what regarding not outs. That is part of T20, where a lot of players have limited chances. Carey had 3no in 9 innings. That boosted his average. And regarding the rest, I will check. You have no sense of cricket. All the West Indian players were there, plus those players mentioned. Your comment that the CPL is comical and for struggler's is the most ludicrous thing I have ever read. Agar missed because he is not good enough. A bowling average in T20 of 51.75. I could do better.
Tom
Yeh mate. Neesham is rubbish...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's hard to know the point you are making. You know why Agar missed? Probably not. The stats you give have no context...limited innings, not outs at the end...and you only mention 3. The rest? CPL, as I say, is comical. Reserved for strugglers. It might improve but it hasn't yet.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Oh they were weak links Huh. Das av 46, Dussen av 62, Neesham allrounder batting 33, bowling 19.4 (seventh best in the comp.). That's just 3 that I checked. Not bad for weak links. Oh and where was Ashton? Oh that's right not good enough to make our ODI team. Not since 2018 anyway.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They certainly were weak links. Who did you think did fabulous things? You'll struggle.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
All of the players mentioned by Josh H, were in their country teams for the world cup. So making their rep sides is ridiculed by you. They must be no good then.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
No you are the only cartoon around here. I get a real laugh with everything you post. So all the West Indian current players are on walking sticks. Apparently so are Imran Tahir, current spinner for SA, Malinga who is still the captain of SL T20 side. You are ridiculous.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Shakib is the only gun in that lot.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Which one of those players is any good any more? They are all on walking frames apart from Hales who is on something else. You make all my arguments for me. The CPL is like a cartoon.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Oh yeah, and that's just the start; Shakib Al Hasan, Rassie vd Dussen, Andre Russell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mohammad Hafeez, Liton Das, need I go on? It's not the IPL, but it's still a very legitimate T20 league
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Sorry for the last post, I see you had already seen my comment.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Josh H, See my reply to the Don's post re the CPL being the equivalent to Sydney grade cricket. I did point out that the league has all the West Indies test players, plus Christian, Hales, Tahir, Gayle, Malinga etc. Not bad for a Sydney grade team.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Don, Get yours facts right, the CPL league included all the West Indian test players (Holder, Bravo etc), and major players from round the world. Heard of Dan Christian, Alex Hales, Imran Tahir, Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga and many others. Maybe you haven't, but I think those above might just give a Sydney Grade side a game.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
KP? That old bloke that stopped playing proper games years ago?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They are picking him up because the better players are playing real cricket in representative teams. If Chris Green could get a game, he wouldn't be playing rent-a- cricketer in the back blocks.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Not to mention how bloody good he was for Guyana in the CPL. Before he had and arm ball and the stock off spin delivery. Now he's got a very solid doosra which even KP fell prey to
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Guyana? Guyana!! Oh, dear. That is a weaker standard than Sydney grade cricket. You make my point.