Pakistan and Sri Lanka- postmortem

During my two articles about previews for the world cup, I strangely, did not rate Sri Lanka as much.

“Sri Lanka, are a force on slow tracks, but you never know which way their batters will turn up on the day.”

Luckily, my guess is ‘so far so good’. I just could be wrong with it. However, the problem with Sri Lanka, as I see is lack of match winning batsmen. Sangakkara is in habit of playing smoothly and then throwing it at 50-60-70. That does not win you match, more often than not. He is, to me, is the most consistent guy.

Then, let us look at other guys. Dilshan is a match winner. Nevertheless, he can be tied down and then he gets out. After a wonder year, he has just been too inconsistent to be rated with top players. I like Tharanga, but he needs more time to develop or fade :). That is just a guess.

Mahela is a top batsman. The problem is, he also misfires a lot these days. Then Samaraweera is good, good for himself and the team, but not a match winner. He is a sort of mid fielder. Not a striker. Can score occasional goal. But, that’s it.

So, to me, Sri Lankan top order looks like Dravid. Strong, but off late, not really. Sangakkara has mentioned about top order let down. Hope to see it more. Wish to be wrong.

Then we have Mathews, Perera, Kulsekara, Murali and Herath. All of them are match winners. Except for Murali, rest are going to be the core of Sri Lanka in coming years (if nothing untowardly happens). All can bat (not Murali), and they are the strength of Sri Lanka.

So, they are exciting but inconsistent team. Their performance depends upon the track they play on a lot.

Pakistan are New Zealand of yore. They should back themselves for Semi finals. If they are underdogs for reaching there, I would like to quote Yogi Berra here, they are ‘overwhelming underdogs’ for that. Simply because they have match winners, in form match winners.

Then, we have an interesting formation in Group A. Pakistan has beaten Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka should beat Australia (slow tracks). Australia should beat Pakistan. New Zealand should lose to everyone.

And India England today? Strauss has been talking some ‘spoil party-pressure on India’ garbage. They are scared.

Everybody is damn scared of India.