Wasantha De Silva
Possible Best IX for the T20 world cup to compete with top teams:
1. Kusal Perera (WK) – batter
2. Avishka Fernando – batter
3. Oshada Fernando – batter
4. Angelo Matthews – Allrounder
5. Banuka Rajapaksha – batter (Experience in middle east grounds)
6. Dasun Shanaka (C) – Allrounder
7. Wanidu Hasaranga – Allrounder – wicket-taker
8. Dananjaya Lakshan – Allrounder – potential wicket-taker (Experience in middle east grounds)
9. Akila Dananjaya – Spinner – potential wicket-taker
10. Dushmantha Chameera – Fast bowler – wicket-taker
11. Lasith Malinga – Fast bowler – wicket-taker
Bench
12. Kamil Mishara (WK) – batter
13. Ramesh Mendis – Allrounder
14. Binura Fernando – Fast bowler
14. Isuru Udana – Fast bowler
15. Lakshan Sandakan – Spinner
16. Kamindu Mendis – Allrounder
We can try this out during the India tour.
Captain will have a lot of bowling options with wicket-takers
Captain will have big-hitting options when required, and help from experienced members (Lasith, Matthews, Kusal)
Malinga should be fit and trained in specialized fielding at 3rd man or fine-leg areas (need to chat and provide plan now itself)
Matthews should be fit to bat long innings and at least bowl a couple of overs when needed (need to chat and provide plan now itself)
FYI – Sri Lankan Selection Committed
Oshada ??????????
Oshada ?
Oshada – Not to dash from 1st ball, need to settle in one end and later to increase strike rate. Maybe Dananjaya de silva / Chandimal could do the same job, but I prefer Oshada as long run
Malinga?? Ur joking he is done & dusted man oshada too.l not happening rest all seems ok I would include chandimal maybe
Malinga – He is still one of the best t20 bowlers in Srilanka, and he can still do damages to oppositions especially in qualifying rounds. Don’t you believe it?
He is not retired and if he is still fit (as he mentioned), he is definitely a choice.
Oshada – Not to dash from 1st ball, need to settle in one end and later to increase strike rate. Maybe Dananjaya de silva / Chandimal could do the same job, but I prefer Oshada as long run
I also don’t agree with Oshada. If the author says Oshada is suitable due to his similarity with DDS and Chandimal that is the main reason why Oshada cannot be considered as a T20 player. I call all these three players as “slow coaches” means they all waste so many balls initially to score runs. In T20, scoring 1/2 runs or hitting boundaries should start from the first ball. However we can agree for one of such batters and Mathews is my best bet. So we keep only Mathews and replace Oshada with Charith Asalanka.
Akila Dhannjaya is not a threatening spinner at all (after the remolding). He will be a target by the opposition to score sixes and big shots. So I replace him with Ramesh Mendis. We must have him to replace the two batting allrounders (bowling off spin) Dhanushka and Dhananjaya.
Malinga’s presence is very useful . More than his experience his knowledge in T20 match tactics is something all other 10 players don’t have and will be very useful when Kusal is keeping the wickets.
For captaincy I propose Dasun Shanaka and Malinga as vice captain. From the last two series we noticed that Kusal’s moves, field settings, and most importantly studying the game is questionable and he has a lot to learn. Malinga is the best player to captain the team but due to his age I don’t think we can play him as a captain. So I propose Dasun Shanaka. If Malinga agrees to provide his help to the captain (on field) Kusl can be given the vice captaincy role (thinking on the future)
So my team with the best batting order is;
1 Kusal Perera (WK)
2 Avishka Fernando
3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Only top order Power Hitter)
4 Charith Asalanka
5 Angelo Mathews
6 Dasun Shanaka (Captain)(Lower middle order power hitter)
7 Wanindu Hasaranga
8 Dhananjaya Lakshan
9 Ramesh Mendis
10 Lasith Malinga
11 Dushmantha Chameera.
Agreed. Good points here.
Regarding Oshada – I remembered his T20 innings in Pakistan back in 2019 where he scored 78 in 48 balls where Pakistan is no 1 T20 side with a very good balling attack. Maybe if we can give him another chance 2-3 matches in Asian conditions, we can see the difference.
The batting order should be adjusted, according to the situation (ex: Power hitters can be brought in when we had good starts)
This is a well balanced squad, can’t ask for more, Mathews to provide that much needed middle order stability, only worry is whether selectors would go for Malinga considering his age and Fielding issues.
Yes, Oshada is a great learner (better than Chandimal in that respect). Even in England he was trying his best to play a quick T20 inning but I personally think none of our young batters (some of them were batting first time in the UK) have not been properly guided or coached by our batting coach on how to select their shots according to the swinging, fast and bouncing deliveries on these tracks. In SL Oshada should do well I am sure.