Tri series in Sri Lanka (August 14-29, 2006)

[Sandeep]

The squad was picked today for the tri series and as expected Tendulkar makes a comeback. Dinesh mongia is a surprise inclusion though many news papers hinted the same for past couple of days. I think Indian team must be looking for some spin options in view of next year's world cup and it must have helped Mongia secure a place in the squad. If I have to guess, Mongia will surely be tried and depending on how he bowls Kumble will/will not be selected for champions trophy. Selectors did a good job this time.

Squad Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel, Rudra Pratap Singh, Dinesh Mongia

Schedule

Mon 14 (D/N)  1st Match - Sri Lanka v South Africa
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo

Wed 16  2nd Match (D/N) - Sri Lanka v India
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo

Sat 19 3rd Match - India v South Africa
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo

Mon 21 4th Match - Sri Lanka v South Africa
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo

Thu 24  5th Match (D/N) - Sri Lanka v India
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo

Sat 26  6th Match (D/N) - India v South Africa
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo

Tue 29  Final (D/N) - TBC v TBC
R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo

Go India

[BSharma]

It appears to me that the Indian team is short of batsmen.  Will the bowlers have to win the matches for India?

[puneets]

Dinesh Mongia's inclusion is heartening.  He has been performing consistenly (both with the bat and ball) for Leicestershire..2 years in a row.

[Sandeep]

It appears to me that the Indian team is short of batsmen.  Will the bowlers have to win the matches for India?

India is going with 8 specialist batsmen. I think that should be good enough

[BSharma]

Sandeep,

Who are the eight specialist batsmen?  Based on the performance of the Indian batsmen in West Indies, I do not see eight of them in the line-up. 

[PKBasu]

I am shocked at the selection of Dinesh Mongia. Contrary to statements made by the selectors, he has been in atrocious form with the bat in one-day matches for Leicestershire, averaging 8.5 after 7 matches. He has bowled quite well, taking 10 wickets at 18.6 runs per wicket but with an economy-rate of 4.25. Here is his performance in one-dayers:
http://eap.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2006 ... LEICS.html

I reported in our domestic cricketers' thread that Mongia had started the first-class season with a bang, making two big centuries (over 170 on each occasion), but he has since done only moderately. More important, he had a very mediocre domestic season in India this year (2005/06) so his selection at this stage is a bit of a shocker.

[Sandeep]

Exactly, that is why I was a bit surprised too! But as I mentioned his bowling skills must have acted in his favor.

Another rumor going around is that quota system in the selection of Indian team is back! They have dropped VRV Singh and so had to select another Punjabi!

[Sandeep]

Sandeep,

Who are the eight specialist batsmen?  Based on the performance of the Indian batsmen in West Indies, I do not see eight of them in the line-up. 

Dravid, Sachin, Sehwag, Kaif, Yuvraj, Mongia, Raina and Dhoni are all Batsmen! Out of 8 we have 3 of them averaging over 40! Pretty strong batting line up in Sri Lankan conditions. 

[BSharma]

Sandeep wrote:

Exactly, that is why I was a bit surprised too! (I believe that Sandeep is refering to Mongia's batting skills.) But as I mentioned his bowling skills must have acted in his favor.

Dravid, Sachin, Sehwag, Kaif, Yuvraj, Mongia, Raina and Dhoni are all Batsmen!

I asked who are the eight batsmen based on recent performance.  It appears that Mongia is not one of them based on current form.  Raina did not do well in ODIs in West Indies although he is being groomed as the future of Indian cricket and hence he deserves a place as a batsmen.

[Sandeep]

Recent shouldn't just be only one series. A period of one year has to be considered. We had a bad WI tour and in that too all were very close matches. We lacked a batsman who could finish because Dravid was batting at the top. With the return of Sachin, Dravid will be back to middle order and we will start winning again. If we can go with 3 to 4 part time spinners into the match we will be strong favourites to win in SL. I am not too worried about batting line up, as it is as formidable as it can get.

[hvpatil]

Yes, according to me also there wont be any problem with batting and the Big man is also back.That will give the team neccessary boosting.Yuvraj is playing so wonderfully in the ODIs that India need not to woory as far as the batting is concerned.It Zaheer Khan must have been included in the squad.Anyways lets wait and watch....

[Sandeep]

A report on the friendly game India played

Pathan went for 42 from his five overs, and will be glad that he won't have to come up against Tendulkar and Dravid every day, while Dinesh Mongia, who went for 30 from four overs, was reminded that more than a Persian Gulf separates these guys from those who are lions merely in county cricket. Ultimately though, it was a good outing for everyone, relaxed and with plenty of banter and enough of an edge to make sure that it didn't descend into farce. After lunch and a team meeting, it was back to the hotel and a swim to cool down. Then perhaps, a few might just tune in to watch highlights of Sri Lanka's remarkable win at the SSC, confirmation if any was needed of the sterner tests that lie in wait.

Cricinfo Link

And also looks like Tendulkar is not going to open in all matches. Openers will be rotated between Sachin, Dravid and Sehwag!

[Sandeep]

India managed to beat SL 'A' with great difficulty. Batting first Sri Lanka 'A' made 202 with Tharanga scoring 88. For India Sehwag bowled brilliantly to take 3 wickets for just 16 runs. India made heavy weather of the chase and managed it with the loss of 7 wickets! Yuvraj was the top scores with 67 from 61 balls. Dravid scored 47, Agarkar was there till the end to see India through. He scored 32.

Sachin in his first match with India after Injury break scored 19 from 20 balls (3X4s)

India will play another warmup match on Sunday. Our first match of the tri series is scheduled on Wednesday against SL (D/N). Can't afford to miss it, after almost 2 years I will be watching Indian team again on TV

[Sandeep]

SL Vs SA match is scheduled for today but it is very unlikely that the match will go on. Heavy rains have soaked Colombo and weather forecat is bad for the next 3 to 4 days. What a disappointment

[Sandeep]

India won the toss and elected to bat. Dravid and Sachin opened. The match will be played over the span of two days. 50 overs today and 50 the next day. Not sure if SSC has flood lights but D/N match would have been a good option. It doesn' make much sense(in terms of results) to play a ODI match over two days as the pitch conditions change, but a good effort to entertaining people. We have to appreciate both the teams for the spirit. Especially India as it could have easily come back citing SA's withdrawl and security as reasons. Go India