India v Sri Lanka, Champions Trophy, semi-final, Cardiff
Butcher: 'Sri Lanka more capable of tripping India than other teams'
Mark Butcher and Jarrod Kimber discuss the upcoming Champions Trophy 2013 semi-final between India and Sri Lanka
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- Players/Officials : Mark Butcher
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Let's how good sri lankan lions are. They are sure to thrash the mighty indians with so much ease if the weather permits.
sorry guys, no point arguing for this match, it's raining here, there won't be any match today. India will go through without ball being bowled. I feel sorry for lankan lions. We are going to miss the clash between the two asian giants. Both teams are equally matched. Sri lanka managed to score 300+ in the warm up match against India, and India managed to get it in few balls left, but don't forget India managed to pass that score without Malinga's 10 overs, he didn't play that game. So still we can't say who's the best team until they play their full team. Hope we'll get at least 20/20 game today.
The Game-changer Lankans are Malinga, Dilshan, Sangha, Mahela & Kulasekhara .. If TWO EACH OF THE BOWLERS & BATSMEN come good, India will struggle to put up a huge score or chase even a modest score of say 230-250 ! But India has "reserve-energies" in Dhawan, Raina & Jadeja--bowling, batting & fielding .. The game could go either way .. MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN .. NOTWITHSTANDING THE THREATENING RAINS !!
Mr Butcher let's make it simple you want SLl in finals so that Eng win a major ICC tournament...For Heavens Sake you know in your heart Eng will be "Butchered" by Ind, if they make it to finals
India look the favorites but 1 day cricket is not predictable. One good performance from Mahela, Sanga or Malinga can turn it Sri Lanka's way. There is too much pressure applied on Kusal by comparing him to Jayasuriya and that only makes things difficult for the young man. Being an Indian fan, I hope that India will carry their brilliant performance in the tournament to the knockout stages.
If the recent reports on certain SLBC selectors interfering into areas of selection they are not entitled to, this would probably answer Shekar Saminathan's question about Thisara Perera.There also seems to be a few more interruptions (so what else is new?) where some other board members are said to be strong arming their way into decision making according to some recent media reports. Nonetheless if Sri Lanka does not go with the best available eleven which should include Thisara Perera and Sachitra Senanayake as replacements for Shaminda Eranga and Kusal Perera it could be to their chagrin. All this subject to the weather which calls for rain in which case either Messrs Duckworth / Lewis or the net run rate will call the shots and in the latter scenario India will go through.But as Mark Butcher says " do not discount the Lankans from an upset!
Sri Lanka should take a gamble and drop Herath and go with Tissara Perera. Given Indian batsmen are good players of spin and having 2 attacking left handers in Dhavan and Raina , Herath may prove expensive. Herath has not had the confidence to flight the ball against the Aussies and NZ and was bowling flat non- penetrative stuff and was easily negotiated by Aussie tail. Spinners may not get any assistance from a new strip which will be used for the first time in tomorrows game. It may pay to go with a pace attack of Kulasekera, Malinga, Eranga and Tissara with Matthews and Dilshan sharing the 5th bowlers quota. If the conditions are cloudy, the pacers will get some swing and having Tissara in the side adds more meat to the batting. Also if it is a shorter game, his inclusion makes more sense. Good luck to both teams. May the best team win and may the rain stay away.
We would love to be underdogs. No pressure. win or loose we will love our boys. we do not worship or hate them ever, as our neighbors. India is in form and brimming with confidence. So are we. But its only a matter of few wickets, or a solid stand to feel the diluting of the same. May the best team win in a contest played to the true spirit of the game.Let the game of cricket to be the ultimate winner.
Butcher has a point , SL cannot rely on Mainga they have to find another strike bowler and at the moment Senanayake is the only one came anyway near , they must include him in the playing11
It would be a good contest, if rain permits. India should not be complacent....SL is a dangerous team and can beat any team in the world....If it rains and a washout tomorrow, India will go through because of its all win record in the group games