All too easy for India

This was a match between two teams journeying in different directions. After a disastrous World Cup, India have revamped their one-day line-up to such an extent that they've pushed Australia to the wire in three games in the CB Series, winning one. Sri Lanka, runners-up in the Caribbean less than a year ago, have been shockingly poor, lasting the full 50 overs only in one game.

The match they won, against India at the Manuka Oval, was one of those reduced-overs affairs where their batting frailties could be camouflaged. There was nowhere to hide on Tuesday though, with an inexperienced Indian attack reducing them to 93 for 7 on a perfect batting pitch before Chamara Kapugedera and the tail restored a semblance of pride.

Yet again, Kumar Sangakkara's dismissal was pivotal. Before he gave Praveen Kumar the charge, the Lankans were cruising at close to six an over. Once he went, Praveen and Irfan Pathan throttled the innings, before the beanpole figure of Ishant Sharma arrived to inflict further damage.

As well as India bowled, the Lankan batting was woeful. Chamara Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan maybe be inexperienced compared to the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar, but they're 28 and 31 respectively. Inexperience can no longer be used as an excuse for failing to deliver.

Mahela Jayawardene's failure hurt even more, and it's hard to see a source of runs once Jayasuriya packs the bat away. Upul Tharanga hasn't progressed as expected, and Kapugedera himself has only two 50s at this level.

For India, the big guns like Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh may have had poor series so far, but that's been offset by the emergence of Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir converting potential into performance. Add in the ever-reliable MS Dhoni and the cavalier Robin Uthappa, and you have a line-up capable of stretching even Australia.

The real gains for India though have been on the bowling side. Praveen looks like he can do the sort of job that James Hopes does so effectively for Australia, while Pathan and Ishant have both been exceptional at times. The only clouds on the horizon have been around the two men who were there first.

Sreesanth, whose shoulder injury doesn't look fully healed, has been patchy, while Munaf Patel doesn't even resemble the express quick who won a Test match against England at Mohali less than two years ago. With RP Singh and Zaheer Khan due back from injury, India's pace future is certainly bright. They just need to make sure they rotate properly, and give the likes of Ishant the rest he needs.

Sri Lanka have few worries on the bowling front - Ishara Amerasinghe has made a promising start to his career - but urgently need to unearth some batsmen to continue the fine tradition established by Sathasivam, Gunasekara, Mendis, Dias and De Silva.

Comments

[vinay]

Hi Dilip,

Do you think India should try Chawla as a replacement for Bhajji for the finals? As a surprise weapon? Bhajji is a polarizing figure on the field, but has not been a wicket-taking bowler for god-knows-how-long; Chawla would be a gamble due to the lack of experience, but the main plan is for WC2011, not for the CBSeries win, so it may make sense to get him some play time in crunch situations.

[Dileep]

Uthappa in the top 3 on flatbeds, and No.6 when the ball's moving around a bit.

[bhutti]

I think India needs to make a habit of playing five bowlers (two of them should be able to contribute with bat occasionally). This will lend the team much needed balance.
Indian batsmen have been pampered for much too long with an extra man to cushion. It is high time that they shoulder some extra responsibility and allow the bowlers a good shot at bowling out opposition in 50 overs.

Utthappa's position is a conundrum indeed....but he is too reliant on front foot (and the pronounced shuffle, of course) to succeed as an opener on quick and bouncy pitches.

[Jack]

Sri Lanka need a middle order. They leave it all for too few. They have gone a long way backwards since the World Cup.

India need to vamp it up. They had such a bad 50 over World Cup they are still smarting.

[Tarun Y]

Dileep,

Where is the ideal place for Uthappa to bat?

As an opener,no.3 or lower-down?

As an opener or a no.3, he has that distinct destructive capability ... the gentle walk down the track and the heavy swots over mid-wicket
(eg - his debut against England, the ODI knocks before WC2007; the Twenty20 world cup at no.3)

OR

At no.6/no.7 - where he did well scoring invaluable run-a-ball 40's/50's (eg- England in game 6 at the oval, some games against Aus last year, then at the MCG last week).

What do you think?