From: ynesiah@skat.usc.edu (Yogala Nesiah)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: The best ever Test XIs
Date: 28 Jan 1993 06:15:03 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: skat.usc.edu

In article <C1Jss2.D4K@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> nishani@coos.dartmouth.edu (Chandana H. Fonseka) writes:
>Well, I haven't seen a Sri Lankan all-time best XI yet, so here is one for 

Its about time!!!!!!!!!!!!

>starters. It includes players who have played against touring teams before
>SL gained test status; many Sri Lankans believe there were players in the 
>50s and 60s who are better than the present bunch.

>Sidath Wettimuny		- test best of 190
>Mahadevan Sathasivam		- regarded by many as SLs best ever bat

	GREAT CHOICES! Wettimuny can weigh anchor while Satha blasts 
	the bowling. 
	BTW, Sathasivam can also be claimed by the Malaysian all-time best XI.
	He played for Malaysia and Ceylon (bulk of his career was with Ceylon).

>Roy Dias			- style and grace all his own

	Enough said!!!!

>Michael Tissera (capt)		- captained SL in late 60s/70s (?)

	Second choice would be Anura Tennekone (sp?).
	Tissera has the advantage of being able to bowl.

>Sargo Jayawickrema		- dashing bat of the 50s (?)

	How about Duleep Mendis in this spot?
	Who can forget his 100+ and 90+ at Lords or his
	100+ and 100+ in Madras? There was also his mauling
	of visiting teams from OZ and WI (before test status).
	What about his one-day exploits? 
	I am not familiar with Sargo Jayawickrema's record
	but does it compare with Mendis'?
 
>Arjuna Ranatunge		- pretender to the allrounders crown

	If we must have an all-rounder I suppose Arjuna would be our best bet.
	I would prefer an extra sp.bat or sp.bowler. Aravinda De Silva the bat?
	Further up the batting order of course!
	Lets not forget that Rumesh Ratnayake can also swing the bat. Although
	Arjuna is a better bat (much better) Rumesh is a better bowler. I see
	you have Rumesh on the team already and that would leave room for me
	to replace Arjuna with a specialist.

>Mahes Gunatilleke		- i think was our best wicketkeeper

	Very good choice.

>D.S. de Silva			- most experienced spinner (leg-spin)
>Ajith de Silva			- off spin
>D.L.S. de Silva		- fast-medium; died tragically in motor acc.

	I would prefer Lalith Kaluperuma. We have played with one pace bowler
	and three spinners. Tissera can be used as an extra bolwer (meidum 
	pace). If you want to keep DLS we can replace Arjuna with Kaluperuma.
	BTW, I have nothing against Arjuna. I just feel that there are others
	who can contribute more to the team.
	For those of you who don't know Lalith Kaluperuma, he was a spinner
	who played at the same time Ajith De Silva and D.S.De Silva.
	The two De Silvas and Kaluperuma were a great spin trio but they
	were denied the limelight by a greater (more experienced?) spin trio 
	to the North. Bedi & Co.
	Ashantha de Mel (medium pace) would be another possible choice  of mine
	to replace DLS de Silva. Ashantha was also known to swing his bat a bit
 
>Rumesh Ratnayake		- bowls Thommo-style slingshots; surprisingly
>				  fast during the peak of his career.

	Yup!
	 
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>If we were limited to players who have played test cricket, then it might look
>like this:

>Sidath Wettimuny
>Roshan Mahanama
>Roy Dias
>Aravinda de Silva
>Duleep Mendis (capt)
>Arjuna Ranatunga
>Mahes Gunatilleke
>Asantha de Mel
>D.S.de Silva
>Ajith de Silva
>Rumesh Ratnayake

	PERFECT. With the exception of Ajith de Silva all the bowlers can get
	into double figures. 4 full-time bowlers and two-part time.
	The top batting order (Wettimuny, Mahanama and Dias) is full of 
	"oriental" elegance and the middle order batting (Aravinda, Mendis,
	Ranatunga and Gunatilleke) is full of "island/calypso style" fireworks.
	IMHO Gunatilleke was one of the best ever keepers to play 1st class
	cricket. Ranks up there with Knott & Co but lacked the opportunity
	to gain international attention.


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Vasee
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket