The prospect of elevating Thisara Perera up the order - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
At the same time, Compromising in T20 cricket can have detrimental effects on the team’s objectives of posting a huge total. If Sri Lanka are playing a game against an opposition which lacks the firepower that is required however, then having someone like
Perera come at the top of the order could well and truly light up stadiums across the Emerald Isle and frighten the socks out of their opposition.
Thisara Perera is probably, the closest that one can get, in terms of a ‘utility cricketer’ in the T20 format. He is a genuine all rounder and a match winner, who could easily take the sword to the opposition given the opportunity. His presence at the crease
was sorely missed early on when Sri Lanka opted for someone like Sangakkara to bat at number three when they were chasing down a mammoth 79 in 7 overs against South Africa in a rain affected game at Hambantota. The home side was in trouble early on, and the
situation demanded someone who could flay the ball in all directions and deposit sixes with impunity. Someone like Perera was required who could have easily guided Sri Lanka to getting close to the total if not winning it from a precarious situation. Yet the
game was eventually lost as a number of dot balls, and throat piercing bouncers, helped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 for that matter, the script could
have been dramatically different.
The format for this year’s ICC World T20 however, leaves little room for experimentation for any teams as the Super Eight fixtures are pretty much ‘do or die’ affairs. Yet, sometimes taking a gamble in a format which is as unpredictable as the T20 one, can
be effective in ensuring that formidable totals are secured with ease.
Thisara Perera might be a ferocious striker of the cricket ball, but whether or not he could be effective up the order, depends heavily on his current form and whether he was hitting the ball well in the nets or against other teams. He is also a batsman
who is known for slashing at deliveries and swatting the ball down the ground or over the ropes, in the latter half of an innings. Perera has not been exposed to the new cherry early on, and like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-Pathan-c1601, he could easily be bowled over by a delivery that
nips back off of the seam. If http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, who could negate the lateral movement on offer would be a better strategy than having
him come up the order. Someone like Perera, who could have a wild swing and have his side plunge into further trouble, would not be the order of the day for a team which aims to win their first http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 title.
Yet situations vary considerably in the T20 format. If Sri Lanka wants to jostle with their batting order and have a player who could play an innings of real substance, then toeing with Thisara Perera would be the right idea. He is a genuine match winner
after all.
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