ICC Champions Trophy 2009 - Selection Blunder

Sri Lankan squad for the champion trophy is as follows.

Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapegedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara Mirando, Thilina Kandamby, Dhammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga.

Including Upul Tharanga in the squad is a real blunder. Surely Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan will open the innings in every match. So why include Tharanga. He will just be a passenger in this tour. If one of the opening batter gets injured Someone like Mahela or Kumar can open. Tharanga's place should have gone to a fast bowler, Maharoof or Dilhara Fernado. Lasith Malinga was also not doing great in ODI matches recently. Maharoof has the batting ability too. He did well against touring Pakistan A team.

What is Mahela doing at No 3.

Mahela Jayawardana is a really good stroke maker of Sri Lanka. He is fluent on both sides of the wickets and has the ability of playing innovative shots like Dilshan. Last Pakistan series when Jayasuriya was absence due to an illness he opened the innings and scored a brilliant century. Ever since that innings Sri Lanka team has decided to send Mahela at No 3 instead of Kumar to play agrresively and take advantage of the power plays. Since that century Mahela has failed in at No 3. Sri Lanka has two very attacking batmen at the top that is Sanath and Dilshan. Because of that No 3 should play solidly and try to consolidate. Kumar is the ideal man to do that. Since Sri Lanka has an inexperience middle order Mahela should come at no 4 and try to build a good innigs. It's a real waste to lose Mahela's wicket trying to play aggresively in power plays. In 2006 also Mahela was moved to no 3. He played brilliantly in England but then ran into a lean patch. During the world cup Kumar was again reinserted at No 3. In my opinion Mahela's feet movement was not the best early on in his innigs. So safe option is to send Kumar at no 3 and Mahela at No 4. Hope Sri Lankan team manegement will realize this very soon.