How This Works!
This post is set to go before each match. I briefly breakdown the batting and bowling attack of each squad and how they relate to each other before selecting who I think is going to win. Because cricket can be won by a number of wickets (if you’re chasing) or runs (if you’re defending), I’m simply going to select who I think is going to win outright, not in the manner, or by how many runs, they’re going to win by. Makes sense? (Quickly moves on before acknowledging any questions) Great! Let’s get started!
Bowling:
Pakistan Bowlers/All Rounders: Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan
Sri Lanka Bowlers/All Rounders: Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Angelo Matthews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perara, Isuru Udana, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
ICC Ranking Average: (Measured by taking the top 5 bowlers in ICC’s player ratings. Those 5 rankings are then averaged out. The lower the number, the better. If a player is marked out, Dale Steyn in this case, they are not included in the ranking, as they are not effecting the match.)
Pakistan
- Mohammad Amir: 27th
- Hasan Ali: 28th
- Shadab Khan: 29th
- Imad Wasim: 30th
- Shaheen Afridi: 55th
- Avg: 33rd
Sri Lanka
- Suranga Lakmal: 42nd
- Lasith Malinga: 47th
- Nuwan Pradeep: 61st
- Angelo Matthews: 77th
- Thisara Perara: 79th
- Avg: 61st
Breakdown: Which Pakistan team is going to show up? The one that made the West Indies look like the greatest cricket team of all time, or the squad that upset England? The silver lining for Sri Lanka, is that it was their bowling attack that led them to victory over Afghanistan. Gosh that was an ugly match 🤢
Advantage: Pakistan. As much winning momentum Sri Lanka’s bowling attack has, Pakistan has that x100. They’re also more talented, which is important.
Batters:
Pakistan Batters/All Rounders: Sarfaraz Ahmed © (WK), Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Imam ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan
Sri Lanka Batters/All Rounders: Dimuth Karunaratne, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Matthews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perara, Isuru Udana, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
ICC Ranking Average: (See rules for bowlers above and replace that with batters. You got it!)
Pakistan
- Babar Azam: 8th
- Fakhar Zaman: 10th
- Imam-ul-Haq: 15th
- Mohammad Hafeez: 44th
- Sarfaraz Ahmed: 51st
- Avg: 25th
Sri Lanka
- Angelo Matthews: 40
- Kusal Mendis: 57
- Kusal Perera: 72
- Thisara Perera: 74
- Lahiru Thirimanne: 84
- Avg: 65th
Breakdown: I mean, it can’t really go worse for Sri Lanka, can it? Folks, I have some potentially bad news.
Advantage: Pakistan. Here are Sri Lanka’s batting performances from the first and second match. That’s a lot of single digit efforts.
A final bold and likely dumb take:
No Sri Lankan player will go for 0 runs. Hey, that’s saying a lot so far this tournament!!
The American Slogger 