PlayBack 2013 – Part Two – Team Reports

Sri Lanka

Little could be said about Sri Lankan performance in 2013. Their international itinerary was postponed to accommodate SLPL which got cancelled later due to owners not providing bank guarantees. In the end, the players had fewer games and are in a fix given that the ICC tournaments nearing.

With Jayawardene and Sangakkara fast nearing retirement, the SL administrators should have ensured a profitable 2013 for their next generation. Instead the new captains still remain new and team is yet to find the replacement for Muralitharan in Rangana Herath and the new T20 captain Chandimal hasn’t had a chance to move on. Their test specialist Thilan Samaraweera retired considering the long gap between his last test and the next one. In ODI’s though SL performed well. They beat South Africa at home.

Retirement – Thilan Samaraweera, the test specialist and Dilshan quit tests to enable an youngster to get into the team early.

Low – SL played just 3 tests in 2013

West Indies

A T20I world cup victory in 2012 and we all dreamt of a rising West Indies camp but only to see them slide in reality. Darren Bravo though continued his good form and his match saving double hundred at the end of the year in New Zealand speaks volumes of his ability and they still have Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The disappointing part of the team is the manner in which they approach games. Across formats, it’s the same set of players who play but still they don’t achieve something together. Fitness issues of their main bowlers and batting stalwarts is a concern and added to that is the suspension of Shane Shillingford, their productive bowler last year, for illegal action.

Marlon Samuels also got caught for illegal action at a certain speed. Prolific batsmen in Gayle and Pollard are more inclined towards the shortest format which does affect the top order batting in away conditions. There wasn’t any high or low for West Indies in 2013 given that their wins were spoiled by their own loss.

Record – Chanderpaul crossed 11000 test runs

Low – 3 innings defeats

Zimbabwe

Great games, committed players and unforgettable moments but all short-lived. That’s the story of Zimbabwe in 2013. Player strike for payment, Ray Price retirement, Craig Ervine and Kyle Jarvis movement from country to county cricket makes up for a sad ‘Replay 2013′. These debt’s ruin Zimbabwe cricket. How long do you think the Cricket Board can manage?

High – In the first time in 12 years, Zimbabwe beat a major Test-playing nation in a Test match when they defended a target of 264 against Pakistan in Harare.