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Originally Posted by Rachael  Really? In Jayawardene and Sangakkara they have two of the best batsmen of the modern era, in the other Jayawardene they have the most promising international gloveman since Jack Russell and in Muralitharan they have by far and away the best bowler in international cricket - that's a pretty impressive core to a side that's also got plenty of decent supporting players. |
And it's the supporting players that make me think the Windies have a chance. Let's have a look at them- Vandort and Warnapura, who have seven Tests between them. Gayle himself has over 60. Dilshan and Silva at 5 and 6. But they aren't as good in those positions as Chanderpaul and Bravo. As you say, P. Jawawardene is the best young 'keeper in the world, but Ramdin is decent enough. The bowlers: without Malinga, Sri Lanka are almost assured of going in with I. Amerasinghe and Fernando, but I wouldn't say that they're better than Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor. For that matter, Vaas hasn't really shone in his last few games.
So all the supporting players, IMO, are a pretty even match with their West Indian counterparts. You rightly say that Sangakara and Jawaywardene are excellent batsmen, and that Murali's an excellent bowler. But if they can neutralise the batsmen with good bowling (a fairly big if, I know, but it worked with Ponting for India) then a lot of Sri Lanka's advantage will be gone. So basically: the difference between Sri Lanka and West Indies is the precense of a couple of outstanding players, and without them there's very little difference between the two side IMO, and that's why I think they have a chance.