Bracken has not always been as good as he has been in this World Cup, but I agree that he is one of the best in the world at present. Maharoof has not found a regular niche in the Sri Lankan ODI lineup and I expect him to improve when he does. But the point is that I feel the Sri Lankans need 4 pace bolwing options against the Aussies in Kensington Oval for the Final and the only way they can do it is to bring in Maharoof in place of Arnold. I have a feeling that SL are planning to include Maharoof in the final lineup, but I suspect that it will be in place of the inconsistent Fernando. I think they need Fernando as well so that there are 4 pacemen to rotate the attack from - Vaas, Malinga, Fernando & Maharoof. Add Murali to that and SL have a very strong bowling attack (with Jayasuriya and Dilshan still available to bowl if required) and it is a risk worth taking even though the batting might weaken a little by dropping Arnold for Maharoof.

Bracken is in another league to Maharoof, i feel. His effectiveness is amazing. He takes early wickets with the new ball; his cutters in the middle are invaluable; ability to maintain control at the end. His average is 21.25, his economy is 4.33. Any team in the world would have bracken for his control and ability to take wickets alone. Such skills are a commodity these days.

Maharoof is a decent bowler who has alot of potential, but right now Bracken outclasses him.

Cricinfo are giving odds of better than 2 to 1 in favour of Australia to beat Sri Lanka in the final. I think the two teams are a lot closer than that; If they select 4 pacemen plus Murali, I would even give the SL bowling attack the edge.

Murali------Hogg
Vaas------Mcgrath
Malinga-----Tait
Maharoof-----Bracken


Great contest i think.

Agreed. The occasional bowlers like Jayasuriya - Symonds or Dilshan - Clarke match up evenly as well. But if Sri Lanka keep Fernando also (by leaving out Arnold), they will have the edge because he is a better bowler than Watson. See what I mean?

If Fernando performs better than he he did against New Zealand he is better than Watson. I think Watson played his semi final better than fernando.

So we can rest assured that the bowling attacks are even, so the conest will be won in the batting department?

Assuming Sri Lanka play maharoof instead of fernando.

Jayasuriya-----Gilchrist
Tharanga------Hayden
Sangakkara-----Ponting
Jayawardene----Clarke
Silva-----------Symonds
Dilshan---------Hussey
Arnold----------Watson
Maharoof-------Hogg


This is where i feel the Sri Lankans will fall short. Indeed the top 4 are reletively even, but the middle orders are incomparable.

Symonds, Hussey and Watson; Silva, Dilshan, Arnold. This could be where the game is won and lost.

Note: The bold letters above are mine.

Yes, I agree that the lower middle order batting is where Oz have a definite edge over SL and it could be widened by my suggestion of Maharoof in place of Arnold. But SL are better off with the strongest bowling attack that they can muster because the batting gulf between Arnold and Maharoof is not that great. Maharoof can do well enough with the bat.

Silva and Dilshan are good enough batsmen to keep the scoreboard moving provided that their predecessors have done a reasonable job to give them a start. For example, if SL post in excess of 150 in under 35 overs before losing their 3rd wicket, Silva and Dilshan can take it from there and do very well. But if the the higher batsmen fail to deliver or if Sri Lanka are chasing a target in excess of 280 against the powerful and varied Australian bowling, things will get tough for those to follow. But one thing in the Asian team's favour is their mental strength - they will NOT get disheartened or choke like the South Africans did yesterday, no matter how much the Aussies try to provoke them. Sri Lankans will fight to the last man if necessary.

Gilchrist has not yet made his mark in this world cup. Saturday is the perfect setting for him to do so...

I am betting my mind and money on Lanka. Its gonna be a bouncy pitch and i do not think Australia can reckon with the likes of Malinga and Murlinatharan on a lively track. However Sri lanka must bat first and score a good enough score, i do think the Australians will fall short, these are some of the key players i think will make a difference come tommorow

1) Malinga - Capable of taking wickets in bursts of 2-3 and even 4 as we have seen this whole tournament
2) Muruli - the master spinner can also get rid of the lower order quite quickly
3) Jaysuria - Perhaps the most menacing of the Srilankan batsmen, if this guy gets going its all over
4) Hayden - equally destructive opener in fine form for the Aussies, same case as Jaysuria
5) Tait- Did really rout the S.A team but imo does not provide the accuracy Malinga does, still could make a difference
6) Ponting - by far the more experienced and better captain, his batting is key in Australia winning

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I am sorry, but I cannot agree to that. Ponting is more experienced, yes, but that does not necessarily make him a better captain than Jayawardene. He has been known to make many strategic errors in the past especially while fielding and this might even have contributed to the loss of the Ashes in 2005. He has improved a lot in the last 18 months, though.

Jayawardene is still on a learning curve as a captain and I am very impressed with the manner in which he uses the available resources. He was the first captain in this World Cup to seriously try using the powerplay overs to a strategic advantage. He will not be fooled by the opposition's tactics in the final. It will be a closely contested game.