Young seamers, and a debutant centurion
Marks out of ten for Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Cricinfo staff
25-Jul-2009
Tillakaratne Dilshan kept wickets with confidence but injured his finger in the process • AFP
Sri Lanka
9
Nuwan Kulasekara
Led the attack in the absence of Vaas and Murali. Was a consistent threat to batsmen with the big inswing and the surprise straighter ball. Deserved the 17-wicket haul and the Man-of-the-Series award.
Led the attack in the absence of Vaas and Murali. Was a consistent threat to batsmen with the big inswing and the surprise straighter ball. Deserved the 17-wicket haul and the Man-of-the-Series award.
8
Ranganna Herath
Arrived in Sri Lanka hours before the series began. Triggered two big Pakistan collapses, which resulted in two Test wins. Fifteen wickets at 27 was a just reward.
Arrived in Sri Lanka hours before the series began. Triggered two big Pakistan collapses, which resulted in two Test wins. Fifteen wickets at 27 was a just reward.
Thilan Thushara
Not consistent, but dangerous when he got into rhythms. His eight overs, 12 runs, two wickets on the fourth morning in Galle was the finest spell of fast bowling in the series.
Not consistent, but dangerous when he got into rhythms. His eight overs, 12 runs, two wickets on the fourth morning in Galle was the finest spell of fast bowling in the series.
Kumar Sangakkara
Impressive captaincy debut. Was sharp, at times cheeky. By investing unconditional confidence in a young team, got the best out of them. Was Sri Lanka's best batsman, batting more than four sessions to save the last Test.
Impressive captaincy debut. Was sharp, at times cheeky. By investing unconditional confidence in a young team, got the best out of them. Was Sri Lanka's best batsman, batting more than four sessions to save the last Test.
6
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Selflessly donned the big gloves, and rode on his confidence to do a decent job. Dropped less than his Pakistan counterpart. Finally paid for it through a finger injury.
Selflessly donned the big gloves, and rode on his confidence to do a decent job. Dropped less than his Pakistan counterpart. Finally paid for it through a finger injury.
Angelo Mathews
The bright side of Dilshan's sacrifice. Counterattacked at No. 7, got crucial breakthroughs, batted sensibly in saving the SSC Test, and justified having to make a place for him in the XI.
The bright side of Dilshan's sacrifice. Counterattacked at No. 7, got crucial breakthroughs, batted sensibly in saving the SSC Test, and justified having to make a place for him in the XI.
5
Tharanga Paranavitana
Got two fifties, but will realise openers are judged by the number of centuries, not how many starts they get.
Got two fifties, but will realise openers are judged by the number of centuries, not how many starts they get.
4
Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene
One half-century each, average hovering around 34, a big dip in their usual high standards.
One half-century each, average hovering around 34, a big dip in their usual high standards.
3.5
Ajantha Mendis
Just five wickets in two Tests, made way for Vaas in the final match. Only positive was his running through the tail in a hurry twice.
Just five wickets in two Tests, made way for Vaas in the final match. Only positive was his running through the tail in a hurry twice.
3
Malinda Warnapura
Had questions asked of his technique as an opener, which largely went unanswered. Ninety-eight runs in six innings was an accurate assessment of his troubles at the top.
Had questions asked of his technique as an opener, which largely went unanswered. Ninety-eight runs in six innings was an accurate assessment of his troubles at the top.
Pakistan
7
Saeed Ajmal
Took time to move from Twenty20 mode to Tests, but stuck to the task. Kept one end tight, and got 14 wickets to show.
Took time to move from Twenty20 mode to Tests, but stuck to the task. Kept one end tight, and got 14 wickets to show.
Fawad Alam
Ended long wait to break into the XI with 168 at an uncustomary position, opening the innings. Good at short leg too.
Ended long wait to break into the XI with 168 at an uncustomary position, opening the innings. Good at short leg too.
6
Mohammad Aamer
Impressive Test debut too, but went wicketless in the last two Tests after match figures of 6-112 in his first. Both captains suggested he was a better bowler than the figures show.
Impressive Test debut too, but went wicketless in the last two Tests after match figures of 6-112 in his first. Both captains suggested he was a better bowler than the figures show.
Younis Khan
Younis the bowler was a revelation, Younis the captain was inspirational, but Younis the batsman was missed. Especially disappointing was his fatal reverse-sweep on 82 at P Sara.
Younis the bowler was a revelation, Younis the captain was inspirational, but Younis the batsman was missed. Especially disappointing was his fatal reverse-sweep on 82 at P Sara.
Mohammad Yousuf
Two good innings out of six on his Test comeback, one of them a century. But got only 51 in four other innings. Needs to take more responsibility as the senior-most batsman.
Two good innings out of six on his Test comeback, one of them a century. But got only 51 in four other innings. Needs to take more responsibility as the senior-most batsman.
Danish Kaneria
Dropped for first two Tests, came back superbly with a five-for in the third. Would have wished to have done better when Sri Lanka batted five sessions to save the final Test.
Dropped for first two Tests, came back superbly with a five-for in the third. Would have wished to have done better when Sri Lanka batted five sessions to save the final Test.
5
Shoaib Malik
Rescued an ordinary series with 134 in his final innings. Wasn't used much as a bowler.
Rescued an ordinary series with 134 in his final innings. Wasn't used much as a bowler.
Abdur Rauf
Tried honestly, was always in the channel, but can get sharper both with pace and movement.
Tried honestly, was always in the channel, but can get sharper both with pace and movement.
Umar Gul
Never really found his rhythm, but brought Pakistan back in the second Test with 4-43. Bowled 24 no-balls.
Never really found his rhythm, but brought Pakistan back in the second Test with 4-43. Bowled 24 no-balls.
4
Khurram Manzoor
Sixty runs in his five innings, and 93 in one. Will play in more testing conditions, and will need much more work if he is to survive in Test cricket.
Sixty runs in his five innings, and 93 in one. Will play in more testing conditions, and will need much more work if he is to survive in Test cricket.
Misbah-ul-Haq
Got caught in his shell too often, letting bowlers bowl where they wanted to. Can't afford more such series at the age of 35.
Got caught in his shell too often, letting bowlers bowl where they wanted to. Can't afford more such series at the age of 35.
2
Kamran Akmal
Went back to being unsafe behind the stumps, couldn't quite find his punchy, counterattacking batting in front.
Went back to being unsafe behind the stumps, couldn't quite find his punchy, counterattacking batting in front.
2
Salman Butt
Aptly dropped after a horrible first Test, the low point of his career, when his ugly swipe kicked off first of Pakistan's collapses.
Aptly dropped after a horrible first Test, the low point of his career, when his ugly swipe kicked off first of Pakistan's collapses.