Sri Lanka have had a wretched tour of India so far, as they have failed to even come close to winning a game. With two matches to go in the five-ODI series, the Lankans have already conceded the series to the hosts.
However, their batting legend, Mahela Jayawardena, who scored a silken century in the third match, in Hyderabad, refused to take the team down. While admitting to the disappointment of being outplayed in all respects by the Indians, Jayawardena chose to look at this series as a chance to get closer to the right combination for the World Cup.
“Every team tries to test out new players and form their combinations ahead of the World Cup,” Jayawardena said. “This series gave us five more games to do so and we are taking it in a very positive way.”
“Yes, we are disappointed in how we played in the first three games and although some departments clicked in flashes, it hasn’t been an overall performance,” he added. “Hope we make it right tomorrow.”
The current series result notwithstanding, Jayawardena feels the team is moving into the right direction as far as World Cup preparations are concerned. Citing 2007 and 2011 as examples, the senior Sri Lankan batsman said big tournaments bring out the best in the Lankan players.
“I think things are on the right track,” he said. “If you take the last two editions of the World Cup, no one even expected us to top our own group in 2007. Eventually, we got through all the way to the final.
“In 2011, we were one of the frontrunners because we were playing in home conditions and handling the pressure, we came all the way again. I think we have the knack of rising to the occasion in these big tournaments.”
“A few seniors are still there and a couple of new guys have come in. We have played some good cricket this year and now we need to build on that during the ODI series we are to play against England and in New Zealand.”
Jayawardena said it will not be fair to judge the Sri Lankan team on the basis of their performance in this series because the team has done well this year, winning about 80 per cent of their games.
“We have tinkered with our batting and made a few changes in the combination by playing two all-rounders. We have lacked in pace with a few of our fast bowlers missing. Once they come back the combinations will change.
“We have got in two new pacers in Lahiru Gamage and Dhammika Prasad, who have bowled quite well in the first three ODIs. Something we have in abundance is all-rounders, both fast bowlers and spinners. How we are going to use them and in what capacity given the World Cup conditions, is something we will need to work out.”
Jayawardena said that despite the fact that the fate of the series has been sealed in the Indians’ favour, the last two matches will not be inconsequential, and that both teams have a lot to gain from them.
“Both teams have a lot to prove. The Indians have made a few changes in their squad and brought in some new faces who would look to get to the fore. Guys like Rohit and Uthappa would like to get their groove back. Our guys are disappointed and will look to make amends. So, there’s still a lot to play for even if these are dead rubbers.
“You have to give credit to the Indians,” Jayawardena concluded. “They are playing a wonderful brand of cricket. We can learn a few things from them like how they gel together, handle certain situations and especially how they have played the powerplays.”
By: BCCI
