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| Tuesday, 27 April 2004 |
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Mahela leads in today's game : Lanka rest their big guns Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Zimbabwe HARARE, Monday - The onus has fallen on vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene to continue Sri Lanka's winning streak in the current five-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe when he leads his country for the first time tomorrow. Following Sri Lanka's easy nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third one-day international at the Harare Sports Club here on Sunday which gave them an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series, the team management today decided to rest its senior players for the fourth game tomorrow. The opposition Sri Lanka has confronted in Zimbabwe so far to say the least has been pathetic and having made certain of the series they are now in a good position to give exposure to some of their inexperienced players. From the side that won on Sunday skipper Marvan Atapattu, senior batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and senior bowler Chaminda Vaas will be rested giving opportunities to uncapped left-hander Thilina Kandamby, fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara and leg-spinner Upul Chandana. Two other experienced players off-spinnner Muttiah Muralitharan and fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa were rested from Sunday's game. Vaas won two successive man-of-the-match awards in the series and became only the sixth bowler in one-day international history to take 300 wickets. He achieved that feat here on Sunday. For 26-year-old Jayawardene this is his first big opportunity at international level as captain. His previous experience was leading a Sri Lanka side in two first-class games against New Zealand at home and in Zimbabwe on the last tour here five years ago. He has also captained SSC and the North Central Province in the recently concluded Provincial tournament. Jayawardene was deputy to Sanath Jayasuriya for a short time and was appointed vice-captain to Atapattu for this tour. "I am personally happy. To lead the country gives a lot of added responsibility," said Jayawardene. "The last time when I was made vice captain I was very young and the selectors told me to support Sanath until such time things had settled down because Sri Lanka cricket was going through some changes after the 1999 World Cup." "I told them that it was not the right time for me to be the vice captain. I knew it wasn't my time because there were a lot of senior players who were in line. I wasn't thinking about the captaincy at that time. But now I think I will have to play a bigger role," said Jayawardene. "Since I started my cricket career the responsibilities have been there. Being captain in this game will bring a bit more responsibility because Sanath and Marvan are resting tomorrow. But there are experienced players like Kumar (Sangakara) who will be my vice captain tomorrow and Russel Arnold who is an experienced campaigner to take on the responsibilities," he said. Jayawardene said that their goal from the start of the tour was to beat Zimbabwe 5-0 and playing a lot of youngsters in the team did not mean that they were not going to give their 100 percent. "The guys are playing very good cricket at the moment and if we continue to do that we will certainly win. Especially with Sanath and Marvan not around in the batting and (Chaminda) Vaas and Murali (Muralitharan) missing from the bowling there is probably a lack of experience in the side. But the guys who are playing tomorrow have enough experience going on 'A' tours and I hope they use it and do well," said Jayawardene. "We really need to look after players like (Farveez) Maharoof, Kandamby and Kulasekara and it up to us to set an example and give them all the opportunities to perform well," he said. Jayawardene admitted that a big knock from him was overdue and the opportunity has not been there for him for one in the one-day games. "The deck looks pretty good for batting tomorrow. If we can get a bat first obviously we will be looking forward to put up a big score," he said. SRI LANKA TEAM FOR 4TH ODI: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Saman Jayantha, Russel Arnold, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando. Taibu concerned about batting Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu said that their main concern was the batting, which they were working hard at. "The batting in the first 15 overs has been a concern. It is the main area we are concentrating on. We haven't given the bowlers enough runs to play around with. It is upto the individuals really to find out how they can play their best cricket," said Taibu. The batsmen whom Taibu said he could rely to get runs for him are vice-captain Dion Ebrahim who has played the most matches in the side (65 one-day internationals) and Stuart Matsikenyeri. Following their impressive total of 211-6 in the first one-day international, Zimbabwe have been dismissed for totals of 136 and 35 by Sri Lanka which would have certainly demoralized any side. But Taibu, the youngest to lead a country in one-day internationals at the age of 19, was confident that his side has a future despite their massive losses. "Before this series we said to ourselves we are young, we are inexperienced. Let's not hide from the fact that we will face some tough times and we will have some interesting and good times as well," said Taibu. "But the main thing was to stay together throughout every stage. It is good to see that the boys have listened and are giving their 100 percent." Taibu said that he was not worried who represented Zimbabwe as long as they were willing to give 100 percent and fight for the country. Jayantha, Arnold returning home Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma who is here on tour confirmed today that batsmen Saman Jayantha and Russel Arnold will be flying home after the five-match one-day international series which ends on Thursday. A third player whom the team management has yet to decide on will join them. Kaluperuma said that it would be between fast bowlers Farveez Maharoof and Nuwan Kulasekara. The selectors have already picked Tilan Samaraweera, Ian Daniel and Prasanna Jayawardene for the two-Test series starting on May 6. The three players who were expected to join the team here tonight will play in the three-day practice match against Zimbabwe 'A' at Takashinga CC, Highfield in Harare starting on Saturday. |
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