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| Saturday, 1 May 2004 |
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We badly needed the wins against Zimbabwe - Jayasuriya Saadi Thawfeeq reporting from Zimbabwe HARARE, Friday - Seasoned campaigner Sanath Jayasuriya said that the recently concluded five-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe which Sri Lanka won quite convincingly by a margin of 5-0 had given the batsmen and the bowlers the opportunity to regain their confidence. "We went through a really hard time in Sri Lanka against Australia in the one-day and Test series. We also needed to get our confidence back. That is why we wanted to win badly against Zimbabwe," said the 34-year-old Jayasuriya who during the series became the highest run-getter for his country in the overs-specific game. He has 9288 runs from 316 one-day internationals. "We are not in any way embarrassed that the victories have come so easily against a weak side. We have a lot of cricket ahead of us against Pakistan in Malaysia and a tour of Australia in the next couple of months. We know these series are not going to be easy for us," he said. "This series was the best opportunity for all of us to make use of and get our confidence back for the future matches. We know that we are playing against weak opposition, but that makes it hard for us because you sometimes tend to relax and then get out," Jayasuriya continued. "Cricket is a funny game. We cannot take things easy against any opposition because it is an international match. We have to focus hard. Playing against less experienced cricketers makes it even harder because we don't know what their strengths and weaknesses are. It is not easy out there in the middle against such opposition. We have to concentrate as if we are playing in a serious game," he said. Jayasuriya expressed disappointment that they could not play the full strength Zimbabwe team whom they beat in the Test and one-day internationals when they last toured here five years ago under his captaincy. "We are disappointed no doubt but the problem is an internal matter between the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and their players. We have to play against the team the ZCU thinks is the best in the country," said Jayasuriya. "We came here with the best side we had and wanted to do well at least in the first three games to make sure we did not lose the series even though Zimbabwe was not fielding their full team. That was our main idea and we won the series rather convincingly," he said. Jayasuriya said the last two matches were used to expose some of the youngsters in the team and to give them an opportunity at international level. "I think there is a future for Sri Lanka with players like (Farveez) Maharoof, (Thilina) Kandamby and (Nuwan) Kulasekara. They are all talented and need the exposure at international level. The series against Zimbabwe has given the selectors the opportunity to do that," said Jayasuriya. "Maharoof has a lot of potential to be a good all-rounder for Sri Lanka. He has performed well at under 19 and Sri Lanka 'A' levels and has a good future. That is why he has been retained in the Test squad," he said. Jayasuriya said the present Zimbabwe squad was not experienced enough to play five-day cricket but added: "They also need experience at this level. They are struggling at the moment but in time to come they will benefit by the exposure and they will be competitive." "You can't expect this young Zimbabwe side to perform miracles against our full side. It is very difficult. It is more or less a blessing for these youngsters to have this opportunity to play against us," he said. Jayasuriya said that there has been many changes that had taken place since he was last here. "Their infrastructure has improved a lot and the facilities that exist today at Harare and Bulawayo were not there five years ago." 'Practice game for the batsmen' Jayasuriya who was rested for the last two one-day internationals is expected to play in tomorrow's 3-day practice match against a Zimbabwe 'A' side comprising many players who represented Zimbabwe in the one-day international series. "The three-day game will be more or less batting practice for the batsmen to occupy the crease and get used to the change from one-day cricket to the longer game," said Jayasuriya. Sri Lanka will rest their two main bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. Skipper Marvan Atapattu said that he was also not too keen to play but wanted to give the three players who arrived here for the Test series - opener Ian Daniel, middle-order batsman Tilan Samaraweera and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene the opportunity to get used to the pitch and conditions before the first Test starting here on Thursday week. Sri Lanka are not likely to finalise their eleven until the morning of the match. |
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