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| Saturday, 19 June 2004 |
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We look forward to the challenge without Murali - Atapattu by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Sri Lanka will play the two-Test cricket series against Australia in appreciation of their spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, who pulled out of the tour for personal reasons. Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said: "We've all got to shoulder more responsibility and do something for Murali. This is one occasion where we can show gratitude towards him by performing well." "I am sure everyone will be keen on doing well not just because it is Australia. We are in a bit of a scramble right now with the Murali issue. The whole thing about his 'doosra' delivery is in a fluid state. We don't know what exactly the outcome will be till September. This is the time we should be together as a team and pull towards one side and expect one result," he said. Muralitharan who holds the world record for the highest number of Test wickets has been stung by sharp criticism from former Australian Test players, their media and their prime minister who labelled him a 'chucker', over his new delivery, the 'doosra'. Atapattu said the 32-year-old off-spinner's absence would place extra pressure on the rest of the team, which takes wing to Australia today. "Murali has taken a world record 527 wickets and when we are on the field he takes most of the burden bowling forty to fifty overs in an innings. Playing without him is difficult and unusual. The whole team will miss him. But it is a big challenge for everyone of us to come out with better performances," said Atapattu. "I am sure the players will take it that way and as I have said before it will be an opportunity for somebody else. Hopefully there will be another spinner who will grab his slot and perform well." "Rangana (Herath) and Upul (Chandana) have been bowling well in recent series'. If we get a turning track I think these two should be able to deliver the goods," he said. The absence of Muralitharan in the bowling attack is certain to put extra pressure on left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas. These two have over the years been Sri Lanka's main strike bowlers and have fashioned out many victories of their own. In tandem they have accounted for 773 Test scalps with Vaas' share being 246 wickets from 76 Tests. "Without Murali obviously Vaasy will feel that he is the one who should be carrying the bowling burden. If the others can chip in they can reduce Vaas' workload. There are talented youngsters and experienced players in the squad. It is there turn to shoulder the bowling with Vaas and show what they are capable of," said Atapattu. The last time the two countries played each other in February-March in Sri Lanka, Australia came from behind in all three Tests to clinch the series 3-0. "It will be nice if we can get one back on Australia. We all know what went wrong during that series. Nothing should be taken away from them the way they played. They were fantastic. But having said that, we weren't too far away from beating them. We know where we went wrong and we hope to put things right this time around," said Atapattu. Treading unknown territory "Everyone has worked individually at their game. Although we didn't have the toughest of series in Zimbabwe every one is experienced to differentiate the strength of the two teams. Hopefully they will come good this time around," he said. With Darwin and Cairns being new Test venues Sri Lanka will be treading on unknown territory for the two Tests scheduled for July 1 and July 9 respectively. However they will have a feel of the conditions somewhat at Darwin where they will play a 4-day practice game against a Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI starting on June 24. "When Bangladesh played at these two venues last year we heard the wickets were flat and good for batting. Nobody has toured to that part of the country before but we expect similar wickets. The conditions we are told is somewhat similar to this part of the world," said Atapattu. "We are taking 15 players and we have covered every aspect. We got five fast bowlers and two spinners. We will pick the playing eleven according to the conditions and the wicket. I don't think we should be worrying about conditions. What we should be looking at is our own game plan." "Playing against Australia without Murali we should be concentrating more on being ourselves and play the game we know best individually. This is the time we should be doing things, which we are very much like to do. We all know what we are up against and what to expect. On a tour like Australia if you know what you are up against you can do well. We are looking forward to the challenge," he said. Atapattu said that he would use the practice game to play the batsmen who are likely to figure in the Test matches, but was cautious about the bowlers who are likely to play. "We have a lot of cricket coming up after the Australia. With this group of bowlers we've got to manage them well for them to perform for us for a long time without injuries. If any bowler deserves a go before the Test it is Dilhara (Fernando)," said Atapattu. Fernando (24) rated the quickest of the present bowlers has been out of international cricket since December suffering from a stress fracture on his back. He recovered from the injury and made the tour to Zimbabwe last month but was left out of the Tests. Atapattu leading his country in only his second Test series said the recall of veteran wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana has given them an option in the middle order. "Kalu still has some cricket left in him so we need to get the best out of him before he retires. We wanted to have the option in the middle order of Kalu or Sanga (Sangakkara) to keep wickets. The no. 7 spot will be fought out between Kalu, Russell Arnold and Upul Chandana," said Atapattu. "Our concern with Sanga is that by asking him to keep wickets, are we going to get the maximum out of him at no. 3? Personally Sanga is willing to keep wickets. He is very happy to do that job. But we must look in terms of getting the maximum out of him as a batsman. In that context having Kalu in the squad covers us. Kalu can score runs fast and if he can hold the tail together for us that will be great. If that combination works out it will be the best," he said. Australian media On past tours Down Under, the Sri Lanka team's concentration on the game has been distracted by adverse media reports especially on Muralitharan's bowling action. Having been on two past tours to Australia in 1998-99 and 2002-03 Atapattu is quite aware of what to expect. "I don't want to give much thought that the tour will be less controversial without Murali being in the team. It is better for me as well as for the team to concentrate on the game. In planning our strategies to defeat Australia. We should not presume things off the field, which takes the focus away from cricket," said Atapattu. "We are not too worried about what the Australian media will come against us this time. I don't see that as a problem. We are experienced cricketers. The guys who are with us have travelled to most of the cricket playing nations around the world. I don't see it affecting us at all. This is where experience counts off the field. Cricket is not just an on-field game. This marvellous game has a lot to offer off the field as well. This is where character shows. To know what to expect and adopt to it," he said. Sri Lanka team to Australia: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tilan Samaraweera, Russell Arnold, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Upul Chandana, Rangana Herath. Officials: Ajit Jayasekera (manager), John Dyson (coach), C.J. Clarke (physio), Shane Duff (trainer) and Sanath Jayasundera (cadibility). |
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