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| Saturday, 3 July 2004 |
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Jayasuriya is the key says McGrath Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Australia DARWIN, Friday - Australia's no. 1 fast bowler Glenn McGrath said that he will be targeting master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya's wicket when Sri Lanka begin their run chase of 312 on the third day of the first cricket Test at the Marrara Oval here tomorrow. The first two days play has set up an enthralling finish to the contest which would either end tomorrow or in the next two days depending on how Sri Lanka bat against Australia's three-pronged pace attack and the leg spin of Shane Warne. McGrath roared back into form taking five wickets for 37 to knock Sri Lanka over for a paltry 97 runs in the first innings and he will be looking forward to repeating that performance in the second innings. "Their top three is probably their key - Atapattu, Jayasuriya and Sangakkara. We will be trying to make early inroads in there. Jayasuriya is always a big key to their batting line up. He is probably the guy I'd target before the series. I want to get on top of him and knock him over a few times. If I can do that we could be well on our way to winning the series," said McGrath. The Australian spearhead said that he didn't think the pitch would improve or change that much from its present condition overnight and it would be a big ask for Sri Lanka to get the runs on it. "I think there will still be something on it with the new ball if you keep bowling in the right areas. It is still hard to score runs. It is a little bit slow and the ball is not coming off it. It's hardwork for the batsmen out in the middle with the new and the old ball. To win this match Sri Lanka's got to bat very well," said McGrath. Commenting on their first innings performance, McGrath said: "We bowled pretty much to our plans on a wicket that is giving a little bit assistance to the bowlers. We put enough pressure on them, put balls in the right area and held our catches to knock 'em over for 97. It would be nice to do something similar in the second innings." "It is good to see a pitch being of some assistance for the bowlers. I think wickets around the world are getting good to bat on. When a side scores 400 runs in a day nobody says the wickets are not good for the bowlers. I don't think many bowlers would be disappointed bowling on that kind of pitch," he said. McGrath said that he never doubted himself on his fitness and the best of him is yet to come and was confident that he could make a come back from the injury although at some point during the 4-day practice game he had seriously thought of retiring when he bowled disappointingly in the first innings. He admitted that it was teammate Justin Langer who got him thinking when he said that you don't think of retirement until you hit rock bottom. McGrath said that his comeback performance was inspired by the fact that he was only a few wickets away from passing fast bowlers Sir Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev's individual records. "To get those five wickets and go past two legends of the game is a pretty big bonus to get my confidence back for the match. I couldn't have asked for more," he said. It's a big challenge - Sangakkara Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara who had a great day behind the wickets snaring four catches and a run out in the Australian second innings said that it was a big challenge for his team to chase 312 and win the Test. "When you look at the totals the two teams have got on this track it's not been high. It's going to be a challenge and most of the guys are looking forward to it," said Sangakkara. "The all want to do well. Basically we want to do what we do best. See the new ball off and then play your own game. Be positive and play to win." "The pitch is very hard to read. It is better to go and see what it does and play accordingly. It is drier than it was yesterday. The pacies have got a little bit more bounce but the movements been the same. It is up to us now to get the total," he said. On his personal performance Sangakkara said: "It's always nice to take some catches. I felt good. It was one of my best days taking four catches in an innings." "It was always good to have a chat with Ian Healy who is a one time great wicket-keeper. Ian spoke to me in Zimbabwe and in Morocco. He told me to keep it very simple and very basic. I have taken the best out of what he has told me," said Sangakkara who will now have a big role to play as a no. 3 batsman tomorrow. |
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