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| Wednesday, 11 August 2004 |
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Lanka set mind on maiden series win against SA by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said that the draw in the Galle Test was not going to affect his team's morale of trying to win a Test series against South Africa when the two teams go into the second cricket Test at the SSC Grounds today. A win for either team will give it the series in this two-Test contest. "We would like to change the fact that we have not won a series against South Africa. We have spoken about it and we are working harder towards achieving that. With good teams around the world it doesn't come easily," said Atapattu looking ahead at today's Test. The nearest Sri Lanka came to beating South Africa in a Test series was when they were last here in 2000 when they drew the three-Test series 1-1 (1 drawn). "We will go with a positive frame of mind. As long as the team is concerned we will go all out for a win. I personally don't mind losing as long as our mindset is to win. That's our thinking," said Atapattu. "I don't think we should play negative cricket at all. Whether it is a fast or slow track we will have our resources ready to do well. The pitch at Galle wasn't the one that we expected. We expected it to be more difficult to bat than it was at the end of the fifth day," he said. The SSC pitch is expected to provide more bounce than at Galle although it was almost devoid of grass. Atapattu whose home ground it is said: "The pitch normally does a bit in the first hour or so but it turns out to be a good batting track soon after. It depends on how much of grass you have left and what sort of moisture it has in the morning." Atapattu will be hoping that his primary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will regain his bowling form and bowl at his best at the SSC. Muralitharan took just five wickets in both innings of the Galle Test and was nowhere near his best. "Everybody goes through matches like this. Batters go through matches where they don't score a single run. Bowlers also go through somewhat similarly. Murali is one of the most experienced bowlers in the world. I think he should overcome it faster than anybody else," said Atapattu. Young fast bowler Lasith Malinga is expected to replace Farveez Maharoof while the other possible change, which will be decided on the morning of the Test, is whether to go with three spinners (Rangana Herath) or play an extra batsman which means Romesh Kaluwitharana will remain wicket-keeper. "We thought of playing Kalu at Galle to get the best out of (Kumar) Sangakkara. Having said that Sanga is the fittest player in the side. For a couple of more years he can keep and do the no. 3 job for us without a problem," said Atapattu. Guarding against complacency Complacency is one word South Africa is very carefully guarding against after coming through the first Test at Galle with a draw. South African coach Eric Simmons said: "Complacency is the word we've used in the last two days. When we had a good session we follow it up with a bad session like we did on the first day at Galle. We were quite happy coming at 274-7 and then we got into a position where we could have lost the Test match. Complacent is a word we've got to guard against. Every potential ball is a wicket-taker." South African captain Graeme Smith said: "Complacent is something that we've discussed already. Instead of looking at the draw as an achievement we are looking at it as an opportunity to go and win now." "We have to play just as well as we did at Galle. The guys are hungry to go and win the series. I am really satisfied and feel really great about the way the guys performed handling spin. They were competent and stuck to their game plan with a lot of guts," said Smith. "I am sure Sri Lanka have some questions about their spinners against us. It's important that we go and reiterate that in our first innings again and get up a big total. The first innings is really important in this Test series. It really puts sides under pressure. We realize that. As batters we have got to adapt according to the pitch. We were well prepared and I am confident the boys are going to be ready," he said. Smith said that in any subcontinent conditions the toss played a vital role. "Batting first and batting last makes a big difference. I think the toss is always important. We were comfortable batting last in Galle. But it is difficult to score quickly batting last. From the point of view of chasing targets on the last day I think it was really difficult," said Smith. "This SSC wicket is devoid of grass but it should have a little bit more pace and bounce. We pretty much expected it when we came here. I've looked at some records here. The spinners have done well here also. I am pretty sure Sri Lanka will go in with their spinners again," he said. Smith welcomed the return of batter Herschelle Gibbs and fast bowler Andre Nel from injury. "It's always nice to have a great batter back. He has certainly worked hard to get back. It's a good sign that he is hungry to do well and he wants to play. We also have Nel back from injury. He's come through his back injury he had just before the first Test pretty strongly," said Smith. About his own fitness when he was laid low on the first two days with flu, Smith said: "I am feeling the best since the start of the Test match. I am a lot better now that what I was." There is an option that South Africa might go in with an extra batter, which means that someone might be sacrificed for Gibbs' place. "We got to look at the wicket and our decision will be made on that," said Smith. If South Africa decides to play an extra batsman instead of a bowler, then all-rounder Lance Klusener may be the likely player to sit out the Test. The teams: SRI LANKA (from): Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tilan Samaraweera, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Upul Chandana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Zoysa. SOUTH AFRICA (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Martin van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Nantie Hayward, Makhaya Ntini, Lance Klusener. UMPIRES: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand), TV umpire: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Match Referee: Clive Lloyd (West Indies). |
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