Sri Lankan cricketers satisfied with their performance

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from New Zealand

CRICKET: The Sri Lankan cricketers who logged in some valuable playing time against Otago in their drawn game in Dunedin flew into Christchurch satisfied with their performance and looking forward to the first of the two Test matches beginning at the Jade Stadium here on Thursday.

While the Lankans are focussed and confidently looking ahead to the Test, there has been a lot of criticism of the selections of the Kiwi team and the manner in which the squad was picked.

John Bracewell the Kiwi coach admitted that they made a mistake in trying to make openers out of middle order batsmen.

He was especially critical the experimenting of trying to turn Hamish Marshall, Peter Foulton and Lou Vincent into openers.

However cricket folk here heaved a sigh of relief when Craig Cumming and Jamie Howe was named to open the batting. Since the retirement of former successful and permanent opener Mark Richardson, the Kiwis have been searching for a good and consistent opener.

Batsmen unlucky not to get the nod from the selectors were Hamish Marshall, Peter Foulton and Lou Vincent. Foulton was a promising number three until he was forced to open in South Africa. His one drop slot has now gone to the recalled Matthew Sinclair.

According to coach Bracewell, Sinclair was chosen over Foulton after his century for Central Districts against Northern Districts. Marshall made a big hundred (153) for Northern Districts.

Daniel Vettori who has blossomed into a big hitting batsman in recent times was also in good form smashing an unbeaten 120 after the Marshall heroics in the same game. The Kiwis are sure to go in firing pace at the Sri Lankans.

They have promising men to choose from in spearhead Shane Bond who is now at his peak, James Franklin who has also been scoring heavily in recent times, Ian O'Brien, Chris Martin and Michael Mason.

O'Brien who has been bowling with success is tipped to find a place in the playing eleven.

Meanwhile Matthew Sinclair who was recalled said: "I feel like a 31-year-old about to play my First Test, while caught up in a Christchurch Christmas parade.

Sinclair knows that facing off-spinner Muttiah Muralitheran is always going to be a challenge. This is what he said when asked about fronting up to Muralitheran.

"I'm already thinking about how I'm going to go about my innings on Thursday and how I should try and score off Muralitheran. I know I can't take a guy with 600-plus Test wickets to the cleaners, so I need a game plan and I need to show caution," said Sinclair.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday