Mahela confident of maintaining dominance at home

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena expressed his confidence of maintaining their dominance at home while the Indian captain Anil Kumble vowed to retaliate in an attempt to redeem their lost prestige in the forthcoming Test and One day international series.

Jayawardena fresh after his team’s success in the six nation Asia Cup tournament in Pakistan, believed that his players are now in a good frame of mind to concentrate on the longer version of the game.

The series in fact will be a significant one for Jayawardena who made his Test debut against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium way back in August 1997 and also scored his maiden double hundred against the same opponents in February 1999.

Since then he has grown in stature and will be looking forward to keeping Sri Lanka’s excellent track record at home where they have lost only twice against their neighbours from a total of 12 outings.

Jayawardena said that despite the huge amount of Twenty20 internationals played in the past, the real interest in the game is Test cricket which has always been a challenge for the players.

Meanwhile Indian captain Anil Kumble hoped that Sachin Tendulkar’s attempt to surpass West Indian Brian Lara’s world test runs record would certainly push his side on to a series win against Sri Lanka.

Incidentally Tendulkar needs only 172 runs to beat Lara’s aggregate of 11,953 runs.

India have won only one of the four series they have played in Sri Lanka since 1985 and their previous tour in 2001 ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Kumble noted that every time there is a sense of achievement not just for the individual but also for the team and the most important factor would be to go out there and ensure that they win the series at the end.

“Sachin I’m sure at some point in time will cross the landmark. It will be a huge achievement not just for him as an individual, but for Indian cricket as well.”

Kumble was confident India can add to their improving overseas test record in Sri Lanka. “As a test unit we have done really well in the last two or three years,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge in Sri Lanka.

Kumble also said that he was confident his experienced batting line up will see off the threat which will be posed by mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis in the Test series. The Indian players found Mendis virtually unplayable at the recent Asia Cup final in Karachi where he grabbed 6-13 to fashion his team’s convincing 100 run victory.

However Kumble said that the team has enough experience to handle any threat and spin has never been a problem.

He added that they are not going to take anyone lightly, let alone Mendis, and they need to respect every bowler.

The star studded Indian batting has been strengthened with the return of veterans Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman, who were not members of the Asia Cup one day squad.

Hashan - manager

Former test captain Hashan Tillekeratne was yesterday appointed as Manager of the Sri Lanka team for their home test and one day international series against India which begins on July 23.

Ashley heads Cricket Operations

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have appointed Ashley de Silva as the Head of Cricket Operations following the exit of Bandula Warnapura who took over a new assignment with the Asian Cricket Council recently.

Hurst and Broad as match referees

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have appointed Alan Hurst and Chris Broad as the Match referees for the three test and five one day internationals between Sri Lanka and India which will commence on July 23.

Mark Benson, Rudi Koertzen and Billy Doctrove will be the umpires for the series and they will joined by Sri Lanka’s Asoka de Silva, Gamini Silva and T. H. Wijewardena.