Winning 2011 World Cup:

Jayawardena confident

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka's premier batsman Mahela Jayawardena believe that the presence of some talented all rounders will help the team to stay ahead of the rest and go on to win the World Cup in the sub continent.

Mahela Jayawardena

The former captain stated that unlike in 2007 the present team is packed with some attacking stroke makers who could explode at any moment while giving the side more options in their approach towards the tournament. Jayawardena also noted that the first game in the competition is very important for the side and if they could focus their mind totally on the tournament from there onwards they have a very good chance of going all the way into the final.

Following are the excerpts of the interview.

Question: How are the preparations in the team for the World Cup?

Answer: I think we played quite a lot of cricket during the last two three weeks. A lot of one day cricket. Some guys were rested with the work load but the others have enjoyed the outings.

The batters have batted really well and it has been very good. We are now getting into the latter part of that so we will start training together as a team. Then there will be a lot of planning and structural things will be done.

The preparation has been good. Honestly it has been great we have focused ourselves a lot on the fitness during the last four weeks or so with our trainers and everyone looks in good condition touchwood and let's hope that we will have a full strength squad going into the World Cup.

Question: Are you happy with your own form in the recent past?

Answer: The club tournament was really good. I was very consistent and I batted in the top because we had a lot of other guys who would bat in the middle.

In the Provincial tournament I had to change that attitude with the team that I had but we ended up in the top of the table after the league stage and it was great.

The start was good for the first 15 to 20 runs but it did not continue to finish it off, hitting the ball really well like in the club tournament we would like to spend more time in the middle.

For me it is all about preparing myself mentally and trying to get myself focused and the attitude and how I want to approach this World Cup. If I can get that right it can be a very good World Cup.

Question: You were one of the highest run getters among the overseas players in the last IPL and will it add some pressure on your batting?

Answer: I have played enough cricket to realize how I should take those kind of things out of my head. I will try and totally control the things that I can control right now.

The IPL is going to be after the World Cup what has happened to me is great personally. This is Sri Lanka and playing for my country is the most important thing for me. The World Cup is my focus nothing is going to change that attitude.

Question: What are your memorable moments on the field?

Answer: Very difficult to say one or two but there is quite a few. Getting into the final in the last World Cup campaign was a great opportunity and something which I always cherish. My first test match as I always dreamt of playing for my country and that has been the highlight of my career.

Question: Your comments on the wickets at the World Cup venues in Sri Lanka?

Answer: At Khettarama we left a couple of strips for the World Cup. We have still not used them we only used them for the West Indies Test match. The strip's in Pallekele is pretty good.

We have played quite a lot of cricket there in the past and it has not changed. So we got a fairly good idea on that. Unfortunately we have not played any cricket at Sooriyawewa.

We have only one game against Canada which is an important game for us. Generally we have a good idea about how the conditions are going to be in Sri Lanka so hopefully we can use that to our advantage the crowd the atmosphere the whole thing. It is a great opportunity for us to use all that and try and go all the way.

Question: What are your views on the technology which will be used for the World Cup?

Answer: I have always been a firm believer that if the technology is right, I know some are not one hundred percent perfect so you can't use certain kind of things. But there are certain things which you can use to improve cricket generally and decision making.

I don't think the umpires are making bad decisions like that. They are humans as well and everyone make mistakes like we do on the field. So if we could help that decision I am always for that.

We have seen the Ashes in the recent past and the referrals were very good. It has made a huge difference to the game and hope that it will be a good World Cup with the referrals.

Question: How do you compare the present World Cup team with the 2007 side?

Answer: It is bit different, not much. Personal wise there are few changes but I think we got some talented all rounders.

I think that has been the big change. We did not have a good all rounder who played in that last World Cup.

We went in with a seven four combination with our part time spinners doing the job for us.

But this time around we got a couple of good all rounders we could use.

Apart from that the bowling has been pretty good Ajantha Mendis is always going to be a factor so is Rangana Herath who has been bowling really well.

The batting I think you know we got some attacking options. In the last World Cup we were more conservative how we went about.

Much more control. But this time with the experience with us we can still do that plus we can also become more explosive as well if we want to. Hopefully we can get the right balance in our combination.

Question: At which position do you prefer batting?

Answer: I have always said higher up the order and have always enjoyed batting at number four. It has been a great challenge but wherever the team asks me to bat I will bat.

We play as a team not as individuals so whatever the team requires of me I will respond. There needs to be a bridge between the top order and the middle order. That's my job and hopefully I can execute that to the best of ability.

Question: Your views on the format of the World Cup?

Answer: It is the same as the 1996 World Cup. We have to adjust to that. The last format in the Caribbean was different. We had more opportunities to get into that last four. But in this one you get into the quarterfinals very quickly and from there it is just three games. We are not going to be sure of our opponents as well. If we start the tournament by just focusing on that first game that will help us a long way because we will not know who our quarterfinalists and semifinalists like that so it is going to be three bang bang games for us. If we can control our destiny the way we want we have a very good chance.