Vaas could help our young pacemen - Mahela

by Ranjan Anandappa

Mahela Jayawardene spoke high of his deputy Angelo Mathews after his innings played in Galle and thereafter in Colombo in the second Test and tipped him as the future captain because of his fighting qualities. He said that Angelo batted extremely well in both Test matches against New Zealand, adopting well to the situation of the game in Galle and Colombo.

“Mathews batted well in the entire series, specially in Galle under pressure and adopted to the situation, batted at number six is not an easy position to bat, but Angelo who is a guy who seems to find that little bit of extra mental strength to handle pressure situations and that’s why we have identified him as one of the leaders for Sri Lanka for the future.

As long as he is enjoying those kind of challenges and going forward he’ll make a really good captain,” said skipper Mahela.

Talking of former paceman Chaminda Vaas’ role in assisting the Kiwi pacemen in the Test, Mahela said that his guidance and advice how to bowl on Sri Lankan pitches may have helped them, but overall the three pacemen looked very efficient while bowling in both Tests.

“Vaas is a fine bowler, and if he could help our young pacemen it will be good for the future. No one knew that he was interested in coaching because till recently he was playing cricket in England. He was to play in my side at the SL Premier League. If he is hoping to take up coaching seriously, it is good for the country, as it will help the young fast bowlers,” is what Mahela thinks.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene emphasized the importance of the coming Australian tour and said that playing three Test instead of two like in the past, will give the team a chance of beating the Aussies in Australia.

“We should try and beat Australia in Australia which we have never done in the past and it is a good motivation to all the guys and try and work hard towards that” was what the Sri Lankan skipper had to say. New Zealand who defeated Sri Lanka in the second Test to draw the series 1-1, has conveyed a clear message to the Sri Lankan batsmen on their vulnerability against top class seam and swing bowling. The Kiwi pace trio Tim Southee, left-armer Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell amply manifested their bowling skills on a placid Sara Oval wicket, and the message was loud and clear for the Sri Lankans when they leave for Australia on Sunday night to face the might of the Australian seam attack on fast bouncy tracks which is quite different to the Sara Oval pitch or elsewhere in the country. Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said that the Kiwi new ball attack bowled well even in the Galle Test where the visitors lost inside three days.

”Their whole bowling unit bowled really well not just at the Oval but also in Galle as well. They swung the ball pretty well. When their bowling unit is pretty good, a very young talented unit we knew that they are going to pose a threat, and that was their game plan as well.

They went with three fast bowlers knowing that it was their strength.

We had to make sure that we try and control upfront specially the new ball where we gave too many wickets upfront and we never got any momentum. They capitalised on that, and that’s something we have to look into, as we will be going to Australia,” said Jayawardene.

He said that after winning the Galle Test his ambition was not to play for a draw, and he was aware that after the defeat in the first Test, the New Zealanders will make some changes and come back hard for the second Test. We did not bat well in the first innings from that point onwards the pressure was felling on us and we succumbed to it. I think the bowlers did a good job ,it was the batting that failed. We hope to rectify the mistakes and go forward.

The Sri Lankan openers were unable to get a good start for the rest of the batsmen to build on that advantage. “In both Tests we were unable to do that.

Credit should also be given to their fast bowlers who bowled really well using the new ball. Specially in Test matches we should take note of the weakness.

Because in a Test match, a sound start is necessary to put up big score. We are all aware of this shortcomings and hope to rectify it and go forward”, assured Mahela.