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| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
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Hashan Tillekeratne confident Sri Lanka can beat Australia! by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE
Echoeing coach John Dyson's sentiments in a recent interview that the Australians are beatable and can expect a dog fight from the Sri Lankans, Test captain Hashan Tillekeratne said, "The fact that India beat Australia in Australia in a Test match where the Kangaroos had to bounce back to draw the series gives us courage. I'm confident we can win the series for which we will be evolving a game plan shortly having got video footage of the Aussies strong, as well as weak points." But the 36-year old Test veteran, while mindful that the need of the hour was to play attacking cricket to match the aggressive world beaters, it did not mean that 'you can simply go on the attack all the time'. "I want to play positive throughout, but one must be mindful that this is Test cricket at the highest level and there are times that you have to go on the defensive. It all boils up to doing the right thing at the right time," Tillekeretne told the "Sunday Observer" in an exclusive interview last Friday. The once dubbed 'Mr. Reliable' for a balooning stoicness the left-hander breathed into the batting during the Arjuna Ranatunga era when Lanka basked in the 1995 World Cup fame, Tillekeratne said that he considered the series clinching innings triumph over England in the third Test match as something that was overdue and the ideal morale booster to carry against Ricky Ponting's Australians in the 3-match Test series, the first of which commences on March 8 at the Galle Stadium. But the skipper, who took over the Test reins from Sanath Jayasuriya after the South Africa 2003 World Cup when the selectors opted for separate captains, asked critics to refrain from creating friction in the team, but to support the team which was clicking as a collective unit. Marvan Atapattu is the captain of the one-day XI. Tillekeratne will look to go one better on that first aura from 9 Test matches in the saddle with 3 defeats - one at home versus New Zealand and 2 away to the West Indies in 2003 - and 5 draws. Excerpts of the interview: (Q). You will be leading Sri Lanka against the world beaters, Australians in the wake of a series triumph against England. How would you view your chances? (A). "The win against England was something overdue. We nearly won the first Test in Galle but there were a few snags. But in the Colombo Test there were no interruptions. Against the Australians we Sri Lankans will be playing in our own backyard and I must say we are confident because we have been playing as a team. If we play like how we did against England we can beat them". (Q). But you would concede that Australia are a different kettle of fish to the English. They are the world beaters in both forms of the game and therefore wouldn't we need to match them shot for shot for their attacking cricket which coach Dyson was mindful of when he stepped into Whatmore's shoes? (A). "We've been watching videos right now so as to evolve a suitable counter attack against the Australians. In the coming week we will come up with a solution by watching their weaknesses and strong points which would give us a game plan. They will look to go on the attack and that is where we will have a chance of getting them out". (Q). They have been susceptible on Lankan wickets against spin bowling. It happened during their last tour here under Steve Waugh in 1999 and again during the subsequent Mini World Cup match against Lanka when Aravinda and Dharmasena made inroads into their batting before the rains came down? (A). "Yes, they have been susceptible against spin, especially on our wickets and we'll look to exploit that weakness. In whatever bowling department, I'm confident we can wrest the advantage if our bowlers bowl line and length". (Q). Would you be looking to taking gambles to force decisions against an innovative side like the Aussies? (A). "I want to play positive cricket throughout, but there are times you have to go on the defensive as much as attack. It doesn't mean that you can go on the attack all the time. This is Test cricket and you have to do the right thing at the right time. Here I must stress the point that decisions are taken as a team in consultation with the players and the coach. I would like to cite as a case in example the World Cup 2003 match against Kenya which we lost where the people blamed Sanath (Jayasuriya). But I must say that was a collective decision taken to field after winning the toss. Finally they blamed Sanath which was wrong. No, we never rush into hasty decisions. The captain speaks to the bowlers, batsmen and coach. It is not only my decision". (Q). Even declarations? (A). "I take decisions on my own, but in crunch situations I consult my seniors". (Q). What about the resources this time around? (A). "We have a balanced bowling attack. In the pace bowling department apart from Dilhara (Fernando) who is nursing an injury, there are so many youngsters knocking on the door". (Q). What is wrong with Dilhara? (A). He is nursing a back strain which he sustained during the third Test against England. He is on the road to recovery and about 60 to 70 per cent fit. He has been ruled out of the one-day series, but should be okay for the Test matches. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But like I said we have so many options suck as Nuwan Kulasekera". (Q). What about Prabath Nissanka? (A). "He is nursing a knee injury which he sustained during the tour of the West Indies". (Q). Nuwan Zoysa? (A). "Yes, he is in the reckoning having bowled well of late". (Q). What about the spin bowling department? (A). "We have an option to select from. There is Rangana Herath, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Kumar Dharmasena and others". (Q). What about Kaushal Lokuarachchi? (A). "He will get an opportunity to play in a practive game and we will see how he fares. He should be a great asset for the future of Sri Lanka cricket. Of course, I must say that we have so many options". (Q). Would you agree that Lokuarachchi did emerge as a bowler who started taking wickets at crucial times and looked the ideal foil for Muralitharan after the selectors had been groping for a long time to get a good support bowler for Murali? (A). "Yes, he did, we consider him a good prospect for our cricket". (Q). Again in the last series against England, the bowling was found somewhat wanting with Muralitharan not getting the needed support? (A). "I would say we didn't bowl well on the Kandy track. There are experienced bowlers, but they are not to the potential of Murali, who is special. Of about 7 bowlers we can't expect the other six to match the wizard". (Q). What about the batting? (A). "We have a confident looking batting machinery. There are about 7 to 8 batters from the Lankan team who have shown pleasing form during the Inter-Provincial tournament with big scores. There is a 25-member pool from which the final squad will be named. There will be a 3-day game ahead of the Test match so that we can see how they perform and see some of the promising hopefuls from the 'A' team will get their chance to prove themselves". (Q). What about your own batting form? How confident are you? (A). "I was a bit worried after the last 3 Tests against England where I did not get runs, but since then I got some good knocks during the recent tournament and am confident I can ride back to form on the big occasion". (Q). How would you be looking at the wicket-keeping job? (A). "There are three in Kumar (Sangakkara), Prasanna (Jayawardena) and Kalu (Romesh Kaluwitharana), but I think we'll stick to Kumar because he did well against the English". (Q). But there has been criticism of Sangakkara that he fumbles crucial chances like the Hayden catch in the World Cup semi final? (A). "Wicket-keeping is a thankless job which I can say first hand, having stood behind the stumps myself. We are satisfied to continue with Kumar". (Q). Anything you would like to stress? (A). "Yes, I wish to ask all cricket fans to come to the matches and encourage us. I hope critics will not make this an occasion to create friction in the team when we are all united and playing as one unit". |
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