"Pray for facelift to 50-over cricket"

By Panchamee HEWAVISSENTI

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What do you think of Twenty20 cricket?

It is quite a novel thing in Sri Lankan cricket which we haven't played much. It is increasingly springing up. Twenty20 Canada Cup Tournament was a good experience for the team in Twenty20 for the future. And I believe young blood in the team would soon familiarise with it.

Sri Lanka has only played around eight matches and won five and lost 2 and drawn one, excluding the Canada Cup. But the key point about Twenty20 is that the whole match can change due to a small loophole. To cite an example, the Twenty20 match between Australia and Zimbabwe last year was won by Zimbabwe though the Australians were ranked a superb team.

You can be named as the superb and exciting stroke -player for the Twenty20 in the Sri Lankan team. You have proved that in the IPL series last year. Do you think that you are the only player who can face Twenty20 well?

I do not boast that I'm the only player in the Sri Lankan team who can play Twenty20 well, but I think I have the chance of overhauling the target. I was out of the pool for some time and I again gained access to the team due to my performance in the IPL.

What do you think of the promising youngsters in the team?

We need people to sum up situations and play accordingly in matches and that's what these youngsters do. I'm very proud of them. They move around equally with more experienced players, ooze cricketing wisdom with an extraordinary power and precision to set up a win. They have received good exposure nationally and internationally and have developed into match-winning potential. They are very hard working with some of them possessing the innate talents.

I think it's not easy to play cricket today. If someone needs to be a superb player he should be familiar with Test, 50 overs and Twenty20 equally. If he excels in those three the audience will keep hopes in him.

When the opponents get familiarised with the methods Sri Lankan cricketers use, isn't it a challenge for them to persist? For example, when opponents become familiar with Ajantha Mendis' way of bowling, he has to keep on inventing methods of bowling in order to get wickets....

Bowling methods cannot be invented. It's a natural thing when a bowler appears all of a sudden. He bowls with such a control that the batsmen find it difficult to score against him. A bowler should have variations in bowling and can use those varieties every time he is in the game.

Do you think that other bowlers are not prominent due to Ajantha's foray into cricket?

We have a good bowling regiment consisting of the experienced Vass and novices like Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara, Dhammika Prasad and we have to work on those bowlers as well because if we expect everything from Ajantha and Murali it's an extra pressure on them.

Ajantha is clear about his way as a spinner. He hits the pitch hard and is not pretentious. I realise that his height and high arm actions are his assets as a spinner.

Lasith Malinga is a player with a vague cricketing future. What do you think of that?

He is out of the pool at the moment due to his unfortunate injury. Now he is recovering. He has just started to run, field and bowl. I can't exactly say anything about his future cricketing involvements.

What do you like most out of Twenty20, fifty overs and Test?

The cream of cricket is the Test form and it is the most important form for any cricketer. Though the advent of Twenty20 has a great influence in popularity of both Test and 50 overs. Twenty20 is very much popular and it is the latest trend.

My notion is that fifty overs- one of the pivotal forms of the game, needs a change. It should be made more attractive to the public. It is high time 50 overs matches be given a different and innovative mode. Otherwise, it will be boring.

Some are of the view that" country comes first" and the players are bound by the national obligation to play for the country than self despite the huge windfalls of money from IPL and ICL and cricket lovers' expectation is to see their country winning, not a particular private team's victory?

IPL is only a private tour for which SLC has no contractual obligation. Some feel that IPL has already become the heart of cricket and is where the glamour is. I agree with the fact that a player's obligation should be for the country. But we have already signed a contract for 3 years to play for IPL.

IPL and ICL are two different companies and I have signed the contract with IPL, not with ICL. I am happy to represent my team Chennai Super Kings.

When one plays for his country, he naturally has that patriotic feeling of playing for his own country and bringing pride to the country and making the people happy. But when a cricketer plays in private tournaments like IPL, they do not have that feeling and the team spirit because the players in one country are divided into several groups......

They do have the team spirit because they've been asked to execute a job. In a way that's a good thing to get to know other players and build up a special relationship with them.

I do not think it will harm players' patriotism. Even after last year's IPL our players played well for the country. I do not think that playing in private tournaments would affect the players' patriotism.

Isn't it a disadvantage to play for private tournaments like IPL because opponents could easily be familiarise with the techniques the others use?

That's the normal thing. Usually when we are in the game for a long time, opponents get used to our ways of batting, bowling and fielding. We can't avoid it. When the other party identifies my weakness I have to strengthen it. That is our responsibility to keep ourselves up dated with innovative ways. That's a part of the game.

Have you played county cricket?

Yes. I played for Lancashire, Somerset and I'll be playing in South Africa this year for two months.

Do you have any plans after your retirement from cricket?

I haven't decided yet.

Do you wan't your son to be a great cricketer like you or do you want him to be someone else?

I love to see my son as a cricketer. But I will never force him to do so. If he shows a keen interest in playing cricket and is talented, I will extend my fullest support to him.

Do you spend quality time with your family?

I always try my best to be with my family. Above all, my family is important to me. Whenever I find even a little time I try to be with my family and share things with them.

Your parents and brother?

They all are in Matara. Whenever I get a chance I visit them.

I have often heard the comment that Sanath Jayasuriya is very level headed and humble, unlike other players....

I always think that it's good to be natural and simple. I always think that this glamour is not for a long time. We all are human beings after all. I always like to lead a simple life.

You should not be arrogant but you have to be proud of yourself if you have done your part for your country.