Winning toss key to victory - Clarke

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from Galle

It was the winning of the toss that helped us to victory, said a jubilant Aussie skipper Michael Clarke at the post match media conference. ‘The wicket was a challenging one and one of the driest that I have played on. We applied ourselves better. Michael Hussey played a great innings and the 273 we got and when our bowlers did the basics right and we got the home team for 105, we knew we had the game.

‘I was a bit nervous in the morning when Mahela Jayawardena and Angelo Mathews got stuck in. But when we took the new ball and Ryan Harris got rid of Jayawardena we were sniffing victory. Clarke also said that it was a memorable victory for him, because it came in his first Test as captain. It is not easy winning in the sub continent and said that they will not be taking things easy going into the Second Test in Kandy. Tillekeratne Dilshan the Sri Lankan skipper was disappointed that his side lost. This is the ninth Test that the Sri Lankans have gone without a victory.

When asked about his form and the shots he played in both innings, he said that that is how he plays and will continue to play.

When asked about the wicket, he said it was a challenging one and blamed the first innings collapse as being the cause of the defeat.

He praised the batting of Mahela Jayawardena and Angelo Mathews. When asked whether there would be changes in the team for the Second Test he said: ‘I haven’t seen the wicket at Pallekele and if any changes are to be done it will only be after having a look at the wicket.

When asked about the dropping of off spinner Ajantha Mendis he said: ‘Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv had been bowling better and that is why they were preferred.

The Aussie by finishing the Test with over a day and a half to spare have given them extra time to go back to the drawing board and get their game and thinking right.