Sri Lanka’s coach Sanath Jayasuriya speaks the team’s confidence levels are high after the Old Trafford Test match where they tested England before going down by five wickets. Sri Lanka was written off in cold and gloomy conditions in Manchester but the batting recovered as the game progressed.
Kamindu Mendis was the standout performer with a hundred while four others chipped in with half-centuries. Asitha Fernando became an overnight feeling among the British press after an excellent bowling display while Prabath Jayasuriya troubled the Englishmen with accurate bowling.
“I had the confidence they would do well. I told the public to have faith in the players during the Indian series. It was tough coming into the Test series as they had only played one warm-up game. We need to play at least two warm-up games in order to settle down to the climate. But that’s the reality as the international calendar is tight.”
“In the first innings 236 was not enough but lower middle order showed character. After that we gained a lot of confidence.”
“You have to play with passion. I know I have a job to do for my country. I am answerable for the people in my country. Although I am doing a part time job I want to install in them you are playing for your country and you need to play with passion. That’s what I did.”
Jayasuriya, the former Test captain who involuntary England to follow on when he captained the Lord’s Test in 2002 said he wanted the top order to fire in the second Test starting Thursday.
“I want the top order to bat well one of them at least need to get runs. Dimuth is batting well but unfortunately he is getting out in the 20s that’s not enough. I am not putting any pressure on them. I have given them the maximum confidence.”
The Sri Lankan side has three former captains and while Dimuth is yet to fire, Jayasuriya was happy the other two former skippers, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal came good.
“Great to see the way Kamindu went about things. Super knock by Angelo as well. Chandimal showed character. After getting hit on the thumb, he took three pain killer injections before going to bat. That’s the attitude I want to see. Then others also learn from him.”
Sri Lanka will train at Lord’s on Tuesday and Wednesday and a full house is anticipated for the game although tickets are priced high.
“We have to start from scratch. We are taking the positives from Old Trafford. It’s totally different conditions at Lord’s. We can’t take things for granted. If somebody gets in I want another good 100 from one of those top order batsmen.”
There was some criticism when Jayasuriya took over as coach but he has done well having coached the team for a series win over India after 27 years.
“Constructive criticism I will always accept. Other things I take it off from my head. I have a job to do. SLC, support staff and cricketers have a lot of trust in me. In coaching the managing part is very important, managing players is not easy. I know my culture and we need to persevere with the Sri Lankan values.”
Can Sri Lanka win a Test match in England this time? “We have to play good cricket to do that. We need to win at least two sessions every day for five days then we have a decent chance.
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