Warne - 'I'm back spinning the ball big time'
Shane Warne had toiled for much of this match, but struck gold on the last session of the final day
Paul Coupar
28-Mar-2004
Shane Warne toiled for much of this match, but struck gold on the last session of the final day. His four-wicket haul came just at the right time for Ricky Ponting, who achieved a clean sweep in his first Test series as captain:
Shane Warne
On his comeback
I couldn't have asked for a better series. I feel very very good. One thing I've been happy with is the amount of spin I've been getting. Probably I haven't spun the ball over the past few years as much as I'd have liked, but I think the 12 months have given a rest to my shoulder and my finger. I'm back spinning the ball big time. For Ricky [Ponting] to show the faith to give me the overs in the first innings of the first Test match gave me a lot of confidence for the series.
I couldn't have asked for a better series. I feel very very good. One thing I've been happy with is the amount of spin I've been getting. Probably I haven't spun the ball over the past few years as much as I'd have liked, but I think the 12 months have given a rest to my shoulder and my finger. I'm back spinning the ball big time. For Ricky [Ponting] to show the faith to give me the overs in the first innings of the first Test match gave me a lot of confidence for the series.
On his fitness
I've worked pretty hard for the last two or three years. I suppose the rewards have been there for the last 20 or 25 Test matches. They've all been pretty good.
I've worked pretty hard for the last two or three years. I suppose the rewards have been there for the last 20 or 25 Test matches. They've all been pretty good.
On the series
To win three-nil over here is not an achievement to be taken lightly. They're a very good side.
To win three-nil over here is not an achievement to be taken lightly. They're a very good side.
On today
The wicket was still pretty good. Although it was turning we saw that once two blokes got in, as we did yesterday, it was still a good wicket and you needed to bowl well.
The wicket was still pretty good. Although it was turning we saw that once two blokes got in, as we did yesterday, it was still a good wicket and you needed to bowl well.
On chasing the world record for Test wickets
I didn't think I was going to get the seven [which he needed to pass Courtney Walsh's Test record of 519]. Obviously it was on my mind to do it. It would have been lovely to get it here because Murali goes to Zimbabwe from here, so he'll probably race about 80 ahead, or 40 ahead, or however many he can get in a couple of games!
I didn't think I was going to get the seven [which he needed to pass Courtney Walsh's Test record of 519]. Obviously it was on my mind to do it. It would have been lovely to get it here because Murali goes to Zimbabwe from here, so he'll probably race about 80 ahead, or 40 ahead, or however many he can get in a couple of games!
On Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka holds some special memories for me. Standing there just before I bowled [Nuwan] Zoysa, I was thinking about the time I stood on this ground 12 years ago. It was a similar situation, with the match going down to the wire. After I got the wicket I felt very happy and emotional about what these last 12 years have been like.
Sri Lanka holds some special memories for me. Standing there just before I bowled [Nuwan] Zoysa, I was thinking about the time I stood on this ground 12 years ago. It was a similar situation, with the match going down to the wire. After I got the wicket I felt very happy and emotional about what these last 12 years have been like.
Ricky Ponting
On the match
Another very tough win. I thought coming down to the ground this morning that we would probably win the game. I thought we would be able to create enough chances to take ten wickets. But things didn't go our way early in the day and they played well early on, and once again we had to dig deep and fight and fight and fight. All the guys stuck to their guns and stuck to the things that we knew were going to work for us, and things fell into place right at the end.
Another very tough win. I thought coming down to the ground this morning that we would probably win the game. I thought we would be able to create enough chances to take ten wickets. But things didn't go our way early in the day and they played well early on, and once again we had to dig deep and fight and fight and fight. All the guys stuck to their guns and stuck to the things that we knew were going to work for us, and things fell into place right at the end.
On Warne
When the game is up for grabs there is probably no-one in the world you would rather have on your side with the ball in his hand. He did not have a lot of luck in this game, although he probably bowled as well as he did in the other two, but it was good that he got the results at the end of the day. It was a matter of him being patient, especially when he has got a few left-handers to bowl to with a fair bit of rough to bowl into. If he lands it in the rough enough times then soon enough something is going to happen.
When the game is up for grabs there is probably no-one in the world you would rather have on your side with the ball in his hand. He did not have a lot of luck in this game, although he probably bowled as well as he did in the other two, but it was good that he got the results at the end of the day. It was a matter of him being patient, especially when he has got a few left-handers to bowl to with a fair bit of rough to bowl into. If he lands it in the rough enough times then soon enough something is going to happen.
On winning in the subcontinent
This means a lot to everybody. We had set our sights after the first two Tests on winning this game and clean-sweeping the series. I won't say it looked like we were not going to get there, but we did in the end, and it is a huge result for this team. We showed our improvement in these conditions.
This means a lot to everybody. We had set our sights after the first two Tests on winning this game and clean-sweeping the series. I won't say it looked like we were not going to get there, but we did in the end, and it is a huge result for this team. We showed our improvement in these conditions.
On Darren Lehmann, the Man of the Match
When there was a breakthrough to be had he was the one to get it in both innings, and he got rid of Sanath Jayasuriya, their danger player, in both innings. He had a great series and it is great to have him back in the side as he is a great character. He adds a lot of energy out in the field as he always has something funny to say.
When there was a breakthrough to be had he was the one to get it in both innings, and he got rid of Sanath Jayasuriya, their danger player, in both innings. He had a great series and it is great to have him back in the side as he is a great character. He adds a lot of energy out in the field as he always has something funny to say.
On Sri Lanka
I think they have played good cricket, but we just got our noses in front of them in each Test match. They have been three of the best Test matches that you could have hoped for, with every game going to the last day. There have been three great games and they should be proud of the way they have played. When they had a chance to really nail us in the first innings of the first Test match they didn't, and it was the same in the first innings in Kandy.
I think they have played good cricket, but we just got our noses in front of them in each Test match. They have been three of the best Test matches that you could have hoped for, with every game going to the last day. There have been three great games and they should be proud of the way they have played. When they had a chance to really nail us in the first innings of the first Test match they didn't, and it was the same in the first innings in Kandy.