'I haven't come to put pressure on anyone': Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya said that he had to think twice before coming out of retirement after he was asked by Ashantha de Mel, the chairman of selectors, to change his mind.

"I took a little bit of time to take the decision to retire. It was the same when I had to make up my mind to come back," said Jayasuriya who arrived in England today to join the Sri Lanka team. "It was not an easy thing but I took the challenge. I needed to know how the team would feel if I came back. All these things went through my mind before I took the decision.

"I retired only one and a half months ago and since then I have been training and practicing. I think I am in good shape to play in a Test match. Nothing's changed since then, except that I've changed my mind."

Jayasuriya said that de Mel had wanted him to make a comeback because the team lacked the experience of the other opener Marvan Atapattu who had to pull out due to a back injury. It was decision that aroused a great deal of controversy here as well as back home.

"The chairman told me that in the absence of Marvan, the team needed some experience in the batting line-up and wanted me to reconsider my decision to retire. He also felt that my services could be useful here with my experience," said Jayasuriya. "I was not thinking of retirement at the start of the Pakistan series, but I took the decision after I had a long discussion with the former selectors and the coach at the end of the first Test."

Jayasuriya arrived in England this morning and said that he was well received by the team when he popped into the dressing room. "It seemed like old times. There was nothing different. I had a long chat with coach Tom Moody and explained what had happened."

He denied of any political links to him staging a comeback. "I only had a chat with the selectors. There was nothing politically connected to my comeback. I played for the country for 16 years and have not looked for political favours."

When asked whether his presence has brought undue pressure on the young openers picked originally for the tour, Jayasuriya said: "You cannot play cricket without pressure. There is pressure with any cricketer. It is not something new. I don't think my coming has put the other openers under pressure. I haven't come here to put pressure on anyone, but to play for my country. If I can do something for the team I will be happy. I always want a younger player to play. I will never deprive a younger player of a place in the team." If Sri Lanka hopes to play Jayasuriya, in the second Test it will definitely be at the expense of a youngster, either Jehan Mubarak or Michael Vandort.