Jayasuriya on life after captaincy

After four years in the limelight, facing the media, and attending to a myriad off-field responsibilities, Sanath Jayasuriya is enjoying his new life as a simple senior pro.

During the recent series against New Zealand, whether lolling by the hotel poolside or limbering up on the training ground, Jayasuriya cut a relaxed figure, a man obviously relieved to be free of the endless decision-making.

Captaincy is the ultimate honour for any cricketer, but it is a job that carries a heavy burden, especially in a country like Sri Lanka, where the populace is so cricket mad.

"There are so many extra responsibilities when you are captain," says Jayasuriya. "There are endless meetings - before, after and during matches, all the organisation and procedures at practice, and then afterwards work with the cricket board."

Sri Lanka's tour of the West Indies will be his first since standing down. He has no regrets about handing over the reins. "I enjoyed taking on the responsibility but I am relieved to be free of it now," he said. "I am happy with the decision that I made and I am enjoying my cricket at the moment."

But being such a crucial cog in a Sri Lankan batting line-up which is struggling to find form and confidence means that he cannot just slip into cruise control and enjoy the twilight of his career. "I still have a lot of cricket responsibilities on my shoulders," he adds. "The team does not expect me to score nice 20s or 30s - they need big scores."

During the recent Test series New Zealand he showed excellent form, helping himself to two entertaining fifties, but the Bank Alfalah Cup brought more meagre returns: 48 runs in four matches with a highest score of 33.

"I was very happy with my form during the Test series, although annoyed that that I didn't covert those two fifties into hundreds," he says. 'I was, though, disappointed with the one-dayers."

Approaching his 34th birthday, Jayasuriya is setting no date for his eventual retirement, although there are some milestones that he wants to achieve: "At the moment, my objective is to pass 10,000 runs and 300 wickets in the one-day game and pass 5000 runs in the Test arena."

But like the rest of the Sri Lankan players, who have been playing virtually non-stop for the last 14 months, he is relishing the prospect of a much-needed break after the Caribbean. The three-month layoff (less if Sri Lanka play in the Morocco Cup in August) will provide an opportunity to address a recurring tonsillitis problem.

"At the moment I am fit and healthy but the tonsillitis is a big problem at the moment," he says. "I think I will have an operation straight after this tour. My consultant wants to see me as soon as I return - he thinks I will be out for about a month."

For the moment, though, it is all eyes on a series against the resurgent West Indies, a tour that fans hope will bring out the uninhibited best in Sri Lanka's new laid-back senior pro.