Jayasuriya ready to lead from the top
Sanath Jayasuriya believes his performance at the top of Sri Lanka's batting order will be crucial to the outcome of the forthcoming Test and ODI series between Australia and Sri Lanka
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
16-Feb-2004
Sanath Jayasuriya believes his performance at the top of Sri Lanka's batting
order will be crucial to the outcome of the forthcoming Test and ODI series
between Australia and Sri Lanka.
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© Reuters |
Jayasuriya, now 34, who wants to continue playing for the national side for
the foreseeable future, expects Sri Lanka to test Australia in home
conditions.
Jayasuriya has been working closely with John Dyson, the Sri Lanka coach, to
get his game in shape before the heavyweight contest against the best team
in the world which starts on Friday.
"I have already started working myself with the assistance of the coach
(John Dyson) towards approaching the series," said Jayasuriya. "As a senior
member, I think my contribution will be vital for the team's success."
Jayasuriya admits that Sri Lanka will have to play brilliant cricket to beat
Australia, but expects the slow, turning pitches to be a major advantage for
the home team.
"Australia has a different kind of bowling attack and their attitude towards
the game is totally different to that of England. We will have to play a
different game altogether against them."
"We have a good advantage playing in our own conditions," he says. "They
cannot play here the way they do back home. It will not be easy for them.
Our boys know what to do in our conditions. We have to plan against each
individual. The wickets are on the slower side and we have a big advantage
over them."
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© Reuters |
Jayasuriya, currently level with Aravinda de Silva with 308 ODI caps, is set
to become the most capped Sri Lanka ODI player during the course of the
series. Also just 113 runs short of de Silva's record 9284 ODI run
aggregate, he is set to become the highest Sri Lankan ODI run scorer in
history too.
Despite the looming milestones and his increasing age, he has no plans to
retire in the near future. On the contrary, he expects to be able to play on
for the foreseeable future thanks to the efforts of former team physio Alex
Kontouri (ironically, now the physio for the Australia team).
"I have been working very hard at my physical fitness in the last few years
and I am very fit. I owe a lot of it to Alex (Kontouri) for what he has done
for me as well as the other members of the team during the last 8-9 years,"
said Jayasuriya.
"It is largely because of his training that we are in this shape and very
fit today. He did so much alone - physiotherapy, training and even our diet.
I have a few years to go thanks to his training," he said.
"As long as I am physically fit and strong I will continue to play."