Jayasuriya says team needs Ranatunga and de Silva (13 July 1999)

13 July 1999

Jayasuriya says team needs Ranatunga and de Silva

Ranjitha Balasubramanyam

Colombo, July 12: Sri Lanka' s cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya today said that he would like former captain Arjuna Ranatunga and former vice-captain, Aravinda de Silva to play against Australia and India in the triangular championship in August .

Speaking to newsmen, the newly appointed captain said that Ranatunga and de Silva were highly experienced players and the team needed them. "The forthcoming tournament is a very hard one and we need the experience of these two players. A couple of new players could be included," Jayasuriya said.

Jayasuriya, who was nominated captain last week, said that he had had discussions with all the players. "I spoke to all of them and told them that I need their hundred per cent support to revive the reputation of the team. After all, we are going to play against the world champions. It is a very big challenge," he admitted.

Jayasuriya said that the final team had not been picked so far. All 15 players selected for the side were practising hard, he said, adding that the team would be selected only after the arrival of coach Davenell Whatmore. "I will speak to him when he comes here. He knows best and brings out the best in us," he said.

The captain said that all the players had promised to give their best when Sri Lanka plays Australia and India. "At the moment we are down. We have to lift ourselves up. Last year, our batting was really poor. We have to improve in all the departments - batting, bowling and fielding," Jayasuriya said, adding that the team has begun training for the forthcoming tournament.

Sri Lanka's opening batsman, whose nomination as team captain surprised many, admitted that leading the team was a difficult task. "I have to face this big challenge. I don't know whether it will have any effect on my batting. I will know only after playing the next series. I will play my natural game. There is no way of changing of my style. But, of course, I will have a chat with Dave when he arrives here," Jayasuriya said.

The new vice-captain, Mahela Jayawardena, whose nomination has kicked up a storm in the island's cricket circles, said that he too is faced with a major challenge. "I have to build bridges with senior players in the team and I need their support to perform my new role. I have spoken to my seniors and they have assured me of their support," he said.

The selectors have been vehemently criticised for picking the 22-year-old batsman as Jayasuriya's deputy, ignoring several other senior players in the team. The state-run newspaper, Daily News, has said that selectors should have considered ace spinner Muthaiah Muralitharan for the post.

Meanwhile, the manager of the team, Duleep Mendis has been fired. The former Sri Lankan captain had been manager for over a decade. The interim committee managing the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka has nominated Chandra Schaffter, chairman of a private insurance company and a former test player, as the new

manager. The sports ministry is yet to ratify the nomination.

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)