Jayasuriya wary of New Zealand in Sri Lankan tourney

By Matthew Appleby

Having played in 235 One-Day Internationals, Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya should know a thing or two about the game.

And he believes New Zealand will give his team, who are hosting a triangular tournament beginning on July 18th, a run for their money.

Not that the devout Buddhist will talk about cash. "There's a lot of allegations flying around," the 32-year-old says, in regard to international cricket's match-fixing malaise.

"While there's inquiries going on I can't comment and that is the problem I have at the moment," the opener continues, frustrated at being unable to air his view.

Jayasuriya has never been accused of giving anything but 100% to his team, which he began captaining after their disappointing 1999 World Cup performance.

Jayasuriya has toured New Zealand five times and made his Test debut at Hamilton in 1990/91. The 59 Test-veteran now holds the record (576 with Rohan Mahanama against India at Colombo in 1997/8) for the record Test stand for any wicket.

The quietly-spoken, Matara-born left-hander also has a one day international record, this time against the Black Caps, to his name. At Sharjah, in April, Jayasuriya hit Chris Harris for 30 in an over, breaking his own previous six-ball feat of 29 off Aamer Sohail of Pakistan in 1995/96.

Jayasuriya, curiously, does not regard the Indians, who make up the triumvirate, as the Sri Lankans' main opposition.

"They're not really main rivals, but they've been playing well. It will be a hard tournament, as any game against an international team is not easy. It will be tough for us," he told CricInfo at a recent benefit match in Nottingham.

Fellow Sri Lankans, Chaminda Vaas (back from injury), Marvan Atappattu and Aravinda De Silva also played under the watchful eye of New Zealand chairman of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee.

But the key man in Jayasuriya's book is Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been playing successfully for Lancashire. "Muralitharan has been bowling a lot here in England, and in international cricket," said Jayasuriya. "It's been a good experience for Murali I think. He is the main bowler for us."

Of the Black Caps, Jayasuriya cited Dion Nash as a threat. He generously described Nash as "one of the great all-rounders. I hope he'll come back to give their team strength.

"We were in New Zealand a few months back and many players had been going through injuries-like Chris Cairns," the opener added. "After that they've been grooming youngsters and they are trying to build their team up at the moment like we are."

However, it is the man who scored 103 from only 83 balls at Auckland this year, with six sixes and 10 fours, who could give New Zealand their biggest problems in the five games they will play against the 1996 World Cup winners.

The tournament concludes on August 5th with a Colombo final, after seven games in 11 busy days for the New Zealand team, brought together from their winter employment around the world.