Kulathunga issues warning to England

Sri Lanka captain Jeewatha Kulathunga has a warning for defending Hong Kong Cricket Sixes champions England: do not take retaining the title for granted.

The Sri Lankans know from bitter experience how unpredictable the shortest form of the game can be at the Kowloon Cricket Club when they crashed out of contention for the title early in the piece last year.

That was just 12 months after coming from nowhere to defeat an All-Stars team that featured the likes of Shane Warne and Brian Lara to claim the title for the first time in their history.

"The year before we were the champions and when we won it we were the underdogs," says Kulathunga.

"But last year we lost our first game and were out of the competition, so in this form of the game you never know who's going to win.

"What matters is how we perform during the game, how we handle the pressure and how we work on our strengths and our weaknesses."

All but one of the Sri Lankan team have played at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes on more than one occasion and the captain is hoping that experience can stand his side in good stead come this weekend's action.

"It's going to be fun and we're looking forward to the tournament although of course will be taking it seriously and trying to win," he says.

"The most important thing is that we take it match-by-match, but the boys are confident about the tournament and we are hoping we can enjoy it.

"Having played here before, it gives you confidence when you are in that atmosphere. We have a very professional unit like all the other teams.

"Our side is very experienced and apart from one player everyone has been here before. This is my fourth year and that's good for us.

"But it's difficult to tell who's going to win. You have to take it match by match. When it comes to a 30-ball game, you don't know what's going to happen. So we won't be underestimating any team or be overconfident. We'll just have to play to our limits."

Team manager Amal Silva believes the Sri Lankans have what it takes to be a serious contender.

"We've got a good chance because all the guys are international players and they've played enough international cricket to be successful," he says.

"We don't have this kind of tournament in Sri Lanka but since they are playing Twenty20 and other short forms of the game, the boys are looking forward to doing well.

"These boys have been playing fairly good cricket over the last three or four months, playing some league cricket. They're in touch and they're looking forward to playing well and to enjoy their cricket."

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About the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes
In 2009, the Sixes has been selected as an ICC Centenary Celebration World Event and will feature a special ceremony to honour 100 years of the International Cricket Council and the Spirit of Cricket.

Six-a-side cricket is the quickest, most fun-filled version of the game - a feast of world-class players, thrilling matches and big hits.

First played in 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the longest-running and highest-profile Sixes tournament in the world. It offers two days of fast and furious action in a festival atmosphere - eight international teams, 45-minute clashes and global television coverage.

Stars who have taken part include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Javed Miandad, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Adam Gilchrist, Wasim Akram, MS Dhoni and Sanath Jayasuriya.

The Sixes won the prestigious 2007 ICC Award for Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award.

England recorded a record fifth Sixes title last year after a stunning final in which they finished tied with Australia on 121 runs. When Australian batsman Stephen O'Keefe was run out attempting a second run from the final delivery that would have given his team victory, England were confirmed victors as they had lost fewer wickets (three wickets to one).

For further information, please contact:
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Erica Liu
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