S Thawfeeq talks to Arjuna Ranatunga (31 Oct 1997)

Friday 31, October 1997

Retain nucleus of World Cup squad to defend title - Arjuna

S Thawfeeq

To keep the nucleus of the World Cup winning side to defend the title in another 19 months in England is the view of Sri Lanka's most successful captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

"Our main objective is to keep this team going till at least the next World Cup,'' said Ranatunga.

"We may not play the same side that won the cup, there may be one or two changes, but the overall majority of players must be there if we are to do well in the next tournament,'' he said.

Ranatunga is confident that with the amount of training they have and the amount of fitness they do, he and his players will be able to last long enough till the 1999 World Cup in England in May.

"Alex (Kountouri, the Australian-born team physio) has been really pushing us. He knows how important it is to have this side in readiness for the next World Cup,'' said Ranatunga.

"What matters is not the age, but fitness. If a player can score runs, take wickets and bring off a brilliant catch on the field, that is what matters,'' said Ranatunga, who will be 35 by the time the next World Cup comes around.

"I have been pushed by Alex. We sometimes curse him for the rigorous training he puts us through. But the most important factor is that everyone enjoys it. If you don't enjoy what you are doing, you cannot be successful,'' continued Ranatunga.

"I know that Alex is doing it for each and everyone's good and not for his benefit. The boys have realised that. One of the major reasons why we have become such a successful one-day team is because of the physical fitness. Alex has been a major factor in our successes,'' he said.

Like Australian-born coach Bruce Yardley and Sri Lanka manager Duleep Mendis, Kountouri is under contract with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board till the end of the 1999 World Cup.

Other factors that have contributed towards making Sri Lanka the no. 1 one-day cricket nation, are that they possess a very strong batting line-up, they are a brilliant fielding side and, the experience they carry.

"If you take this particular side, I don't think any other coutry has the amount of one-day experience we have. Our batting has been very consistent. Whoever has come into the side has been contributing from no. 1 to either no. 9 or 10. Our bowlers have the backing of a brilliant fielding side and we have been able to contain the opposition,'' said Ranatunga.

The Sri Lanka welcomed the short break his players enjoyed after the Indian series.

"When we played the last few games against India, we had four or five players getting into minor injuries. The break came just when we needed it,'' said Ranatunga.

After one and a half months of training, Ranatunga is of the view that his boys are pretty close to peaking, although their outdoor practice had been hampered by bad weather.

"Coming out of a well-earned rest, everyone is looking forward eagerly to the cricket,'' said Ranatunga, whose team takes off tomorrow to Lahore - the venue of Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph 19 months ago, to participate in the four-nation tournament to celebrate Pakistan's fiftieth year of independence.

"We are playing the best fast bowling attacks in the world in one tournament. This is the best opportunity to show the world what sort of class we have,'' said Ranatunga.

"It will be very tough for us because all three teams (Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies) will be very strong. However, I am confident, the way we are playing and, by the attitude of the boys, we have a pretty good chance of winning,'' he said.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)