The boys are up for a challenge - Moody
Tom Moody and Marvan Atapattu are confident of building on the encouraging showing at Chennai
Dileep Premachandran in Delhi
09-Dec-2005
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Tom Moody and Marvan Atapattu arrived at the Ferozshah Kotla around noon and spent several minutes scrutinising the newly laid square. With the teams having practised elsewhere, they addressed a low-key press conference, and spoke of how confident they were of building on the encouraging showing at Chennai.
Tom Moody
On the preparations for this game
We're very happy with it. Obviously, it's not ideal to practise away from the venue. But there are bigger things going on here at the stadium. But we have good sunshine and it'll be good to play some cricket.
On team selection
Everyone's fit, but we'll decide the playing XI tomorrow morning after taking a look at the conditions.
On the team spirit and morale
It's very positive. Obviously, we had a very disappointing tour in the ODI series. We're determined to turn things around. Unfortunately, we had a slow start with the weather in Chennai. But the confidence and hunger is there, and we have trained and prepared really well. The boys have done everything I could ask for, and are up for a challenge.
On how they coped with the disruptions in Chennai
The weather's out of our control. I think we were more frustrated than the Indians. It may have been a blessing in disguise for them, with their heavy schedule. But it looks like we'll get five days of Test cricket here.
On whether there was any psychological advantage after the first Test
We're coming in with more confidence and more momentum as a team. More self belief too. It was important that we bounce back after the ODIs. It's how you bounce back after setbacks that shows a team's character.
On whether he was aware of India's fitness concerns
That's not my concern. My concern is preparing the Sri Lankan team. We're 100 percent fit and ready to play.
Marvan Atapattu
On the pitch
We just had a look at it, and it looks very different to the one in Chennai. It's a different type of grass. There wasn't a blade of grass on the one in Chennai since it was prepared for the South Africa one-day game. There's some grass in the middle part of the pitch here.
On what the Chennai display meant for the team
What we experienced over the one and a half days there was very important. It was really key for the whole team, and we gained a lot from the play that we got. They're a very tough team to play in home conditions.
On Vaas's display in Chennai
One of the big positives was Vaasy coming good. He's our frontline bowler and has been for many years.
On whether Sangakkara would continue to open
Sanga is not one of our opening batsmen, he's our No.3. He had to open in Chennai only because I had been off the field, and couldn't open the innings.
Dileep Premachandran is features editor of Cricinfo