Senior Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara was optimistic ahead of Tuesday's clash against India in the Commonwealth Bank ODI triangular series.
The former Sri Lankan captain said, “Our strength has always been playing India away from India. India is always strong in India, with the smaller grounds and conditions the side is used to. But away from home, we have the advantage.”
The wicket-keeper batsman was also aware that Sri Lanka needed to win at least four out of its remaining six matches to qualify for the finals. “We have to win a minimum of four games to have any chance of qualifying. Tomorrow is another opportunity.”
Sangakkara mulled over the two close defeats. “We could have won both of them. We could have at least been a game up by now. But we are still in with a good chance.”
He felt partnerships held the key to success. “We need to read the game right, get partnerships going and put runs on the board. It was a case of not building enough partnerships and losing too many wickets too soon.”
Sangakkara dwelt on the defeat against the Aussies in Perth. “Once you have restricted them to 230 odd, it’s a case of having enough batsmen in the shed by the time you hit the 40th over. For a moment we were out of it but Angelo (Mathews) really got us in there. We came really close.”
On the surface at the Adelaide Oval, he said, “It has been good for the batsmen over the years. Everyone is looking forward to it. Again as a unit, collectively we have got to be a bit smarter and also be able to win those big moments.”
Asked about Indian batting legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and probed how long they should continue, the erudite Sangakkara answered, “Sachin and Dravid have been amazing players. They still are. If you take Dravid’s England tour, it was great. Three centuries and he carried the whole batting on his shoulders. Sachin is still scoring runs and is a valuable player.”
Sangakkara added, “At the end of the day, you weigh up what happens in the dressing room. What influence a player has in the dressing room is as important as the performance on the field. It’s really a call for India and Dhoni and the selectors but it’s hard to underestimate or downplay the abilities of Sachin and Dravid. They have been two of the best ever produced.”
He elaborated on the subject. “If you take the record of players, whether it’s the younger or the older players, whoever has the best technique and adapts quicker, always scores the runs. You can’t be 20 and not performing and in the side just because you are young.”
Sangakkara went on. “It’s better to have, whoever is performing, be he 25, 30 or even 40, playing. Brad Hogg is a great example. Even at 40, he is bowling better than probably any other spinner in Australia when it comes to Twenty20 cricket. At the end of the day, performance is what really counts. All the talk about age comes into play when you are not performing.”
These are tough times for Sri Lankan cricket – the cricketers have not been paid for a few months and there has been a rather abrupt change in captaincy with Mahela Jayawardene taking over from Tillakaratne Dilshan. Sangakkara looked at the situation, “I think the last six months have been a bit tough for us, in the sense of direction and planning. Going forward, it’s a case of getting our structure right and letting everyone be as free as possible mentally, to be able to go out there and play. It’s thus been tough for the players to motivate themselves, particularly the young ones in the side.”
Sangakkara observed, “Dilshan had a tough job, a tough six months. The decision-making group had to make some very tough decisions, but unfortunately, we were not as successful as we were before. In competitive cricket, sometimes, it’s all that counts. Unfortunately, Dilshan decided to resign. Then we have gone back to Mahela, which at this time is a very good decision. We need grounding and a tighter structure as to how we are going to progress over the next three years. Once it is set, it’s easier for anyone else like Angelo Matthews, who will probably take over at some point.”
