Mirpur, January 14: Notwithstanding his side’s triumph in the just-concluded ODI tri-series, Kumar Sangakkara wants his boys to work harder in coming times as the Sri Lanka captain feels that ”just a series victory doesn’t make them a great team”.
Sri Lanka yesterday rode on brilliant half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara, coupled with man-of-the-match Nuwan Kulashkhra’s four-wicket haul to defeat India by four wickets with nine balls to spare to lift the Tri-series trophy.
Though the Sri Lanka captain was a happy man last night after the victory, he doesn’t want his team to relax after just one series win and urged them to work harder. ”We will enjoy our triumph today but one series win does not make us a great team, we have to work harder,” he said.
Sangakkara believes that his side could have bowled out the Indians for less than 245 runs, but said their bowlers put in a wonderful effort while defending the modest total. ”We should have bundled them out to a much lower total. But (centurion) Suresh Raina played one of the best innings under pressure. Then the Indian bowlers bowled well when we batted, credit to them,” he asserted.
Sangakkara praised his young players, who were brought into the side after several senior team members were sidelined due to injuries, for playing a big part in the victory. Sri Lanka were without veteran players Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and other important team members like Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis. Even Mahela Jayawardene, who played a crucial knock in the final, came in only after their first two matches. ”We had a lot of injuries in the last few months.
But we have got young players like Upul Tharanga, Thilina Kandamby and Suraj Randiv. They have been impressive in the tournament,” Sangakkara said. ”Then there is Tillakaratne Dilshan and Nuewan Kulasekara and Mahela Jayawardene. Mahela is a big match player as he proved today,” the 32-year-old told mediapersons here in the post-match press conference after the victory over India. He further picked out Kulasekara for special praise for his incisive spells in the final to trouble the Indians.
”Kula is an exceptional player. He worked very hard on his bowling and fitness. He bowled a good pace in 130 kmphs on the flat pitches in the subcontinent. So he has been our number one ODI bowler,” he said.
Sangakkara also revealed that the Lankan board has more freedom to choose newcomers based on their merits and anybody who performs would be welcomed into the team.
”The door is not shut on any player. Not only Jayasuriya, the door is open to anybody who performs. ”If the newcomers are performing then they will get the chance,” he said, referring to the comeback of veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya.
”The board back home has given more freedom to choose newcomers who performs. That may be the reason we are doing well. We are trying to create a culture where performance counts. I hate the word youngster as I think age does not matter. If a player is good he is good,” he added.
——–Agencies