Sri Lanka might be looked upon as strong contenders for the World Cup but the wily off-spinner feels the islanders were a far balanced side in 1996.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka might be looked upon as strong contenders for the World Cup but wily off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan feels the islanders are far from being the balanced side that won the coveted trophy in 1996. “Some experts are tipping us to surprise a few at the World Cup and maybe even win it. I think we have a good chance but I still believe the Sri Lanka team of 1996 was better,” Muralitharan wrote in his column for a website.
“When we won the World Cup in 1996, batting-wise the team was more experienced, had flair, everything was there in that team in ‘96. It’s difficult for people to say we are better now because I played in both eras and the batting was much stronger then. ... we had a better balance in the ‘96 World Cup because there were four spinners in the side and only two fast bowlers,” he added as he analysed his side’s prospects for the event starting next month.
Muralitharan said players like Sanath Jayasuriya, who went in with zero expectations in 1996 were now under more pressure. “There are a few interesting comparisons to draw and the first one I would mention is Sanath Jayasuriya, (who was the Player of the Tournament in 1996) who is now older and more experienced. He’s a different type of player now because then he didn’t have any pressure or any fear to perform,” he said.
“Sanath was then an unknown person and bowlers didn’t know what to do. Now, people know how strong he is, how good he is, where his weaknesses are. They will work it out. He has experience now but it’s not easy for him to do the same things but he will get very good scores if he gets a start,” he added.
Speaking of his own graph from 1996 till now, Muralitharan said the pressure on him has also increased manifold as he now had to work out everything on his own without captain’s support. “I am more experienced now but I was still experienced then, just that the pressure (of expectation) was less. I was 22-years-old at the time when the captain would say ‘do this’ but now it’s up to me to work things out myself and the pressure is on me more,’’ he said.
However, Muralitharan said despite the minor flaws, the current team was capable of repeating the 1996 performance.
“...we are not a one-man-team. To win a World Cup the batters have to do well and then the bowlers chip in. That’s the way you win the World Cup. I enjoy playing under pressure, though, because I am used to it. If there is no pressure you are not going to do well,” he explained.
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