Four things made the difference for Lanka — pace attack, Jayawardene’s captaincy, Moody, and the camaraderie between the juniors and seniors: Ashish Magotra.
Four things made the difference for Lanka — pace attack, Jayawardene’s captaincy, Moody, and the camaraderie between the juniors and seniors, writes Ashish Magotra
A British journalist asked a question during the post-match press conference after Australia had been crowned champions for the third time running. “Glenn, since you are a former player now and Australia are proving to be so hard to beat maybe you can tell us what is the secret to beating Australia?”
Ponting looked at McGrath, unable to stop grinning, and then McGrath nonchalantly said, “I don’t think I’ll give it away for free!”
The truth of the matter is that during this World Cup only one team looked like anywhere capable to beating Australia and they were Sri Lanka. So the English might as well turn to them for advice. The difference between the two sides in the final was the genius of Adam Gilchrist. Once he got going, the match was as good as over.
But while we applaud Australia, let us not forget the progress that Sri Lanka have made in the recent past. This was a side that was thrashed 6-1 by India in 2005, their best players were disillusioned, Jayasuriya took an early retirement, politics came to the fore at every opportunity in the past year. Yet, they have managed to keep their cricket together.
Four things made the difference — the pace attack, Jayawardene’s captaincy, Tom Moody and the camaraderie between the juniors and the seniors.
“The pace bowlers have actually changed the mentality of the team. Lasith Malinga has a huge difference with the side. And particularly in New Zealand he had great tour in
both Tests and one-dayers,” said manager Michael Tissera, who is a former skipper and chairman of the selection committee. “And at the end of it they wree really concerned about him so much so that they started to change the uniform of the umpires and couldn’t concentrate on his bowling. And that psychological they had till now and before the semifinal we knew that we will beat them in the semis. You could see their body language they seemed lost even before the game started.”
Jayawardene has not had an easy task as skipper. Marvan Atapattu, the former skipper, didn’t play a match during the World Cup. Jayasuriya, another former skipper, is in the squad too. Take a direct comparison with India, where one former skipper seems to forever be able to divide the team.
“Indian culture is very different from Sri Lankan culture. We look at this way — we have depth in the line-up. To have a player of Atapattu’s caliber sitting out is a reflection of that depth. The message we give to the team is that there will be 11 players on the field who will be in form,” said Asantha De Mel, current chairman of the selection committee.
Tom Moody has been hugely influential and while the Sri Lankans were always talented, his presence has helped add a mental edge to their game as well.
“The main thing is there is no question of seniority and juniors. They move around together, they eat together, over a period of time a camaraderie developed in the team,” said Tissera, who has been with the team for the past two years.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}