The Sri Lankan cricket captain told his team not to get overwhelmed by emotions in Muttiah Muralitharan's final Test.
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara today reminded his teammates to focus on the job at hand and not get carried away by emotions in Muttiah Muralitharan's swansong cricket Test against India.
"As a team the best we can do for Murali is to make sure we don't get too overwhelmed or carried away with what's happening around but concentrate on really giving him a good farewell by playing a great match out there," Sangakkara told reporters on the eve of the first Test here.
"The danger always is that you get distracted. The key is not to resist what's happening around you, but just to relax and enjoy it and not worry about so many things. You've got to understand it.
"There is nothing that our team won't do for Murali. He's done so much for us this is just a little thing that we can do for him," he said.
Before the start of the series, Muralitharan, who is just eight scalps short of 800 Test wickets, had announced that he will draw the curtains on his illustrious career after the first Test against India.
Sangakkara also welcomed Lasith Malinga's inclusion in the Test side after almost two-and-a-half years, saying the fast bowler's return is a big boost for the home team.
"Malinga has worked so hard to get where he is now; it's a credit to him that he is out there fit and ready to play," he said.
"It gives us a huge X factor and that's really important when going into a Test match. He is a guy who can trouble any batsman in the world with his variation. We look forward to him to try and make an impact. Even if he doesn't, just him being a part of our side gives us a big boost," the Lankan skipper said.
Sangakkara said that Ajantha Mendis, who returned with impressive figures of 6 for 67 in the practice match against India, will return for the second Test in Colombo after the mystery spinner was left out of the squad for tomorrow's match.
"Ajantha has just shown in the practice game that no matter what anyone says about him he is one of the best spinners in world cricket. He will continue to be that and he has probably found out a few more things that worked for him," he said.
"If we have guys like him and Lasith all in the mix, it gives us huge chances of beating other countries. When he joins us in the second Test he will have a great chance of proving a point to everyone and making sure that he is up to the task when entrusted with it."
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