Wednesday 13th August, 2008 Perseverance was Kumble says Mendis no the key to success says Mahela mystery, but a fine bowler by Rex Clementine by Rex Clementine whether the ball tracking is 100 percent accu- rate and whether television gives you the The Sri Lankan team’s Following a disappointing Test tour of Sri proper decisions on the height and other perseverance during demanding sit- Lanka, Indian expressing things. If that’s the case, there’s no point in uations throughout the three Test his thoughts said his side didn’t deserve to win, going to the third umpire. I am sure people series against India went a long way but heaped praise on Sri Lankan spinner will sit down and have a discussion.” in enabling them to win the series 2- Ajanatha Mendis, who picked up almost half of 1, ’s captain Mahela the Indian in the three Test series. Sri Lankan bowler Jayawardene told journalists yester- The Indian batsmen struggled to pick the Sri holds the man of the series trophy day. The series that was expected to Lankan debutant and their failure was attributed presented to him after his team won be a close contest was completely to the subtle variations the bowler possessed. the third and final match dominated by the hosts as they Mendis was called a ‘mystery spinner’, but Kumble against India in , Sri handed India their third worst Test felt that more than any mystery, Mendis had the Lanka, Monday, Aug. defeat by an innings and 239 runs at Lanka’s favour. quality to trouble world class batsmen and he stood the SSC and then sealed the series by “We knew Sachin was a big factor between victory and defeat. 11, 2008. (AP winning the decider by eight wickets. in their line up. They bank a lot on “I felt that Mendis made the difference. Picking up 26 Photo/Eranga India had squared the series earlier him. Then they have guys like Rahul wickets is no mean achievement for any bowler. When Jayawardena) by winning the second Test in Galle and Sourav and we knew that we had Murali and Mendis operate in tandem, it’s not easy to by 170 runs. to target them as their nucleus were score runs and we kept losing wickets. The pressure “It was a very hard series. We there. Those three guys are the ones created by the two of them was massive,” the leg- showed a lot of character after the who can play big knocks and take a spinner who finished the series with just eight Galle Test. We kept the standards high game away from you.” at 50.00 said. and kept pushing and never gave up. I “We had a lot of discussions on Understandably, he blamed India’s bat- thought the difference was that. how to do that and we attacked from ting for the poor show. While India’s open- Whenever we were in a tough situa- day one and executed the game plan ers provided them with good starts con- tion we needed someone to do the job well. That made the difference. When sistently, the entire middle order failed and someone put up the hand and did you need to beat a team like this, you to back up the openers’ efforts. it for us. That’s the most pleasing have to identify individuals and target “The batsmen didn’t put up a good thing,” the Sri Lankan captain who them; I think we did that pretty well,” show here and that cost us the series. led by example scoring the most runs the Sri Lankan captain added. There wasn’t any consistency from the in the series for his side (279 in six Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis batsmen at all. We won the toss here. It innings at 69.75) said. came into the series with little expo- was very good wicket. We got to a good “I am very satisfied. The credit sure, but did enough to create worries start too, but didn’t capitalize. People should go to the unit. At the in the Indian minds after his match got starts, but didn’t go to get big beginning of the series, we knew what winning spell in the final. He scores. For a new batter to go in and a tough challenge it was going to be. I had a ball picking up 26 wickets in face two spinners is not easy. People said that numbers can be there, but three Tests at 18.38 and while breaking who got starts should have gone on to you needed to work hard. But I many records, created a World Record get big ones. But having said that, I thought the bowlers did a fantastic as well when he overtook Sir Alec am not here to give any excuses. job.” Bedser’s record for most number of Although Sri Lankan captain A deciding factor in the series was wickets in a three-Test series that had Mahela Jaywardene had given the ability of the Sri Lankan bowlers stood since 1946. thumbs up for the referral system to keep India’s formidable middle “Ajantha is very quiet and it’s very that was in place during the series, order quiet. Known as the fabulous difficult to get anything out of him. Kumble wasn’t sure whether it four, Sachin Tendulkar, , The only time he’s very bubbly is was good to use technology for Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman when you ask him to come and bowl. I leg before wicket decisions. managed just three fifties among the think he has fitted into the dressing “There are few things that four of them in 24 innings. Tendulkar room very well. He has blended nicely we need to assess. Television and Ganguly weren’t able to score a with everyone and is a quiet sort of technology is not 100 per- single half-century and managed less bloke. He’s got a very good role model cent accurate. We need than 100 runs each in the series. in Murali, who is very humble in all to have some improve- Jayawardene his achievements. If he can follow ments. You don’t know admitted that him, Sri Lanka cricket is in good their failure hands,” Jayawardene said shedding to con- light on the mystery man who was tribute Man of the Match in the series. Brazilian Vieira smashes Sri Lankan dreams with big All three Tests ended inside Anuruddha Ratnayake suffered a 13 scores four days and Jayawardene was points to 3 defeat at the hands of Brazilian went a long asked whether the referrals Robenilson Vieira in his first bout of the way in system that was in place had 51 kg flyweight category Boxing sealing the been a contributory factor Championship at the Beijing Olympics at series in for the early finishes. He the Worker’s Gymnasium Beijing yester- Sri admitted that it had day. played a part, but was Ratnayake collected a point each in the last three rounds but couldn’t amend for quick to add that the the early lead taken by the Brazilian quality of the bowl- whose quick jabs proved too strong for the ing of both sides Sri Lankan. had forced an early Robenilson having the advantage of end more than height took the lead in the first round col- anything else. lecting two vital points against Ratnayake “Referrals who was left pointless. probably played a In the second round, the Brazilian part. There were improved by four points against lot of quality Ratnayake’s single point. In the third round, too, Robenilson cricketers in both scored three more points against these sides. I think Ratnayake’s one. the bowlers con- However, Ratnayake showed aggres- trolled the series. sion in the last round attacking the formi- You should put it dable opponent who opted for a defensive down to that,” he strategy having gained advantage in the said. first three rounds. Anyway,the Brazilian managed to collect four more points to record a 13-3 victory over Ratnayake. Malinda included in ODI squad Sri Lanka’s selectors Pakistan in Abu Dhabi last Test veteran lacked since he made his named opening batsman year. debut eight years ago against India. Malinda Warnapura (29) in Veteran Sanath Sri Lanka squad their One-Day squad for the Jayasuriya also returns to (Captain), five match ODIs that begin the side along with fast , Sanath in Dambulla next week. bowler Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Warnapura, had a consistent and middle order batsman , Chamara Kapugedara, Test series scoring 243 runs . Tillekeratne Dilshan, , in five innings at an average There was no place for , Dilhara of 60:75 with a hundred and (32), Fernando, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina two fifties and was expected who topped the averages Tushara Mirando, , Anuruddha Bandara Ratnayake, right, of Sri Lanka fights Robenilson Vieira of Brazil during to be a part of the Sri Malinda Warnapura in the Test series and Jehan Mubarak and Malinda Lankan ODI outfit. exhibited an aggressive Warnapura. a men’s flyweight 51 kg preliminary boxing match at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, He has played just one ODI – against intent in his game, something the 45 (RC) Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Wednesday 13th August, 2008