Tuesday 3rd February, 2009 Murali not worried over World Record by Rex Clementine putting any undue pressure on Batting has been the main rea- yourself. It’s important to remain son for the team’s poor run and Sri Lankan off-spinner positive and play your natural Sri Lanka suffered a first ever Muttiah Muralitharan told ‘The game. We have a lot of experience home series defeat to England in Island’ yesterday that more than and I am confident we will come 2007 and the next year were beat- the World Record for the most good.” en by India for the first time on number of wickets in ODI cricket, He outlined the team’s poor Sri Lankan soil in a five match the form of his team bothered him batting as the main reason for the series. Last month, the team was and insisted that his focus will be poor performance in ODI cricket, also beaten by Bangladesh in a tri- solely on today’s must win third especially at home. Until Sanath nation tournament match and was One-Day International against Jayasuriya scored a hundred in badly placed in the final against India at R. Premadasa Stadium the first ODI, no Sri Lankan bats- the same opposition before under lights. man had scored a hundred at Muralitharan bailed the side out Muralitharan started the home for almost three and half with his clean hitting down the series requiring three wickets to years. “We are not playing well. order. overtake Wasim Akram as the Our batting has been a huge con- “Although we lost successive highest wicket taker in the world cern for us. But having said that home series, we didn’t lose badly. in ODIs. The 36-year-old picked up these guys are quality players and The score line says we lost 3-2, one wicket in the first ODI in Dambulla and failed to pick up a wicket in the second ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, although he bowled exceptionally well conced- ing only 32 runs in his ten overs including a maiden during the death overs. “Honestly I am not thinking of taking those two wickets much. The important thing is to win this game. We can not afford to lose this one. As for the record I am going to keep playing one-day cricket and it will come some day,” the senior Sri Lankan cricketer told ‘The Island’ in an exclusive interview. they have proved themselves over both against England and India. I Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, left, chats with Indian cricketer Suresh Raina during a practice session in Muralitharan also said that the the years. We had a few players am sure we will be alright. We will Colombo. The third ODI between Sri Lanka and India gets underway today at the R.Premadasa Stadium. (AP) Sri Lankans should not put any retiring and those slots have been improve and get back to our win- undue pressure on themselves filled by some new ones and as a ning ways. Don’t forget that India most players in the side at the age Jayasuriya became the oldest he has achieved for Sri Lankan leading up to crucial ODI and was result we have shifted some is one of the best sides in the of 39 and 36 respectively.The off- player to score an ODI hundred at cricket is amazing. We do well confident the team will bounce places. So these things can hap- World right now and it’s a chal- spinner paid tribute to his former the age of 39 years and 212 days when Sanath scores and it’s back. “The main thing is that we pen,” Muralitharan who has been lenge beating them.” captain by saying his knocks were surpassing Geoffrey Boycott. important for us that he gets a big need to think that this is just representing the country for the Sanath Jayasuriya and extremely crucial for the team. “He’s one of the greatest players one tomorrow,” Muralitharan another game. You shouldn’t be past 16 years said. Muralitharan are the two senior During the first ODI in Dambulla, the game has seen. The things that said. Sri Lanka prepared for SL runners train in Nuwara Eliya for Hong Kong Marathon must win games by Reemus Fernando cy, a factor that has been lacking in about the paceman’s availability. by Rex Clementine Sri Lankan marathon run- both batting and bowling. “Batting Jayawardene’s Indian counter- ners Manjula Kumarasighe and has been good and bowling has part M. S. Dhoni, meanwhile, has here’s very little Sri Lanka can afford Ishan Kumara Wijethilaka who been good too. But the problem is warned his team against compla- to do wrong in the remaining three will anchor the final leg of the we are making a few mistakes. The cency. India have enjoyed the TOne-Day internationals against India, Standard Chartered Greatest guys understand that if we can be upper hand against the Sri as all what the tourists need is to win one of Race on Earth Marathon series consistent with our line and length Lankans in recent ODIs, but Dhoni the games to secure the series. in Hong Kong in a few days time and keep the pressure on and if has insisted that his players Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side leads the said they are getting accus- our batsmen consistently bat should not relax against the hosts. five match series 2-0 after a six wicket and tomed to the cold weather by through certain periods, we could After a lackluster performance 15 run win in Dambulla and R. Premadasa training at Nuwara Eliya. Kong,” Manjula Kumarasinghe challenge we will have to face. come off well,” Jayawardene in Dambulla, where Sri Lanka lost Stadium respectively. Cold weather is one of the told ‘The Island’. The training at Nuwara Eliya added. what looked like a one sided con- Mahela Jayawardene’s side needs to win biggest obstacles the two ath- “We trained in two sessions, has helped me get accustomed Jayawardene further said that test, the hosts did extremely well all three remaining games to avoid another letes born and bread in tropical one in the morning and one in to the conditions there,” the difference between the two to fight back against all odds series defeat against the Indians, who beat conditions have to face when the evening. The temperature is Wijethilaka told ‘The Island’in sides was that India’s confidence thanks to an unbeaten 93 by them 3-2 in August last year. they run in the Hong Kong low on both occasions. I don’t a telephone interview. has been high leading into the youngster Thilina Kandamby, play- Speaking to journalists ahead of the marathon which will be held on think the conditions in Hong Nuwara Eliya is currently series after convincing wins ing only his ninth ODI. The local third ODI, Jayawardene said that the team Sunday. Kong would be much different experiencing an average of 20 against Australia and England, spectators will be hoping that the had been in similar situations before and Currently the two athletes to the one we experience here in Celsius during day time and 7-8 whereas the Sri Lankans have team gets back into the series by are prepared for the challenge against the are training at Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya,” Kumarasinghe Celsius at night and the temper- struggled in recent months in winning the crucial third ODI. tourists. “We know if we lose tomorrow we along with country’s top said. ature in Hong Kong is expected ODIs. “There’s not much of a dif- lose the series. We have been in this situa- marathon runners. “The tem- “The four marathons are to range from 19 to 17 Celsius ference between the teams, but con- Sri Lanka (From): tion before and you don’t have to tell the perature at Nuwara Eliya was conducted in four different on the race day. fidence-wise, their’s is pretty high Sri Lanka (from): Mahela boys to raise their performances. They low. And I have been training in weather conditions. And I think The two runners will because they have been consistent Jaywardene (Capt), Kumar understand the mistakes they have made in this condition for quite a few we are taking part in one of the anchor the last leg of the in the past few months. That’s Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, different areas of our game. We have to be a weeks. I think this experience toughest marathon of the four. marathon series which had its probably something that we lack.“ Upul Tharanga, Chamara bit more consistent with our all-round has driven out worries of bat- The weather conditions in Hong first three legs in Nairobi, Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, T. M. game,” Jayawardene told journalists, yes- tling out cold weather in Hong Kong will be tough for us. Cold Singapore and Mumbai terday. Malinga to play fourth Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, weather is just one part of the respecitvely. He also stressed the need for consisten- ODI? Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha There’s also talk of fast bowler Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga making a come- Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan back in the final two ODIs. Since Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara Colombo Super League Basketball undergoing knee surgery, on his Mirando and Angelo Mathews. return to domestic cricket, the 25- India (from): M. S. Dhoni year-old has done reasonably well. (Captain), Gautam Gambhir, Moratuwa and Wennappuwa emerge winners The selectors have named the Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, by Manjula D.