2-0 whitewash in Test series antidote for ODI success

A winning combination: Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya and White Ball Captain Charith Asalanka 

• Jayasuriya says “Australia was brilliant in the Tests but in ODIs we outplayed them because we didn’t give them an inch to come back”
• Points to Charith’s century under pressure as best innings he has ever seen

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The 2-0 whitewash they suffered at the hands of Australia in the Warne-Murali Trophy two-Test series was the antidote the Sri Lanka cricket team needed to uplift themselves for the two ODIs that followed which they won 2-0.  

“Losing the Test series 2-0 in our own conditions was a big disappointment and the players felt sad they could not deliver. Normally in a Test series you will find batsmen getting at least 3-4 centuries and bowlers taking five-fers. It didn’t happen in this series and we couldn’t dominate in both Tests,” said Sri Lanka’s head coach Sanath Jayasuriya reflecting back on the ODI series.

“Coming to the ODI’s there was disappointment and the players were a bit down, but I told them that we are playing against the no. 1 ranked team and it won’t be easy because if you give them an inch they will grab it and they are very good at it. Australia always tries to destroy the opposition from the first ball and won’t allow the opposition to raise its head. The coaching staff with the Captain Charith Asalanka had a good discussion on how to tackle the Australians. We had several plans to execute and we executed it very well. Someone had to play a long innings and we targeted a total of 240-250. We told the batting unit it would be difficult in the early stages because the matches were starting in the morning and we had a small doubt about how the ball would behave. We had not played morning games for a long time. But still, if we won the toss we had to bat first. That was the challenge for the batsmen. We planned for our batting unit to undertake that challenge, and we executed it well.”“In the first ODI, the ball started to move around unbelievably, but that was the risk we had to take. I had faith in the batting unit but Charith went and played an amazing innings. I have played over 400 ODIs and scored over 13,000 runs but in the situation Sri Lanka were in (55/5), it was the best innings I have seen. I have never seen during my time as a cricketer anyone scoring a hundred in similar circumstances. Charith was under tremendous pressure. With the ball darting around it was not an easy wicket to bat on but the way he managed himself was unbelievable. His innings brought tears to the eyes of many. It was such an emotional knock. You cannot forget Dunith Wellalage and Janith Liyanage. But what I liked most was the way bowler Ishan Malinga gave support to Charith. When Sri Lanka scored 214 from the position they were in, it gave a tremendous confidence boost to the entire team. After that we bowled and fielded. We had to win the first game of a series. It is difficult to come from behind because you put unnecessary pressure on the players. Asitha Fernando with three early wickets set the momentum for the rest of the bowlers. They brought out their individual character 100 percent in this game. The confidence was very high for the second ODI. The wicket was too flat and it was a batting wicket. We needed one player to get runs on the board and Kusal Mendis obliged. That’s the key difference between Test cricket and ODI cricket.”

“Kusal is a talented player whom I always like. He is hard working. Charith is an unbelievable player, a good captain but a long way to go. He is a good listener. That’s how it should be and he is a hard worker. Dunith (Wellalage) is a very good up and coming cricketer for our future. We have to look at Charith and Wella and see what we should do with them. Whether we are going to introduce them to red ball cricket as well. These are the question marks coming up for the future. Janith Liyanage is an unknown player who is batting really well. We need to give a lot of credit. He comes to bat in the middle during crisis situations and does a lot to the team. Even though his innings are not highlighted very much we should give him a lot of confidence, the way he handles situations under pressure. Those are the positive things.”

Jayasuriya rated the series wins against India and Australia high on his list as Head Coach. “Those two teams can play under any condition and they are very good with the bat, with spin and pace. Australia was brilliant in the Tests but in the ODIs we outplayed them because we didn’t give them an inch to come back.”

Jayasuriya was thankful to the team’s support staff for giving him the fullest support. “All the coaches are giving their 100%. Since we are a local coaching staff we have tremendous pressure to perform and a responsibility towards the country. Unlike a foreign coach, we have a passion because I am a Sri Lankan. There are tours where we might not do well but we should not put the coaches under pressure but give them the support all the time. They are a very dedicated unit and work very hard.”

Jayasuriya also thanked the public for their support. “When we were losing wickets in the first ODI the spectators were very helpful. They were cheering for every run. That is something I have never seen. After every defensive stroke played by Ishan Malinga they cheered.”

Malinga batted 26 balls for his one run helping his captain Asalanka build up a record ninth wicket partnership of 79.

“That’s the kind of support we got in the first game. I thank the spectators who came to the first ODI, they were really behind our cricketers. That kind of support is very good for the players.”