da bet nacional： Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya called upon his exuberant team to play theirnatural game as Sri Lanka strive to win their first ever Test series againstSouth Africa during the next two weeks
Charlie Austin07-Nov-2002Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya called upon his exuberant team to play theirnatural game as Sri Lanka strive to win their first ever Test series againstSouth Africa during the next two weeks.The two sides meet on Friday at the magnificent Wanderers Stadium inJohannesburg for the first of two Tests with the odds stacked heavily infavour of Shaun Pollock’s side.Sri Lanka have only one solitary victory in 12 attempts against SouthAfrica. Moreover, they have an appalling overall Test record outside thesub-continent with only three wins in two decades.Conditions are expected to favour South Africa with plenty of pace andbounce in the pitch set to assist the home side’s battery of seam bowlers.But Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s most successful captain in history, who has ledhis side to 13 wins in their last 16 matches, is confident that his side canprosper if they play to their strengths.”It is going to be very hard work winning here in South Africa but ourpreparation has been good and we can win. To do so, whether there is extrabounce or not, we have play our natural game,” said Jayasuriya.Sri Lanka have started well, particularly the batsmen who have all spentvaluable time at the crease during the two warm-up games at Kimberly andLenasia.”The boys have been trying hard to adapt to South Africa conditions and wehave made maximum use of our two practice matches,” said Jayasuriya.”All the batsmen have spent time at the crease and every one is looking goodat the moment – we now have to continue that in the middle during the Testmatch.””We have to perform in every department of the game if we are going to win.We have to take all the half chances that are offered.”Crucially, the batsmen are going to have to spend a lot of time at thecrease – if we get the runs then the bowlers can do the job.”Coach Dav Whatmore was equally upbeat, clearly delighted with the mannerthat the side have adapted to conditions thus far.”In the three years that I have been in charge this is probably the bestpreparation that we have had,” said Whatmore. “We will have to wait and seewhether this translates into performance in the Tests but I think we are onthe right track.”Sri Lanka are also free of the injuries that had plagued their last Testtour to England, exposing their lack of depth in the bowling department.This makes selection a near formality. The top six pick themselves withall-rounder Hasantha Fernando making his debut at number seven and a quartetof specialist bowlers that includes Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, RuchiraPerera and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.Perera will be playing his first game since being reported for having asuspect bowling action during the first Test at Lord’s.Despite conditions that are expected to favour the fast bowlers Whatmorebelieves that Muralitharan, who has a fantastic record against South Africawith 70 wickets at 21.37 from 10 games, will still prove a handful.”Like batsmen, bowlers have to perform in all conditions and this is achallenge for Murali, who like any champion bowler thrives on hard work,”said Whatmore.However, Whatmore believes that it’s essential for the fast bowlers to playtheir part: “We have been spoilt with a bowler like Murali but fast bowlersalso have to share the workload and perform if we are going to win thegame.”Russel Arnold will open the batting with the inform Marvan Atapattu afterscoring a painstaking 98 in the second innings against a ‘Rest of SouthAfrica’ side at Lenasia. Jayasuriya will bat at number five.Final Eleven:Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara,Mahela Jaywardene, Hashan Tillakaratne, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas,Dilhara Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Muttiah Muralitharan.