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It's a myth we can't play bounce
The key to batting in Australia is being positive both about hitting the ball and leaving it
November 7, 2007
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For the first time in my career I'm going to miss an international game with an injury. I've played 67 Tests, so it's not a bad run. I'm very upset that I tore my hamstring in Adelaide, as I've been looking forward to this series for some time, and I don't think we'll be back in Australia for a while.
On Thursday I'll be very upset and a bit jealous to see everyone on the field. It's the 50th Test at the Gabba, Muttiah Muralitharan is chasing the record, and the whole team is looking to win a Test in Australia for the first time - there's so much to enjoy. I know I'm still a part of it - I'll be running drinks, watching the guys play, and hoping everything goes to plan - and it's great to be able to stay back and be part of the team.
The average recovery time for this type of injury is three weeks and the team management could have said, "It's touch and go, go home." I'm really grateful I was allowed to stay and witness the guys taking on Australia.
The chances look pretty good that I'll get back for the second Test in Hobart next week if I do my rehab right. I started out working out thrice a day, and now I'm back to twice. Our physio, Tommy Simsek, has been great. I have to be careful not to rush back because a hamstring can re-tear easily and that could have me out for a while.
I don't think my not playing will be a great issue because we have a lot of quality players. And the way Prasanna Jayawardene has been going, I don't think there's going to be much difference. He's been one of the best batsmen of the tour and looked very good against Queensland on a surface where the ball was moving around. He batted really well at No. 7, so No. 6 or 7 should be the place for him to express himself.
There's been a bit of talk about people from the subcontinent not being able to play on bouncy tracks. That's a myth. We've had such a good pace attack over the past two years, and our guys have learned to deal with it. The question is how to deal with it consistently over a long period of time, but it's something the guys will work out.
The whole idea on a bouncy track is to stay right behind the ball and get on top of it. You have to be decisive, whether going back or forward, and take it from there. You've got to be even more basic when it's a bouncy track. Be positive, not just about hitting the ball but leaving it, and making sure you do that consistently through the day.
The Australians are a great bunch of guys, the easiest guys in the world to play hard on the field against and then go and have a drink with
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Another good thing about having such a strong pace attack is that Murali will have a lot of support. He comes on early when he's bowling at home, but I think that's going to change here. We've got the strength, with our pace bowlers, to get their batters out with the new ball and even the old ball. Murali loves the other guys getting wickets because it makes things a lot easier for him, as he can bowl in partnerships.
We've had a history of good competition with Australia and Sri Lankans have a lot of respect for Australians, who are very upfront about the game. We know they play hard, and that's the way we want to play the game.
We see a bit of each other when we compete. So far I've talked to Stuart MacGill, who I get on well with, and I've been out for dinner with Andrew Symonds and Murali. That was nice. They're a great bunch of guys, the easiest guys in the world to play hard on the field against and then go and have a drink with.
There are always a few things said here and there, just to get a reaction. Unless something really sensitive happens, I don't think anything should come off the field. Everyone has a dig at some point, but it's always in the right spirit. If it's tough out there, that's what really lifts your game. The key thing is to absorb whatever pressures there are: verbal, psychological or just with ball or bat.
You have pressure applied on you because they recognise you as a player of importance and you rise to the challenge: it's a contest. Then you walk off the field into the dressing room, then next door for a drink. Fingers crossed I'll be able to do that in Hobart.
Feeds: Kumar Sangakkara
Will Sri Lanka's batsmen be able to cope with the bounce in Australia?
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One of the pillars of the Sri Lankan team, Kumar Sangakkara is among the most
influential cricketers in world cricket. An attractive, free-stroking left-hand batsman, Sangakkara also possesses the temperament to compile big scores (and those have been coming ever more frequently since he gave up wicketkeeping to focus on batting). Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene hold the world record for the highest wicket partnership, 624 for the third, against South Africa at Colombo, of which his share was 287. Intelligent and articulate, he is a sharp-eyed strategist, and a sharper-tongued sledger.
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"I think he batted out of purpose and with selfishness. I am puzzled how he would surivive." I don't really think you know wat ur talking abt. Vandort is a great batsmen in the making. If you recal correctly, he was the only batsmen apart for mahela to get a respectable score. Not only did he manage bret lee's bounces well (an advatnge that comes out of being so tall) but he played the right strokes at the right time. In a game which herald so many young guys in the lankan outfit, Vandort did his bit and showed the selectors his potential. His strike rate was irrelevant....lanka were in no position to win that game not when they were 3/32 chasing 300 odd. It was all abt developing the young guys against the big guns!
Posted by Espionage on (November 08 2007, 07:15 AM GMT)Well what a disaster in not having Malinga in the side, he would have been a sure fire way of giving the Aussies some chin music. He is quick and unorthodox as well, he had the Bulls on the run and nearly turned things in Sri Lanka's favour during the practice match.We should have sriously thought of including him in the starting line up. The problem is who do we leave out? Our batting looks rather brittle with out Sangha and some of the top order is terribly out of touch so the decsion would have been to drop Malinga and reinforce the batting. I think we should have left Samarawera out and had Malinga in as he is a match winner.Samaraweera can save a game for us but he isn't a match winner.
Posted by Sanjay20000 on (November 08 2007, 02:41 AM GMT)Sri Lanka continue to amaze me with their selections. I would much rather have had Vaas left out for Malinga. I think that Malinga is the Trump card because he adds variety to the attack. Even if he does not get any wickets his unique action and pace makes the batsmen play him with great concentration. This makes them relax against guys like Mahroof and maybe even Thilan would have got wickets after a tight spell from Malinga.
Posted by ashanthaa on (November 07 2007, 23:03 PM GMT)I feel sorry for Sanga for not being able to contribute with his suited talent to play in bouncy tracks in a game of huge importance for Sri Lanka. If only he was in, I strongly believe that this is the best Sri Lankan team that toured Australia. We cannot afford to lose our intensity or eagerness to play and win the series due to losing one player. Someone else must step up and be a hero with talent and attitude. As we can see most knowledgeable fans have the idea of playing Mahroof in the first game. If we are to beat Aussies we have to think like they do or better and if they were in the same situation they would definitely include an all-rounder like Mahroof. Especially considering his recent form and performances in all forms of the game. I hope to see the best team we got out in the field giving their best to defeat the formidable adversary. May no prejudice or jealousy of few prevail on or off the field to tarnish this great battle on hostile soil. GO LIONS!
Posted by SNH68 on (November 07 2007, 18:39 PM GMT)Yes, I think they are capable of coping with the bouncing ball. I also think they should play Maharoof, in addition to the other three fast bowlers (Vass, Fernando and Malinga) and Murali.
Posted by kuja on (November 07 2007, 16:41 PM GMT)i think that the sri lankans will be fairly average on this pitch although they maybe aided by the end of warne and mcgrath.they are not without concerns aswell Muttiah Muralitharan might be out of match practice due to his injury though it is a definite he will pass warne in the series.australia have better batting feilding and captaincy as shown by the five nil whitewash wreaked onto england without a consistant warne and mcgrath.stuart clark will torment the sri lankans and hayden will bludgoen muttiah.
Posted by CricketPissek on (November 07 2007, 16:38 PM GMT)wonder if Kumar will be reading our comments since he'll be having a bit of free time :D A 2 match series is so tricky as far as getting combinations right. You can't afford to go all-guns-a-blazing at the risk of losing the 1st match! So usually the selection of the 1st Test's XI will be pretty conservative. Damn shame too 'cos this would mean guys like Tharanga and Maharoof may not get this invaluable experience of playing in Aussie soil, and potentially they could be key players for SL in a couple of year's time. Frankly, as solid as Vandort is he's too much of a liability in the field. The guy was born in the wrong generation :) Goodluck Gentlemen. I'll be watching at midnight GMT. Make some magic
Posted by Udoy on (November 07 2007, 16:03 PM GMT)I tink Sangakara is bein toooo modest. he is one of the best players cricket has seen. and his experience is vital for the lankans to overthrow the ausies. But not to draw conclusions the lankas are a very strong team. if jayawardane clicks good bye aussies. atapatu is back wit a vengence and jawasuria is as always aggerisive. jayasuria and jayardena are exceptional hookers and pullers of the ball. And with vandorts height advantage he can rele get on top of the ball.
Posted by Bling01 on (November 07 2007, 15:35 PM GMT)I want to see these great cricketers of our times to achieve new heights. Murali achieve his landmark without too much fuss. If I were the PR guy of Lankan team I would have kept Murali under wraps with as low profile as I possibly could manage for the fear of undue exposure and stress. Sure there are commercial concerns and all but given the historic occasion this is much bigger then that. Trumpet all the celebrations once he has achieved his target. Use unorthodox methods to get Marvan and Sanath some short ball practice. Hire a PR professional to handle meida and leave Murali to do what he does best.
Posted by Mr.Chinmay.V.Kelkar on (November 07 2007, 14:51 PM GMT)well srilanka can handle the bouncing ball but can they handle the aussie attitude???? I dont think so....