Sri Lankans eye breakthrough win

Friday, 22 October 2010 03:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

APP: Vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene believes Sri Lanka have their best chance ever to achieve a breakthrough series win on Australian soil.

Australia’s form slide, their Ashes focus and the tourists’ improved one-day strength, particularly on the road, has Jayawardene confident of ending a 26-year drought Down Under.

Since playing their first international clash in Australia in 1984-85, the Sri Lankans have never won a Test or limited-overs series here.

The closest they went was in 2005-06 when they took Ricky Ponting’s team to a third final in the tri-series, while the nucleus of Arjuna Ranatunga’s 1996 World Cup-winning squad was shut-out 2-0 in the 1995-96 finals.

Batting stalwart Jayawardene, who last year handed over the captaincy to Kumar Sangakkara, and assistant coach Stuart Law felt the time was right for the world No.4-ranked team in the three-match one-day series.

Sri Lanka defeated India in their recent tri-series at home while Australia, who are resting key men before the Ashes, are currently struggling for success on the sub-continent.

“We’ve improved quite a bit in the last couple of years and our away form is pretty good, that’s something we’ve always been trying to improve,” Jayawardene said ahead of Friday’s tour opener against Queensland at the Gabba.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us.

“It’s going to be a bit tough for (Australia), with a bit of a hectic schedule.

“Some of them will be fresh and some of them won’t be fresh but Australia is Australia.”

Law, who returns to Brisbane where he led Queensland to five Sheffield Shield triumphs, warned Sri Lanka were ready to slip under the home team’s guard.

“It’s not a nothing series,” he said. “I can see where Australia’s at at the moment, they have bigger things in mind, they’ve got the Ashes.

“But it doesn’t matter mate, we’re playing against Australia and we know they’re tough in their own backyard and we have a pretty good chance.

“We’re not coming here to make up the numbers.”

The tourists are planning to play close to their strongest available team against the Bulls in the day-nighter with Sangakkara shrugging off a hamstring problem and all-rounder Angelo Matthews to bat but not bowl.

But Law said returning spinner Muttiah Muralidaran and pace spearhead Lasith Malinga (knee niggle) may be rested if they were not fully fit.

Queensland: Chris Simpson (capt), Nathan Reardon, Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Chris Lynn, Craig Philipson, Jason Floros, Chris Hartley, Ben Laughlin, Nathan Rimmington, Chris Swan, Cam Boyce.

Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralidaran, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal.