da 888： Hashan Tillakaratme, Sri Lanka’s 35-year-old Test captain, has vowed to makeup for lost time and continue to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka as long aspossible
Wisden CricInfo Staff08-Nov-2003Hashan Tillakaratme, Sri Lanka’s 35-year-old Test captain, has vowed to makeup for lost time and continue to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka as long aspossible. Claiming he’s fit, healthy and, most importantly, still hungry forsuccess, Tillakaratne has made it clear that he has no retirement plans.©CricInfo”After two years out of the team I have a lot of catching up to do,” writesTillakaratne in the official England tour souvenir for Sri Lanka Cricket. “Imay be 35-years-old but I am fit, agile and hungry for success. I want toplay many more Test matches for Sri Lanka.”Tillakaratne had spent two years in the wilderness after the 1999 World Cup,a disastrous tournament for Sri Lanka that precipitated the implementationof a radical youth policy by the selectors. When he finally returned, aftertwo seasons of heavy scoring in the domestic competition, he scored a stackof runs, claiming back a regular place.Then, when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped down as Sri Lanka captain earlier thisyear, Tillakaratne assumed the captaincy – a surprise choice from theselectors. But now, after a drawn home series against New Zealand and a 1-0defeat in the Caribbean, Tillakaratne is under pressure to perform. Defeatagainst England would almost certainly end his tenure.©ReutersBut Tillakaratne, an adhesive player who clearly revels in adversity,rejects criticism that his captaincy has been too negative thus far, arguingthat with greater luck Sri Lanka could have bagged their last two Testseries against New Zealand and West Indies.”We failed to win my first two Tests series in charge, against New Zealandand West Indies, but the margin between success and failure is small and,with some more luck and a bit more application, we could have won both,” hesays in his column.”Against New Zealand, we were let down by our catching in the first Test. Wespilled an unacceptable number of chances. Then, in the second Test, we wereunfortunate to lose so much time to the poor weather. In the end we wereleft with too few overs to chase a modest victory target.”The first Test in the West Indies was rain-affected and drawn. We playedcreditably. In the second Test we were in the hunt for a series win.However, we batted badly in the second innings. Had we dismissed Brian Laraearlier in the final run chase – which we so nearly did – it could so easilyhave been a different result.”© AFPHe’s looking forward to taking on the challenge of facing the English, and achance of securing some payback from two heavy defeats in the last twoseries between the sides, particularly the painful 2-1 loss at home in 2001.”This series, against a newish-looking English outfit, we need to pulltogether all departments of our game,” he says. “Although I didn’t play inthe last home series against England, my assessment was that we did more tolose the series than England did to win it. We must be tougher and play toour potential.”England have a sturdy top five that is stacked full of experience,” hesays. “One of the keys will be to make early inroads into this powerful toporder and put pressure on a lower middle order weakened by the absence ofAlec Stewart.”We have the bowlers to do that, especially the hard-working Chaminda Vaaswith his skilful swing bowling and Muttiah Muralitharan, a bowler who issurely destined to become the highest wicket-taker in Test history.”But we cannot rely solely on this pair. We have done so too much in thepast and that has held back our development. We need the bowlers to click asa unit. The support bowlers must maintain the pressure created by Murali andChaminda.”Once again our batsmen must be on guard. Our batting, especially the middleorder, has not lived up to expectations during the past year. It’s essentialthat we knuckle down to play with discipline and determination. The goodnews is that most of the top order has found good form in the currentdomestic tournament.Tillakaratne hopes that an extended four-month break for the players sincethe last tour will have a positive effect: “We are fortunate to have had aproper break. After nearly two years of non-stop cricket everyone needed tospend time with their families to refresh the mind and body. We should nowbe hungry and sharp.”