PRIDE AT STAKE GURUSINHA LIKENS SECOND ODI TO A ‘FINAL’
Facing another ignominious first, Sri Lanka will come up against a resurgent Bangladesh in the second One Day International at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium today – a game classed as a ‘final’ by the hosts.
After losing the Test series earlier this month they find themselves one-nil down in the three-match series, and defeat today, or in Saturday’s final ODI, will give the Bangladeshis their first ever ODI series win over Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s newly-appointed Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha said the team was “pumped up” and that they were confident of turning the series around despite woeful recent performances.
“The team is really pumped up. After losing the first game we know the pressure is on us, because we don’t have many more chances to do it. This is like a main final for us. So the team is pumped up and we’re pretty confident that we can play much better than we did,” Gurusinha said. Given the circumstances surrounding the game, the players were ‘obviously’ under pressure Gurusinha said adding that they had spoken to individual players regarding their roles and responsibilities towards the team.
“Absolutely, there will be pressure on the individuals. (But) as a management team and coaching staff we look at certain skills we need to improve, and look at activities each person has to do and their own responsibilities. Because that is one thing we are trying to go to them and talk about what is their responsibility at the game each person does what they are supposed to do and give everything they have. (If they) come back and lose to Bangladesh that means Bangladesh has to play so well. That’s where we are more focusing on now and working with each individual now,” he explained.
Sri Lanka will be without Niroshan Dickwella, who completed his two one-day match suspension but was injured in training, and was replaced by all-rounder Dilruwan Perera. The hosts also added Nuwan Pradeep and Nuwan Kulasekera over fitness concerns to Suranga Lakmal. Gurusinha said Dickwella would play today’s game when speaking to reporters, but a press released by Sri Lanka Cricket later in the day ruled him out for the rest of the series.
“We have included Nuwan Pradeep and Nuwan Kulasekera to the squad. The main reason was because we were not sure about Suranga’s fitness because it can take 24-48 hours and we didn’t want someone to come in tomorrow morning. We thought it was good to get two people in and we have more options to look at,” Gurusinha said.
He also said that work was being done on the much lamented fielding standards of the team, and The team is really pumped up. After losing the first game we know the pressure is on us, because we don’t have many more chances to do it. This is like a main final for us. So the team is pumped up and we’re pretty confident that we can play much better than we did that while changes cannot be seen overnight, he was looking for steady improvement.
“I think it’s a lie to sit here and say our fielding has been good. It’s not. That’s an area that has been there for a while. We have put certain things in place but we’re not going to see anything overnight. But we’re trying to do certain things that will help in the short term, because it’s important for us to get our fielding up and running in the short term.
I thought in the last game we fielded well in patches but in one day, or any cricket, you can’t do that. You have to field 50 overs (the whole game) brilliantly and that lacked. We’re hoping that with the team we’re going to select that we’ll have more balance in that as well, and we will improve every day. The main thing is if we’re improving everyday then what we’re doing is right. If we’re not improving everyday then we have to go to the drawing board again,” Gurusinha said. “I think we have to focus a lot more on fielding, which is true. And when I say more (meaningful) match condition fielding sessions and I think that’s where the important thing is. Because you can have a lot of fielding out there, but match conditions are different. That’s where we’re trying to get that going a little, that will helps us in a short-term.”