Jayawardene backs Mathews as his successor in Test and ODI format as well – Cricket News Update
All set to step down as the Sri Lankan Test and ODI skipper at the end of the ongoing tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 to replace him at the helm.
"Angelo is the one everyone has earmarked, and I think he is good enough," said Jayawardene while speaking to media reporters at the customary match-eve media conference in Hobart ahead of the first Test against Australia, on Friday.
Earlier, the 35-year-old Colombo-born top-order batsman revealed that the ongoing tour Down Under will be his last series as captain. Jayawardene, who had resigned from captaincy in 2009 after four years in charge, was reinstated as the national skipper in January this year, following the Lankan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691.
Jayawardene’s appointment at the helm appeared to restore the Islanders' on-field fortunes, as the side endured an impressive run over the last 10 months, which also saw them reaching the World T20 Championship final, before losing to the ultimate champions West Indies. The Colombo star had relinquished the T20 captaincy to his deputy Mathews soon after the esteemed tournament, and is now looking forward to him taking charge of the Test and ODI sides as well.
"If Angelo gets the opportunity...maybe the first few years will be tough for him but...the transition will be much easier for him because he'll have Kumar, myself and Dilshan around him in tough situations. We can build him through that period and after that he'll be on his own," said Jayawardene.
"We don't have a lot of cricket next year - not many big tours. So it will be a nice easy start for Angelo if he takes over," the outgoing Sri Lankan skipper added further.
Mathews, the 25-year-old all-rounder has been considered for the role as far back as April 2011, when former skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 stepped down after guiding the side to the 50-overs World Cup final. However, the promising all-rounder missed out on the opportunity in favour of experienced Dilshan, given his youth and inexperience. He was made the vice-captain of the national side in all-forms in July 2011.
If given the reins of the Lankan Lions, Mathews will be Sri Lanka's fourth Test captain in 24 months.
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