Jayawardene yearns for consistency – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749, which started today on March 26, 2012 at Galle and hopes to restore consistency in his side’s performances, which will help them dominate the tourists.
Lankans have not won a Test-match series since 2009 and hence, have dropped to the sixth position on ICC’s Test teams ranking. The skipper said that the only way to turnaround the situation is to perform on a regular basis.
"It (inconsistency) is something that we will try and rectify and be more consistent as a Test-playing nation and try and climb up that ladder," said the 34-year-old skipper.
The Asian Giants played their last Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in January 2012, where they had to face two humiliating defeats, despite managing to win their first Test match since late 2010. That was followed by another away trip Down Under, where
they contested in a Commonwealth Bank tri-series and emerged as the runners up, after putting in some impressive displays.
However, the Lankans disappointed in the recently concluded 2012 Asia Cup, where they lost all their preliminary matches against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
One of the reasons considered behind Lankans debacle remains the retirement of their legendary right-handed spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Muralitharan-c1864, who left cricket in July 2010. His departure put considerable pressure on their inexperience bowling lineup, which
has failed to deliver on a permanent basis.
Having clashed twelve times in the past, the English defeated the Lankans 6 times, conceding only 4 matches and drawing two. The Last time the Lankans won against the Poms was in 2007, when the reliable Murali was there to shoulder the responsibility, picking
three crucial wickets in the 2nd innings of the match, taking his side to victory.
Jayawardene believes the current Lankan side is pretty much capable of giving a tough time to the opposition, considering the experience the team has gained by playing together over the past few months.
“These two Test matches are very important for us and for the guys to switch back on. We have about six guys who are genuine Test players who will come into the squad. They have been training hard. The rest of the boys who have been touring, it's a good
challenge to switch back to the longer version," said the right-handed batsman.
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