Mahela Jayawardene wants Mathews to contribute as a player – Cricket News
Sri Lanka’s former captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 but believes that the all-rounder needs to contribute towards the team’s cause as a player as well.
Jayawardene gave up the captaincy after the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, beating England by a comprehensive
margin of seven wickets after losing their opening encounter against New Zealand.
The former skipper is satisfied with Mathews’ performance as a captain in the two matches but feels that it is important for a skipper to lead from the front with personal performance. The middle-order batsman said that the senior
players like himself, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 are always there to help the young captain.
“The most important thing is that Angelo contributes as a player, which I've told him as well. He's a part of the XI, so it's not just about him as a captain,” said Jayawardene. “That's a secondary thing that will naturally come
to him when he is making calls around the field. There are a few senior heads out there as well, who can help him with that.”
Mathews scored just 9 runs in the opening match of the tournament and could not get the opportunity to bat in the second game against the hosts.
Jayawardene further added that the all-rounder has impressed him with his ability to absorb pressure. The cricketer from Colombo thinks that enjoying the captaincy at the highest stage of the game is the key to success.
"He looked pretty good, the way he handled the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 game and the England game. He's not rattled by tough situations and every game that he plays, he enjoys his captaincy,” he added.
The Lankan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 will play their final group match of the competition against Australia today at the Oval and have to register a win to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. Taking into account the current form of the
Australian team, Mathews and company will start the encounter as favourites.
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