da bet esporte： Sri Lanka’s cricketers have barely just returned home after winning theAsian Test Championship (ATC) but coach Dav Whatmore is not allowing hisplayers to wallow in glory
da leao： CricInfo14-Mar-2002Sri Lanka’s cricketers have barely just returned home after winning theAsian Test Championship (ATC) but coach Dav Whatmore is not allowing hisplayers to wallow in glory. His sights are firmly set on the forthcomingtour to England and preparations are back in full swing.”There was a fantastic feeling in the dressing room afterwards, especiallyafter being hammered in the inaugural championship in 1999, and it was atremendous performance, but now we want to keep that going,” said Whatmore.”We now have three weeks to prepare before a triangular in Sharjah – whichis also an important steeping stone for the 2003 World Cup – and then thetour of England.”According to Whatmore, there is plenty of work to be done: “We have to getused to the extra swing and need to practice hard with the Reader balls usedin England.”Generally speaking, we need to focus on the mindsets of the players,preparing them fully for what they are about to experience, both on and offthe field.”For example, they need to get used to the higher media exposure there willbe there, and the greater crowd noise in the stadiums there during the Testmatches. They have to trust themselves and blot out those exteriorinfluences.”But success in the ATC final at Lahore, their ninth straight win, means thatthe team will travel to England with confidence and Whatmore senses astronger mental approach to the game.”We seem to be in a grove at the moment,” says Whatmore. “Every matchsomeone is producing a top performance and were becoming a little bittougher as a team. The growing self-belief is evident.”Indeed, Whatmore rates their efforts in Pakistan highly. “I think that wasour best performance of our recent run, because the game was playedoverseas, against Pakistan with their strong fast bowling attack and on awell grassed wicket.”Whatmore was especially impressed with Kumar Sangakkara, who scored 230, thesecond highest score ever by a wicket-keeper.”He kept-wicket for the first 67 overs and then was out in the middlestraight away after Marvan (Atapattu) was dismissed,” he said. “It was anincredible performance and easily his best innings yet. He played shotsall-round the wicket, off both back and front foot, was solid in defense andespecially good when leaving the ball.”He showed just how well he is progressing as a player. His fitness issecond to none in the side after a lot of strength and running work andthat, in turn, has helped him improve his concentration.””The batsmen played good supporting roles. Sanath (Jayasuriya) grafted hardand responsibly for his runs, Mahela (Jaywardene) played a classy littleinnings, Russel (Arnold) was positive and Chaminda (Vaas) also chipped.”Vaas also played a crucial role with the ball, taking five wickets in thegame, including the crucial wicket of Inzamann-ul-Haq for 99 on the finalday with the second new ball.”There had been the fear in the back of our minds that the weather might robus of victory, but on the fifth day the skies were clear and Chaminda onceagain displayed his wicket taking ability. He swung the ball, was accurateand got his reward.”Generally speaking I was happy with the bowling, although Chaminda andBuddhika (Fernando) did bowl too many no balls. Murali bowled beautifullyand there were a lot of wicket taking balls from the seamers.”Perhaps we gave them too many runs in the first innings after asking thento bat, but it was a fast scoring ground and the pitch may have beenwell-grassed but it was also dry underneath, giving the batsman plenty ofopportunity to score runs.”
