Need to win first game: Sangakkara
First Published : 08 Feb 2012, 10:22
Last Modified : 08 Feb 2012, 10:22
Perth, Feb 8: As Sri Lanka head into their first match of the CB series, former captain Kumar Sangakkara said that the touring team was prepared to stake a claim to the title. He hoped his side would execute their plans well and go one-up in the series by beating India to whom they lost the World Cup final last year.
Excerpts from his pre-match TV interview:
On the only practice game they had being rained off
Can’t complain about it too much; that’s the way the weather goes. We have just come from South Africa so we have been playing over the last few months. We have done some good preparation over the last few days and [we are] looking forward to our first game.
On whether playing in South Africa was preparation enough for playing in Australia
Better playing in South Africa than anywhere else, for that matter, coming here, but all wickets are different. The sides are different, the attacks are different so you just have to get used to everything from square one. Our training has been pretty good. We have tried to adjust as quickly as we can and you need to do that because you need to hit the ground running and win the first game.
On whether they had an edge over India as regards fast bowling in the conditions
The edge really is in the way you exploit your resources so we would like to wait and see how we go out there and execute our plans […] And do everything we can to go one-up. The end result is going to be the key but the processes like exploiting our seam bowlers, [and] ensuring that we put up or chase down the totals, those are the key factors; and fielding well.
On starting their campaign at the WACA, one of the fastest wickets in the world
This is a great wicket. The last time we had a great T20 game here. There is good bounce and carry, it’s good for the pacers and also good for the batsmen once you get set. It’s going to be a great match. The WACA is always a great place to play [given] all the tradition and history of the wicket. Players really look forward to playing here. I have my fingers crossed [that] we will be able to go out there and do what’s needed to win.
