The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia looking to stifle Jayasuriya

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Sunday, Jan 29, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Australia looking to stifle Jayasuriya

Perth : Australia will tailor its gameplan to try and stifle the flair of Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya when the two teams clash in their make-or-break triangular series limited overs clash in Perth on Sunday.

Acting Australian vice-captain Michael Hussey said on Saturday that the home side was well aware of the damage the veteran could cause and was making its plans accordingly. ``Obviously he's a huge boost for them,'' Hussey said.

``We all saw how well he played in Sydney so we definitely need to be a bit more specific in our plans when we try to get him out. He's obviously a key player for them — one with a lot of experience and obviously one with a lot of batting ability as well.

Jayasuriya flayed the Australian attack for 114 runs off 96 balls when the two teams first met in the series, just two days after stepping off a flight from Sri Lanka. In his second match, against South Africa, he scored 37 off 30 balls before being stumped.

Team officials said on Friday that the 36-year-old, who has more than 10,000 one-day international runs to his name, was expected to play after missing Sri Lanka's last match against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday with a thigh injury.

Hussey, standing in as vice-captain for Adam Gilchrist, who has been promoted to skipper in the absence of the resting Ricky Ponting, said the wicket at the WACA was perfect.

The teams (from): Australia: Adam Gilchrist (capt.), Simon Katich, Brad Hodge, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, James Hopes, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Brett Dorey, Glenn McGrath.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Upul Thangara, Kumara Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Michael Vandort, Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Russel Arnold, Muttiah Muralitharan, Akalanka Ganegama, Nuwan Kulasekara, Malinga Bandara. — AFP

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