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It was a collective effort: Jayawardene

Special Correspondent

‘Sri Lanka targeted India’s pivotal players’

COLOMBO: Mahela Jayawardene, the victorious Sri Lankan captain, said his side’s success in the three-Test series was powered by various members contributing at vital stages.

“It was a very hard series, and it drained a lot out of us,” said Jayawardene after the eight-wicket win in the third Test. “I thought the difference was that we had contributions from different players in the series. Whenever we needed someone to put their hand up they did.”

Sri Lanka, Jayawardene said, targeted India’s pivotal players and aimed to control them. “When you play a team like India, you need to identify certain individuals and attack them. Sachin (Tendulkar) is a big part of their batting, and they do bank on him, Rahul (Dravid), and probably Sourav (Ganguly) to an extent.

“We knew we had to control those guys in the middle because that’s where their nucleus is. I also think we handled Anil (Kumble) well through the series. We frustrated him.”

Jayawardene, who wore a wide smile during the post-match press conference, also translated for Ajantha Mendis, whose 26 wickets were series-turning.

Did the mystery spinner think he’d break the record for the most wickets in a debut three-Test series?

“He had no thoughts whatsoever,” said Jayawardene, looking at Mendis as he translated. “He just wanted to bowl with Murali.”

What if Mendis weren’t discovered? “Then Murali would have picked up 40 wickets and we’d have still won,” said Jayawardene, with a straight face.

The Sri Lankan skipper said he was happy being part of an exciting Test series, where “everyone was playing for a win, everyone was very positive and result-oriented.”

Both sides, he added, played attacking and attractive cricket. “This is what Test cricket is about. It’s not boring, it’s very entertaining.”

What was his take on the referral system? “I still believe in this Test series, there were quite a few decisions which we would have been disappointed with in the dressing room,” said Jayawardene.

“In this series we managed to turn it around and say we got the right decision at the right time. Room for improvement definitely, but this is the way forward. The bowlers are getting a bit more of the benefit of the doubt which is a good thing.”

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