Success beckons for Sri Lanka

Marvan Atapattu feels he has much to offer © Getty Images

With the World Cup just over two weeks away the Sri Lanka camp is in bullish mood and keener than ever to relive the glory days of 1996, when they were crowned world champions.

The islanders are only joint-third favourites behind Australia and South Africa for the tournament in West Indies, but both captain and coach have been talking up their chances of success.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who was still learning his trade on the domestic front when Arjuna Ranatunga lifted the trophy in Pakistan 11 years ago, believes he is capable of emulating the former captain.

“I am confident we have a very good chance of winning the World Cup,” he said. “We have been competing quite well abroad and as such we are more than ready to adapt to the conditions.

“As our mindset is to win the World Cup we will focus on all 16 teams and not just a few. We will not take any team lightly.”

Mahela Jayawardene is hoping to add a World Cup to his array of ODI medals © Getty Images

Looking at pedigree of the opposition on display at the tournament, the 29-year-old warned that anyone could be successful and his team had to be at their best.

“With regards to Australia’s poor show against New Zealand, they can't be written off. They are bound to come at you very hard.

“It is an open tournament and we will have to play very well. Also, the fact that we are low in the world rankings doesn’t bother us as it is how you play on the day which really matters.”

Jayawardene was also grateful for praise heaped on the team by former players, who are optimistic of a good showing.

“I do know that the expectations are very high and it was nice to hear former player Aravinda De Silva saying a lot of nice things about us.

“It is a confidence booster, no doubt. But our focus will be on the job at hand,” added the captain.

Another player who is grateful for support shown by ex-players is Jayawardene’s predecessor, Marvan Atapattu, also part of the championship-winning squad.

“It is good to hear past greats having confidence in us,” he said. “But I will not want to talk about that team as it has been 11 years since 1996 and cricket has seen a lot of changes since then.”

At 36, Atapattu’s place in the team has been questioned due to his constant injury worries and age. But he is not ready to quit just yet and is sure he has plenty still to offer.

“I must at the outset state that I am willing to bat at any position as long as I can get in to the starting 11. It is for the management to decide where I should bat.

“With regards to my future I will decide after April. But I must say that God has given me talent and I want to make good use of it for as long as I can.”

While the team have been preparing for the tournament, coach Tom Moody made a speedy trip to the Caribbean to assess the overall set-up and was clearly impressed.

“I visited all the venues and found the facilities to be outstanding,” he said. “However the pitches at new venues hadn’t been used recently and are unknown.

“However, we do know the pitches of the first-round games as the boys have played there.

“I must say that the journey to the West Indies was worthwhile and teams with the right balance and discipline should be able to do well. I am happy to state that we have both,” added the former Australia all-rounder.