Calcutta: Sri Lanka’s senior-most pro, Mahela Jayawardene, who made his last appearance in the national colours at home this week, recently spoke to The Telegraph. Among the finest in his generation, Mahela finished his Test career with 11,814 runs (34×100, average of 49.84).
In ODIs, he could add substantially to the 12,247 runs before he signs off at the upcoming World Cup. Mahela, a former captain, is 37.
Q: You’re through with Tests and T20s, but the 2015 World Cup is still driving you…
A. Sure… Two years ago, I gave a commitment to the selectors and I’ll be seeing that through. If the World Cup wasn’t there early next year, I would have retired from all three formats in August itself.
Q:Isn’t it a challenge to stay motivated for one format only?
A. Well, it’s for a short period… Till March… Motivation isn’t an issue. This period is actually good for me, for I can focus on the World Cup and, hopefully, finish on a high.
Q: Your T20 career ended with Sri Lanka winning the World T20, in April…
A. That was brilliant, wasn’t it?
Sri Lanka have a good record in the World Cup… Champions in 1996, finalists in 2007 and in 2011…
(Smiles) Winning the next one would provide the perfect icing on the cake for me. We’ll be up against quality teams and just need to challenge ourselves, just need to keep pushing hard. We need to follow the processes and get into the mindset we had in the past few ICC tournaments. We play within our limitations and, usually, come up with a game plan which works.
Q: Why is it that Sri Lanka failed to get across the line both in 2007 and in 2011?
A. One reason is that when the big moments came, we made more mistakes than the opposition… We couldn’t get past the hurdles in Bridgetown and in Mumbai. However, in this year’s World T20 final, we did make it across the line, in Dhaka. That’s encouraging. As a team, we try and take out the positives even if a big match hasn’t gone our way… One moves on… Having said that, we have a good record in ICC tournaments and are very proud of that. To repeat, we need to keep pushing ourselves.
Q: While Sri Lanka’s batting is strong, there’s a question mark over the bowling. Your thoughts?
A. You could say the current lot still has to get to where Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and (Chaminda) Vaas were, but we conjure up something which works out fine for us. As a team, we have the confidence to win.
Spearhead Lasith Malinga is recovering from surgery on his left ankle…
One is hoping that Lasith is going to be available for the latter part of the engagements in New Zealand (the seven-match ODI series begins on 11 January). We don’t want to rush his comeback. The ankle problem may not be there, but because he’s been off international cricket for some months, he could injure some other part of his body. We’re confident that Lasith will be ready for the World Cup, but we need to build him up slowly.
[Malinga, one understands, is back at nets in Colombo. However, right now, he’s bowling off a shortened run-up. That, too, for short periods.]
Q: At this stage, the favourites for the World Cup?
A. It’s tough making a prediction… I don’t think there’s much of a gap between teams. The top-eight Test-playing nations would, I reckon, stand a good chance.
Q: Because of the conditions, don’t Australia and South Africa start with an advantage?
A. Yes, but don’t forget New Zealand… They have a good bowling attack for their conditions and, in Brendon McCullum, they have an aggressive and inspirational captain. India, too, have a very good team. Overall, though, I think it will be an open World Cup.
India are touring Australia and Sri Lanka’s Test squad is in New Zealand. Generally, though, teams from the subcontinent find the conditions there pretty intimidating…
Look, teams from our region have the talent to overcome challenges. It’s about having the right mindset. It’s about being absolutely clear in the mind on how to approach the World Cup.
Q: What would be the best approach?
A. (Passionately) To enjoy the challenge of competing against the best.
Q: Mindset apart, what’s going to be critical?
A. Rhythm, both for the batsmen and for the bowlers… You have to move away from the stereotypes… And, a bad day has to be avoided at all cost.
Q: What does it take to make it count in the 50-over format?
A. The basics are the same in any format. For a batsman, that translates to hitting the ball, plain and simple… While the skill remains the same, the approach does vary, particularly when you have Test cricket on the one hand and the two shorter formats on the other. In a Test match, you’ll focus more on defence, on concentration and on your discipline. Much of all that will apply in ODIs as well, but in a different way.
In T20, you’ll be more aggressive and innovative. The format demands that. Basically, as time goes on, you need to evolve.
Q: Finally… 17 years at the crease is one long innings…
A: I’ve already told you that it has been fun… I began at the right time (in 1997), with the Sri Lanka team having a lot of experience… This journey has also been challenging and I’ve seen the birth of the third format. I’m glad that, right through, I’ve been able to challenge myself.
