Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene wants to play in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but says it was a huge challenge to hang around for that long.
“That’s a marker, a milestone. But there are no guarantees,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying by Wisdon.
“It all depends on my hunger to perform, my form. Honestly, I can’t be certain I’ll still be around, but it’s a challenge that I have to look at every six months. I have to take stock of my game and see if I’m contributing enough. If I’m hitting the numbers that I have in my head, doing well for the team, then definitely I’d like to play the next World Cup,” he said.
Jayawardene, 36, relinquished his captaincy duties early this year in order to make way for Angelo Mathews but his place in the side is almost guaranteed in the transition period where selectors have brought in several young players into the national side.
Jayawardene believes that the young crop of cricketers including skipper Angelo Mathews will form the nucleus of the team in the future.
“The investments that we have made with Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal, along with Angelo Mathews, are guys we think will play for a longer period as long as they keep improving and developing. Kusal Janith Perera has the potential in the future to change his game and become a good Test cricketer for us. Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dimuth Karunaratne … these are the guys who will form the nucleus of the team,” he was quoted as saying.
But Jayawardene said that their success at the highest level depend on how focused they are.
“It depends on how focused they are, how they develop, how they play at the highest level. The first year or two will be a honeymoon and then they will be really challenged. That’s when the tougher guys, the more focused ones will carry through. I’m happy with the talent we’ve got,” he added.
