“We have options against Pak”
Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene speaks exclusively to espnstar.com and sounds out a warning to Pakistan ahead of the final.
By Pamela Dutta
Q: How confident are you about winning the final?
MH: We are pretty hopeful that we will win the ICC World Twenty20 Championship this time.
Q: You did really well in Trent Bridge. The wicket here suited the spinners.
MH: We are pretty confident with any kind of wicket. Of course, the nature of Nottingham wicket did help us. But we are ready with our medium pace bowling also. Our pace bowlers did well against the West Indies in the semi-final at the Oval.
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Q: There will be a little more bounce in the Lord's wicket in the final. How do you plan to cope with that?
MH: We have got a very balanced attack. Actually there is a nice balance both in the batting and bowling departments. We are flexible and have the right players for the right job.
Q: True. How do you see the final?
MH: We have got confidence and the right attitude. We have so many options in the bowling department that we even brought Muttaih Murlitharan in the fourth over against the Windies. We have a few batsmen who can also bowl well. So our captain Kumara Sangakkara will have a lot of options.
Q: You are also in great form. How do you manage to maneuver in the shortest version of the game?
MH: Ultimately batting is very simple. You have to bring your bat straight. If you can do that ,you are bound to get success. You have to take risks to accelerate the run-rates. There also, the straight bat plays a key role in scoring at a faster rate.
Q: Will you tell us something about the enthusiasm back home in Sri Lanka?
MH: Cricket is also a religion in our country. They always back us even when we loose. We are getting news from back home that the countrymen have gone crazy now. They want us to win and get the trophy back home.
Q: Did you expect Ajantha Mendis to be an instant hit in T20 cricket?
MH: We have no doubt about his talent. He is a cool customer. Although he does not have great experience in international cricket, he knows how to adapt and adjust in different conditions.
Q: Your journey in the ICC World Twenty20 has been a memorable one.
MH: We never thought that we would reach the final. We decided to go ahead one step before every match. Like we did not concentrate for the semi final at all. We wanted to beat one after another. We spent a good amount of time as far as preparations were concerned. We are blessed with talented cricketers. We have the right mixture of young and experienced cricketers. All these factors helped us in reaching the final. We have to be calm during the final. I find no reason why we cannot manage to win the final. The whole country is praying for our victory which is a great strength for my team.
The ICC World Twenty20 2009 has been a story of spinners shining in the shorter format of the game. Write in to us with your thoughts at:fanspeak@espnstar.co.in
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