Despite his recent six wicket haul against India, Angelo Matthews tells espnstar.com that his job is to support the main bowlers.

By Pamela Datta 

Q: That six for 20 in six overs against India surely has changed your life!

A: I do not think so. I was the same Angelo then as I am now. Yes, it was good for me to take six wickets against a solid batting side like India. But due to the injury, I could not complete my quota of 10 overs. I wish I could bowl those four overs too.

Q: People are of the opinion that Sri Lanka has got their fourth M in you after Murali, Malinga and Mendis.

A: That's not true either. Murali, Malinga and Mendis are wicket takers and match winners on their own capacity. I am an all-rounder, whose job is to support the bowlers in the middle overs. That I got six wickets against India was really good for me since I could contribute to the team's win. I want to continue to do so but I need to develop more as a bowler. And so, it's unfair to keep me in the same bracket with the other three. All of them are established match winners for our country. 

Q: So, what are you doing to improve as a bowler?

A: I need to increase my pace by a few yards and I am working on it. My strong point is my consistency. So, increase pace does not mean I should lose my consistency. I have to maintain that while adding a few tricks. I am trying hard, let's see.

Q: Your first Test wicket was Younis Khan. How did it feel?

A: Well, it was out of the world, I must say! Playing the first Test for your country is what you dream about and I was over the moon to get the chance. When I was asked to bowl against Younis Khan, I knew there would be no margin for error for me since he is a top-class batsman. I wanted to hit the right areas and kept my cool. When he got out, it felt really great.

Q: What are the chances of Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy?

A: We should do well. We have done well recently, except in the final of the Tri-Series. But having played against India and New Zealand just prior to this tournament was a good learning experience for all of us. We have a balanced team and we are raring to go.

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Q: After you had won so easily in the group phase, what went wrong in the final?

A: I feel that was just a bad day in office for all of us. And Sachin Tendulkar, the phenomenon, was at his best in the final. Then when we went to bat, Harbhajan Singh got his rhythm and took five wickets to prevent us from any chances of successfully chasing the huge score. But this is a new tournament and we are looking ahead to play at the best of our potential.

Q: What about the wickets in South Africa?

A: I had the chance to see them during the IPL and I believe there will be something for the bowlers here.

Q: You represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. What went wrong for you?

A: For me, it was a learning experience to share the same dressing room with the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCulum and Chris Gayle. I sincerely believe that we did not play as badly as it appears now. With a bit of luck, we could have won a few games more and the whole scenario would have changed then. However, our batting did not click in the initial stages of the tournament.

Q: Next season, you might get Wasim Akram as your bowling coach in the IPL.

A: I am really looking forward to the opportunity of having Wasim Akram in the nets. He is a legend and one can learn a lot by talking to him. I am excited at the prospect, really.

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