They tested England in the Trafford Test match, but ultimately lost by five wickets. In Manchester’s chilly and overcast conditions, Sri Lanka were dismissed, but as the match went on, their batting improved.
With a hundred, Kamindu Mendis stood out among the group, followed by four other players with half-centuries. Asitha Fernando’s outstanding bowling performance made her an overnight sensation in the British press, and Prabath Jayasuriya’s accurate bowling troubled the Englishmen.
“I was confident they would succeed. During the Indian series, I advised the public to have faith in the players. They had only played one warm-up game, so it was difficult going into the Test series. To get used to the weather, we must play at least two warm-up games. However, given how tight the international calendar is, that is the reality.
“We have a lot of confidence now after Old Trafford – Sanath.”
“236 wasn’t enough in the first innings, but the lower middle order played with character. That gave us a great deal of confidence.”You must play with ardour. I am aware that I have a duty to serve my nation. I have responsibility to the citizens of my nation. Even though I work a part-time job, I want them to understand that they are representing their country when they play, so they should play with passion. That’s what I carried out.
When he captained the Lord’s Test in 2002, Jayasuriya, a former Test captain who made England follow on, stated that he wanted the top order to fire in the second Test, which begins on Thursday.
“I need at least one of the top three batters to score runs, so I want them to bat well. Even though Dimuth is hitting well, he is sadly getting out at a rate in the 20s, which is insufficient. They are not under any pressure from me. I have the utmost confidence in them.Three former captains have led the Sri Lankan team; although Dimuth has not yet produced, Jayasuriya was pleased with the performances of the other two, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal.
It’s great to see Kamindu handled things that way. Incredible knock from Angelo as well. Chandimal displayed integrity. He received three shots of painkillers after being struck in the thumb before he took the pitch. That’s the mindset I wish to witness. Then, he teaches others as well.
Tuesday and Wednesday will see Sri Lanka train at Lord’s, and despite the expensive ticket prices, a full house is anticipated for the match.
“We need to begin at the beginning. We are utilising Old Trafford’s advantages. At Lord’s, the conditions are completely different. Nothing should be taken for granted. I want another solid hundred from one of those top order batsmen if someone manages to get in.When Jayasuriya took over as coach, there was some criticism, but he has done a good job leading the team to a series victory over India after 27 years.
Positive feedback is something I will always welcome. I remove other things from my mind. I have work to do. I have a great deal of trust from SLC, cricket players, and support staff. Managing players is a crucial aspect of coaching; it’s not an easy task. I am aware of my culture, and we must uphold Sri Lankan ideals.
This time, can Sri Lanka win a Test match in England? To do that, we must play excellent cricket. To have a good chance, we need to win two sessions or more per day for five days.
