News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 11 years ago
Rediff.com  » Cricket » Jayawardene demands more from team after stinging loss

Jayawardene demands more from team after stinging loss

December 28, 2012 13:02 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will take an injury-ravaged and demoralised outfit into the dead rubber Test in Sydney but has demanded his team to show more character after their trouncing by Australia in the second Test in Melbourne on Friday.

-Melbourne Test: Australia thrash Sri Lanka to seal series

Sri Lanka were bundled out for 103 in the second innings after managing only 156 in the first, to lose the Test by an innings and 201 runs in two-and-half days, and concede the three-match series 2-0.

Mahela JayawardeneThe insipid batting display was compounded by a woeful fielding effort littered with dropped catches and injuries to master batsman Kumar Sangakkara, seamer Chanaka Welegedara and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Sangakkara, the only batsman to show defiance in both Sri Lanka's innings, has been ruled out of Sydney with a broken finger courtesy of a Mitchell Johnson delivery, and Welegedara will also miss due to a strained hamstring.

Wicketkeeper Jayawardene is also a doubt after breaking a thumb after being whacked by another ball from seamer Johnson.

"Today I thought we needed to buckle down and bat well," said Jayawardene, who will step down as skipper of the Test side after Sydney with all-rounder Angelo Mathews likely to take the reins.

"We lost two wickets in no time in the first over which gave them a lot of momentum and then we just kept losing wickets.

"You can't pinpoint one thing and say that's where we went wrong... There were loose shots and a loss of concentration.

"At the same time, the Australians played some really good cricket as well. You can't take that away from them.

"We need to step up to the plate, we need to show character and really dig deep."

Jayawardene would do well to take his own advice, after failing twice at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to continue a poor series.

The 35-year-old captain has not surpassed 19 runs in his past six innings and the way he threw away his wickets in Melbourne signalled a player struggling for form.

After being caught behind for three wafting at a delivery he should have left alone in the first innings, Jayawardene was out for a duck in the second innings after playing onto his stumps when shaping to leave the ball.

"It's something that I need to sit down and see where I can go right. I haven't spent enough time in this series at all," Jayawardene said.

"But three-four overs is not enough for me to assess where I need to be in this series. It's not just individuals as a team, we all need to take responsibility for this."

Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024