Jayasuriya warns against complacency

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has warned his players against complacency ahead of a three-Test series against Zimbabwe starting on Thursday.

"We cannot be complacent against the Zimbabweans because you never know when they will come back and play well," said Jayasuriya.

"They've had a lot of international cricket. We can't relax at all just because we've been winning. Everything we have done so far is history. This is a new series."

Sri Lanka beat West Indies 3-0 in a Test series this month and won the final of a one-day triangular tournament, also including Zimbabwe, by beating the Caribbean side last week.

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore backed his captain's comments.

"It's a Test against any team you play, whether it's a really good side or one that seems to be not as good -- your performances still have to be the same," said Whatmore.

"Temperamentally the players need to know that. A lapse in concentration and a bad passage of play could result in something disastrous. That's what we have to guard against.

"We are now starting to play the sort of Test match cricket that we have been threatening to do," said Whatmore.

"There are always little things in a game you can improve on. But generally speaking, our batting and bowling in the longer game has been good."

DRY PITCH
With the likelihood of a dry pitch, Sri Lanka look set to go into the first Test with two seamers and two spinners, with left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratillake making the final 11.

Questions still remain about who will partner Chaminda Vaas with the new ball. Judging by the recent form of Nuwan Zoysa, Buddhika Fernando stands a good chance of selection.

The Zimbabwe team is not considered the strongest to tour Sri Lanka and lacks the experience of former captain and batsman Alistair Campbell and the leg-spin of Paul Strang.

They have also been badly hit by the absence of batsman Murray Goodwin, who on the last tour of Sri Lanka scored 184 runs at an average of 46 in the Test series.

Zimbabwe lost their only three-day practice match against a Board XI by five wickets on Sunday, and coach Geoff Marsh was unable to hide his disappointment.

"Obviously we would have liked to have gone into the Test with a win or a winning draw," Marsh said.

Despite Sunday's loss, Zimbabwe's batting showed some form as Trevor Gripper scored a century and former captain Stuart Carlisle made 98.

The series is likely to provide a fascinating contest between Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower, ranked number two in the world.

Muralitharan enjoyed his duel with another great left-hander, Brian Lara, in the series against West Indies.

Teams:
Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Tilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Budddhika Fernando, Niroshan Bandaratillake, Chamara Silva, Prabath Nissanka.

Zimbabwe (from): Brian Murphy (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Trevor Gripper, Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Gavin Rennie, Craig Wishart, Heath Streak, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Douglas Marillier, Gary Brent, Dion Ebrahim, Tatendra Taibu.

Umpires: Peter Manuel (Sri Lanka) and Riazuddin (Pakistan), TV Umpire: Tyronne Wijewardene, Match Referee: Cammie Smith (West Indies).

Also read:
- Jayasuriya guides Lanka to victory
- Windies beat Sri Lanka
- Vaas bags record 8 for 19

Mail Cricket Editor