September 26 Thursday 2002
Opening salvoes hold key against Australia: SL coach

COLOMBO: Coach Dav Whatmore believes Sri Lanka's ability to cope with Australia in the first fifteen overs of each innings could decide their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal on Friday (tomorrow).

The hosts are likely to face aggressive pace bowling from Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, while Australia's opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden have the ability to dominate any bowling line-up. 

But Whatmore said that if his players made a good start they could be well secure a place in Sunday's final. "Their openers with bat and ball have been the catalysts for easy victories," said Whatmore on Wednesday. "Gillespie looks well on top of his game at the moment, then there's McGrath, and Lee's bowling quick and fairly straight.

"Then at the other end, when they bat, both left-handers are capable of getting big hundreds and breaking the game open. They've been responsible for setting the right tone for their victories in the past."

The man who will shoulder much of the burden when Sri Lanka bat will be captain and opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya. He has made a miraculous recovery from a dislocated right shoulder suffered only three weeks before the tournament and went through the pain barrier to score an unbeaten century that secured an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the opening match.

Whatmore acknowledged Jayasuriya's role would be vital as Sri Lanka looked to blunt Australia's fast bowlers with the fielding restrictions in place. "It's evolved to the point where to have Sanath in the side has a huge effect on everyone," said Whatmore. "His performances have been wonderful and the knock-on effect from that has been quite evident." 

Whatmore hinted Jayasuriya could also have a crucial role with his left-arm spin on a pitch expected to offer slow turn. "He's only bowled three overs so far in the two matches but he might do more in the next couple." The coach said he did not think the lack of a really testing match for either side ahead of the semifinals would play a major part. Sri Lanka cruised past Pakistan and Holland, while Australia crushed New Zealand and Bangladesh. "Both teams will go into this game a bit under-done in the sense of not having to fight for victories but that is the price you pay for being a good side, you will have stretches where you will win easily," he said.

"Ultimately, they have match-winners and we've some match-winners too, there'll be some fight out there from both sides and it's whoever fights for longest that will come out on top."

He confirmed the hosts had a fit squad of 14 despite some minor niggles including batsman Mahela Jayawardene (back) and Jayasuriya (shoulder).