Following their collapse in the recently finished T20 International Series against India, Sri Lankan players would need to focus on developing their “cricket awareness,” according to interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya.
Throughout the three-match rubber, Sri Lanka was in strong situations, but they lost a lot of wickets and fell short, losing 0–3.
“I don’t see a lack of commitment, but they have got to tackle pressure better. Their cricket awareness also needs sharpening. We are taking the responsibility; you can’t go away from that,” Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNCricinfo’ as his side entered the three-match ODI series against India.
“As long as they realise that, and make sure that, we’ll have to keep giving them the confidence and support,” he added.
According to Jayasuriya, batters in Sri Lanka have plenty of opportunities to score runs through boundaries and twos, therefore they shouldn’t worry about hitting sixes all the time.
“When you talk about power hitting, I don’t think you need that much (in SL). If you hit enough fours and enough twos, you get the total that you need.
“The Sri Lankan grounds are a little bigger. There’s no reason why you can’t hit boundaries, or twos, or threes. If you can do that, you can get by without hitting so many sixes,” he said.
After such an inadequate performance in the T20Is series, the former captain of Sri Lanka stated that the players have to be prepared to take criticism.
“We have to take the criticism as well, as a coach, as a support staff, as a team. I had to go through this (phase) in my time as a cricketer, every cricketer has to go through this. When criticism comes, you have to take it,” he said.
Charith Asalanka, the recently selected captain, has Jayasuriya’s support to do well sooner rather than later.
“Charith Asalanka is one of our best players in this format, and we need to remember that. But there is some pressure when you get captaincy. You have got to give him a little time.
“There are ten more players in the side, and 16 in the squad. We all have to get together and give him confidence. At any moment, the captain could click. Asalanka is someone who works really hard, professional and communicates well,” he added.
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