Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya shows he has skill with the ball as well. - Reuters
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):
SRI LANKA will be seeking an easy outing today in their opening match against rank outsider Bermuda, the smallest country ever to qualify for the Cricket World Cup.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene has set his sights on reclaiming the World Cup that Sri Lanka won in 1996.
The opening match against an outfit making its debut in the premier limited-overs event will allow Sri Lankan players an opportunity to get used to the conditions before heading into tougher matches against India and Bangladesh - the other two teams in the preliminary Group B.
Two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eights.
Jayawardene says Sri Lanka will use today's match to strengthen their combination for tougher challenges ahead.
"We believe we have the team that can go the whole distance, we have several exciting combinations," he said.
The International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to expand the World Cup to 16 teams and allow more minor nations to play in premier limited-overs competition has drawn considerable flak from critics that include some of world cricket's illustrious stars. Cricket is the national pastime in Bermuda, one of six associate-member nations to qualify, despite its infrequent international appearances.
Granted the right to play
But Jayawardene supports the minor teams, saying qualification for the Cup provides incentive. Sri Lanka's early appearances in the World Cup during the '70s were before they were granted the right to play Tests and limited-overs internationals.
Sri Lanka joined the group of elite cricket-playing countries in 1982 and took 14 years to win the World Cup.
This achievement is often cited as the inspiration by players from minor cricket nations.
"Playing against the top teams is the only way for these nations to improve," Jayawardene said. "Like Sri Lanka, 20 years on and one of these minor cricket nations might win a World Cup."
Bermuda, the tiny island nation located in the northern Atlantic Ocean, have just one professional cricketer in their ranks.
They are not expected to go beyond the first round, captain Irving Romaine saying his players merely are seeking "to earn the respect of the cricketing world".
Bermuda secured one of the qualifying spots available to minor cricket nations by finishing fourth in the ICC Trophy.
Key batsman David Hemp, captain of English county Glamorgan, is the only professional in the team that mainly comprises teachers, students and policemen.
Dreaming of this moment
For two years, these amateur cricketers have been dreaming of this moment when they get a chance in the big league.
In the run-up to the World Cup, most were given leave from work to represent the country in what will be the biggest moment in Bermuda's sports history.
Bermuda's team also has a promising batsman in 17-year-old Malachi Jones, who will be one of the youngest players ever to feature in the World Cup.
And then there is Dwayne Leverock, the big-frame policeman whose accurate left-arm spin is often overshadowed by his weight.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Malinga Bandara.
Bermuda: Irving Romaine (captain), Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Stephen Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker and Kwame Tucker.
Jayasuriya ready for last hurrah
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):
DOMINEERING opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya says his batting still contains the spark that spurred Sri Lanka to the Cricket World Cup title in 1996.
It's the memory of that stirring time that has pushed him to have another crack at cricket's biggest prize.
The impulsive strokeplay of Jayasuriya, 37, continues to be Sri Lanka's trump, a year after the former captain was recalled from retirement.
"It's a great feeling to be back, I'm still the same batsman and hoping to revive Sri Lanka's glory days," said Jayasuriya, who retired for a while last year after a lean 2005.
Poor tour of India
"The slump in my form in 2005 was the worst phase of my life. I was injured and I lost form," he said. "I had a poor tour of India and there was a lot of flak from the media that made me decide on retiring from international cricket.
"But the new selection committee seemed to have a lot more faith in my ability and recalled me."
Since then, Jayasuriya has shown the form of old, and featured in Sri Lanka's 5-0 triumph in a one-day series in England.
"I feel my comeback has been a good one, it's a good feeling to be able to live up to the expectations yet again," he said.
The veteran all-rounder will start his fifth World Cup campaign when Sri Lanka play Bermuda today.
He led Sri Lanka to the semi-finals at the 2003 World Cup before giving up the captaincy.
In 379 limited-overs internationals, Jayasuriya has scored 11,538 runs - the third-highest aggregate behind India's Sachin Tendulkar (14,783 runs) and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq (11,701).
His accurate and teasing left-arm spin has also snared 285 wickets.
Jayasuriya says it is a desire to relive the World Cup triumph that keeps him in the game.
"It's a fantastic memory that continues to stir me. It's a feeling one cannot forget, the greatest memory for any cricketer," said Jayasuriya. "Those of us who were in that team now tell the younger boys how we won the tournament, how we planned it match by match until the very end."
