‘Sri Lankan seniors lead by example’

Sri Lanka’s senior players are paving the path for youngsters to follow at the World Cup, says Sangakkara.

MUMBAI:

Sri Lanka’s senior players are paving the path for youngsters to follow at the World Cup, says captain Kumar Sangakkara.

Sanagakkara led by example and shared vital 145 runs with Mahela Jaywardene against New Zealand. Muttiah Muralitharan then took four for 25 despite a leg injury.

“That’s what our role is,” said Sangakkara. “We have to do justice to the seniority we have.”

The captain was all praise for Muralithran, who is set to retire after the World Cup. “Murali is a legend to bowl,” said Sangakkara. “We have a few days. Hopefully he’ll get fit in that time.”

Muralitharan said he was confident the injury was not a serious one.

“After I was hurt, I told the captain that I wanted to bowl. I didn’t think about the pain.”

Taylor unhappy with umpire’s verdict

New Zealand’s stand-in captain Ross Taylor says the fielder’s word should be trusted in case of close catches after his side ended up on the receiving end of a controversial umpiring decision.

Sri Lanka vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene chipped the ball back towards Kiwi off-spinner Nathan McCullum who managed to get his right hand under the ball. TV umpire Amish Saheba, however, ruled him not out. It was a critical moment in the match since Sri Lanka were struggling at 87 for two.

“I thought it carried, but the third umpire obviously had other things in mind,” said Taylor.

The right-hander said it would make things easier if batsmen were to take the word of the fielder in such situations.

“It depends upon the person. You look at Jacques Kallis, he asks the fielders if they caught it cleanly and he trusts the words of the fielders.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2011.