Sri Lanka look to Durban spirit for 3rd Test

Jayawardene hopes for improved show against Australia today.

SYDNEY: Captain Mahela Jayawardene has said that Sri Lanka will use the example of their remarkable turnaround on their last tour of South Africa to try and rescue a face-saving victory in the third Test against Australia starting today.

The bruised and battered tourists were thrashed by an innings and 201 runs inside two and a half days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last week to give Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

They also lost four players to injury which left the captain struggling to name a side for today’s start to the match with wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene and fast-bowler Nuwan Kulasekara still major doubts.

“The emphasis has been to try and get over that Test match,” said Jayawardene. “It happened to us in Centurion last summer where we lost in two and a half days to South Africa and we bounced back in Durban to win the Test match.

“So it’s about guys owning responsibility and doing something about it. We are up against a strong Australian side, who are playing some really good cricket. We need to play to our potential and show we can stand up to that.”

Sri Lanka lost by an innings in Cape Town in late 2011 before beating South Africa by 208 runs in Durban, although they lost the third Test and the series.

Jayawardene conceded the Sri Lankans had not been at their best in Australia and to make the most of prolific wicket-taker Rangana Herath’s spin bowling, they needed to be in the match in the closing stages.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2013.