Bowlers boost Mahela’s World Cup hopes

WORLD CUP: ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene believes the side’s current bowling attack is the best he’s known in 10 years as an international player.

As well as unique off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas and the often under-rated left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, who all played in the Sri Lanka side that won the 1996 World Cup, the attack now features extraordinary pace bowler Lasith Malinga.

“Right now with the combinations we have, I think we have a better bowling attack than I’ve ever known in the 10 years I’ve been in the side because we have so many attacking options nowadays,” said Jayawardene.

Muralitharan, 34, has long been the fulcrum of the Sri Lanka attack, with over 1,000 wickets combined in Tests and one-day internationals.

Jayawardene said the secret of his success was a remorseless desire to improve.

“Murali for me is a guy who’d always liked challenges. He’s now trying new things in his career because he feels he needs to a stay a step ahead of the opposition.

Wednesday, AFP