Lanka geared up for Australia game - Mathews
March 4, 2011 12:10 pm
Angelo Mathews says Sri Lanka are prepared to take on Australia, one of the strongest teams in their group.
The contest between the teams on Saturday is one of the biggest in league games and the outcome of it could have an impact on the quarterfinal match-ups. There is even a chance that Sri Lanka, having lost to Pakistan in an earlier game, may have to come down to India to play in the quarterfinals.
“Australia are an extremely good team and they have been playing some very good cricket in the recent past. Whatever games they have played of late, they have won, and they are a difficult team to beat, but we are all looking forward to it,” he said. The Sri Lanka all-rounder then added that his side would not mind facing India in the quarterfinals. “India are a good side and if we end up playing them, they will be very hard to beat. We know we have to play very good cricket to beat them,” he said.
Mathews said he is happy with the form of the team, despite their unexpected loss to Pakistan last Saturday. “There have been a few ups and downs for us so far in the tournament but we have been playing some very good cricket in the recent past. However, we couldn’t pull it off against Pakistan. But now we’re focused on just trying to win the rest of our matches.”
He also felt that his side is capable of winning the World Cup. “The World Cup is the biggest ICC tournament and it would be a dream to win it.”
The World Cup, he said, has been an even contest among the top teams. “Most of the teams have played some really good cricket so far. The top eight teams have won at least one game and they have actually played very well. Every team is evenly composed in this competition.”
He thinks the teams making fewer mistakes will advance from the quarterfinal stage. “I think it is quite even so far as any team is capable of beating the other at any time. The teams will have to be at their peak from the quarterfinal stage onwards. The fewer mistakes you make, the better chance you have of winning.”
The Sri Lankan said he is happy to be part of the literacy awareness programme — Room to Read — initiated by the ICC. “It has been extremely enjoyable to spend time with the kids and give them as much information as possible. This campaign does help a lot as it is about reading, literacy and girls’ education,” Mathews said, DNA reports.
The contest between the teams on Saturday is one of the biggest in league games and the outcome of it could have an impact on the quarterfinal match-ups. There is even a chance that Sri Lanka, having lost to Pakistan in an earlier game, may have to come down to India to play in the quarterfinals.
“Australia are an extremely good team and they have been playing some very good cricket in the recent past. Whatever games they have played of late, they have won, and they are a difficult team to beat, but we are all looking forward to it,” he said. The Sri Lanka all-rounder then added that his side would not mind facing India in the quarterfinals. “India are a good side and if we end up playing them, they will be very hard to beat. We know we have to play very good cricket to beat them,” he said.
Mathews said he is happy with the form of the team, despite their unexpected loss to Pakistan last Saturday. “There have been a few ups and downs for us so far in the tournament but we have been playing some very good cricket in the recent past. However, we couldn’t pull it off against Pakistan. But now we’re focused on just trying to win the rest of our matches.”
He also felt that his side is capable of winning the World Cup. “The World Cup is the biggest ICC tournament and it would be a dream to win it.”
The World Cup, he said, has been an even contest among the top teams. “Most of the teams have played some really good cricket so far. The top eight teams have won at least one game and they have actually played very well. Every team is evenly composed in this competition.”
He thinks the teams making fewer mistakes will advance from the quarterfinal stage. “I think it is quite even so far as any team is capable of beating the other at any time. The teams will have to be at their peak from the quarterfinal stage onwards. The fewer mistakes you make, the better chance you have of winning.”
The Sri Lankan said he is happy to be part of the literacy awareness programme — Room to Read — initiated by the ICC. “It has been extremely enjoyable to spend time with the kids and give them as much information as possible. This campaign does help a lot as it is about reading, literacy and girls’ education,” Mathews said, DNA reports.
