Playing in Mumbai is no big deal: Mathews
March 15, 2011 04:14 pm
MUMBAI: His captain may not be happy to play their last World Cup Group A league match in India, but Angelo Mathews did not see it as a handicap that Sri Lanka are to play New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday and not at home.
“It’s not a big deal. The conditions are similar to Sri Lanka and the wickets are also slow. We have also played in India often,” said the 23-year-old all-rounder on Tuesday, PTI reported.
Sangakkara had expressed unhappiness earlier this month that the last league tie of Sri Lanka is scheduled in Mumbai though they are the co-hosts of the tournament.
“We were surprised when we learnt that we will have to travel to Mumbai to play that game (against New Zealand). I thought hosts play at home,” Sangakkara had said after his side’s match against defending champions Australia was washed out due to heavy rains in Colombo on March 5.
“Playing the New Zealand game is beyond our control. You can’t change that now. That’s gone now and we need to be up for the task,” the Lanka captain had said.
Mathews sees Friday’s match against the Black Caps as a good challenge against a performing side.
“New Zealand have been playing good cricket and we have also been playing well. It would be a good challenge,” said Mathews who bowls medium pace and is a hard-hitting lower order batsman.
He has played 40 ODIs in which he has scored 741 runs and taken 31 wickets.
“It’s not a big deal. The conditions are similar to Sri Lanka and the wickets are also slow. We have also played in India often,” said the 23-year-old all-rounder on Tuesday, PTI reported.
Sangakkara had expressed unhappiness earlier this month that the last league tie of Sri Lanka is scheduled in Mumbai though they are the co-hosts of the tournament.
“We were surprised when we learnt that we will have to travel to Mumbai to play that game (against New Zealand). I thought hosts play at home,” Sangakkara had said after his side’s match against defending champions Australia was washed out due to heavy rains in Colombo on March 5.
“Playing the New Zealand game is beyond our control. You can’t change that now. That’s gone now and we need to be up for the task,” the Lanka captain had said.
Mathews sees Friday’s match against the Black Caps as a good challenge against a performing side.
“New Zealand have been playing good cricket and we have also been playing well. It would be a good challenge,” said Mathews who bowls medium pace and is a hard-hitting lower order batsman.
He has played 40 ODIs in which he has scored 741 runs and taken 31 wickets.
