da brwin： Sri Lanka are set to make one change for their World Cup Super Sixes matchagainst India at the Wanderers on Monday
CricInfo10-Mar-2003Sri Lanka are set to make one change for their World Cup Super Sixes matchagainst India at the Wanderers on Monday.Skipper Sanath Jayasyuriya and left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne are bothexpected to play but Prabath Nissanka has been earmarked for inclusion.Nissanka’s extra pace on a traditionally spicy Wanderers pitch is seen as avaluable weapon against the Indians and Pulasthi Gunaratne will make way.Jayasuriya, suffering from a badly bruised forearm and chipped thumb, playedgingerly in the nets on Sunday but is determined to lead the side.”There is a little pain in my thumb but I am definitely playing,” saidJayasuriya on Sunday evening.The Sri Lankans are sticking by middle order batsman Mahela Jayawardene whohas had a wretched tournament thus far with the bat scoring just 16 runs inseven games.”We intend batting Mahela low down in the order. He is batting so well inthe nets, it is a matter of time before he gets a big score,” saidJayasuriya.But a change was seriously considered: “Considering the importance attachedto this game we don’t want to take a chance with someone else because thereserves hardly had any match practice,” said Jayasuriya.Jayasuriya said the Australia loss had not dented his side’s confidence.”We lost to Kenya and came back and played well. So did India after losingbadly to Australia. When you play a lot of one-day games one has to win andlose,” said Jayasuriya.”Any game against India is important. They are playing well at the moment.We’ll have to keep it as tight as possible,” he said.Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore said the Indian team had some incredible matchwinners in their side, but he knew of their strengths and weaknesses havingplayed against them a few times.”The main thing that I want to see is for everyone in the team to lift up agear or two for the encounter. India are also on top of their game at themoment,” said Whatmore.