COLOMBO: Batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya has urged Sri Lanka\u00b4s cricketers to seize the chance to make history by completing a series whitewash over world number one Test team Australia.
\nWith an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series, Sri Lanka might be tempted to ease up in the final encounter which begins in Colombo on Saturday.
\nBut Jayasuriya, one of the stars of Sri Lanka\u00b4s World Cup triumph in 1996, said that Angelo Mathews\u00b4 young side could create their own piece of history by inflicting a series whitewash on a leading Test nation for the first time.
\n“No one thought we would be leading 2-0, everybody thought it would be the other way round but we\u00b4ve turned it around as a team,” Jayasuriya, who is now chairman of Sri Lanka\u00b4s selectors, told AFP in an interview in Colombo.
\n“If we can do that (win 3-0), then it\u00b4s history. So I hope the boys will realise that we have got a big opportunity.”
\nSri Lanka had only beaten Australia once before in a Test, in 1999 when the likes of Jayasuriya and record-breaking spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan were in their prime.
\nThe victories in the first two Tests were all the more unexpected as Sri Lanka have been sliding down the rankings and failed to win any of nine international matches against England on their recent tour.
\nFew observers had given them a hope of beating the Australians but Steve Smith\u00b4s side have admitted to being totally outplayed in the first two Tests in Palekelle and Galle.
\nA 3-0 clean sweep would be Sri Lanka\u00b4s greatest achievement since they were granted Test status in 1981.
\nIt would also vindicate predictions from the likes of Jayasuriya that the team has a bright future despite the retirements of world-class batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in the last couple of years.
\nSri Lanka\u00b4s match-winner in Pallekele was 21-year-old Kusal Mendis, who scored a superb maiden century.
\nWhile the veteran offspinner Rangana Herath grabbed the headlines in Galle by taking a hat-trick, the match-winner was younger spin partner Dilruwan Perera who recorded match figures of 10 for 99.
\n“We are in a transition period. We are going with youngsters at the moment with little or no experience,” said Jayasuriya, who was captain in Sri Lanka\u00b4s only previous victory over Australia 17 years ago.
\n“We had a lot of faith in them and we are very happy the way they played … I think with experience they will learn, but they have to start somewhere and they started in Sri Lanka.”
\nSri Lanka had endured a torrid start to 2016, being knocked out of the World Twenty20 as defending champions before the tour of England.
\nJayasuriya said the batting in England lacked consistency but was now “just beginning to click”.
\n“They won (the first two Australia Tests) and won convincingly and that\u00b4s important. So the future for Sri Lankan cricket is bright.”
\nSri Lanka had been languishing at seventh in the rankings before the current series, with the prospect of having to play nations such as Ireland and Afghanistan if plans for a two Test divisions are pushed through.
\nJayasuriya said he was firmly against the proposal which could mean losing out on playing the likes of Australia and India.
\n“I don\u00b4t agree with the two-tier system,” Jayasuriya said. “And I am not saying because of Sri Lanka\u00b4s ranking, because we will rise after this series, but (the current system) is better.”
\nThe International Cricket Council are due to discuss the proposal next month. India are opposed, which could lead to its demise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COLOMBO: Batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya has urged Sri Lanka\u00b4s cricketers to seize the chance to make history by completing a series whitewash over world number one Test team Australia. With an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series, Sri Lanka might be tempted to ease up in the final encounter which begins in Colombo on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n