The Hindu : Whatmore warns against complacency

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Whatmore warns against complacency

PAARL Feb. 18. Coach Dav Whatmore warned Sri Lanka against complacency before the World Cup game against minnow Canada at Boland Park on Wednesday. He also urged Sanath Jayasuriya's side to continue winning.

The 1996 winner is in with a very good chances of qualifying for the Super Sixes after starting the tournament with wins over New Zealand, Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka is expected to beat Canada and Kenya in the next two matches and a win over either the West Indies or South Africa will then assure it a place amongst the final six.

New Zealand's unexpected win over South Africa had statisticians scurrying for various permutations to see how the host could qualify.

South Africa had started the 54-match tournament by losing to the West Indies narrowly by three runs and is in serious danger of not qualifying for the second stage.

The only way South Africa can now qualify is if Sri Lanka loses both to the West Indies at Newlands on February 28 and to the host on March 3 in Durban.

``Potentially it can be a big enemy,'' warned Whatmore when asked about complacency. ``That's what we want to guard against. Particularly against teams you're expected to beat well.''

Sri Lanka has rediscovered new form after the side hit a new low during the tours of South Africa and Australia and Whatmore said the expectations are high again.

``The expectation is there to do well for sure. But the next couple of matches without taking anything for granted, Sri Lanka should come through,'' he said. ``The mini test will start against the West Indies. The results that have happened in the last two weeks have been fantastic.''

Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to the 1996 Cup win in the subcontinent, said the side was beginning to reap reward after ``a lot of pain, suffering, heartache and disappointment.''

Things couldn't have got any worse for Sri Lanka after it was bowled out for 65 by Australia A in Adelaide in a warm-up match.

Since then the change of fortune has been only short of a miracle as it went on to beat both Australia and England in successive games in the tri-series in Australia.

``What we agreed was enough is enough. I told the lads, `we do make mistakes but I want you to give full commitment.''

Whatmore said after the Australian experience it was a matter of time before the team came good. ``It was a testing time, but we never reached the point of no return,'' he said. ``The skill level in the side is such that eventually you start to come good.''

Whatmore described Sri Lanka's 47-run win over New Zealand in the tournament as tremendous, and said it helped the team overcome big match nerves. ``We were all nervous going into the match. I was nervous, and I think both teams were stiff, it's the occasion.''

On the other hand, it will be Canada's first big game of the tournament. It started with an upset win over Test-nation Bangladesh and fought bravely before going down to the Kenyans by four wickets with nine balls to spare.

``We'll go against Sri Lanka eager and confident and hope to give them a good fight,'' Canadian skipper Joe Harris said. ``The confidence will remain with us right throughout . . . 15 guys from Canada have the opportunity to play against some of the best cricketers in the world.

``We've got nothing to lose at this stage, and as I said before the pressure is on everybody else to beat us. ``Nobody expected us to win a game or even put up competitive targets.''

The teams (from): Canada: Joseph Harris (captain), Ashish Bagai, Ian Billcliff, Desmond Chumney, Austin Codrington, John Davison, Nicholas de Groot, Nicholas Ifill, Davis Joseph, Ishwar Maraj, Ashish Patel, Abdool Samad, Fazil Samad, Barry Seebaran, Sanjayan Thuraisingham.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Aravinda De Silva, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Charitha Buddhika.

Umpires: David Shepherd and Neil Mallender. Television umpire: Kevan Barbour. Match Referee: Wasim Raja. Hours of play (IST): 1.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. and 5.45 p.m onwards.

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