Abdullah719
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"Pakistan are sixth and we are seventh, this series will be a good opportunity for us" : R Herath
Veteran spinner Rangana Herath expects a competitive series when Sri Lanka meet Pakistan, which will be between two evenly balanced sides. The Sri Lankan team flies to UAE today on a 40-day tour in which they will play two Tests, five ODIs and three T-20 Internationals.
The first Test gets underway on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
"Obviously in rankings, they are sixth and we are seventh. The Indian series was very hurting and the confidence levels were down. We need to raise our standards and I believe this will be a good opportunity for us," Herath, 39, told ‘Sunday Island’.
"The conditions also will be very much like what we find at home and we should do well and I am looking forward for the challenge," Herath added.
Herath missed the third and final Test against India at Pallekele due to back spasms.
"I was going non-stop and had a stiffness in the back and was advised to rest with a long season ahead. But I am fine now. I am gutted at the way I bowled during the series. Bitterly disappointed with the outcome and not my best performance. But no excuses and I am looking forward for the challenge ahead," noted Herath.
The last few days, the Sri Lankans’ preparations have taken place under lights at R. Premadasa Stadium. The team has been training with pink balls as the second Test in Dubai will be a day-night game. This is the first time Sri Lanka will be playing a day-night Test.
"The last season, we played our domestic cricket with the pink ball. But I was able to play only one game as I was touring with the national team. Even that game wasn’t under lights. This will be a totally different challenge. When we played the domestic tournament, there was not much of a difference as we were playing in the day time, but under lights it will be a different story. I think fast bowlers will enjoy it the most as the ball could seam around for a bit longer.
Herath, who has been playing Test cricket for 18 years now welcomed the move to shift to day-night cricket as the new trend could bring in more fans.
"It has been an ICC decision. Very few people attend Test matches these days. If Test cricket could attract more fans with day-night cricket, that should be the way forward. It’s a good thing for the fans and for the players," noted Herath.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=172207
Veteran spinner Rangana Herath expects a competitive series when Sri Lanka meet Pakistan, which will be between two evenly balanced sides. The Sri Lankan team flies to UAE today on a 40-day tour in which they will play two Tests, five ODIs and three T-20 Internationals.
The first Test gets underway on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
"Obviously in rankings, they are sixth and we are seventh. The Indian series was very hurting and the confidence levels were down. We need to raise our standards and I believe this will be a good opportunity for us," Herath, 39, told ‘Sunday Island’.
"The conditions also will be very much like what we find at home and we should do well and I am looking forward for the challenge," Herath added.
Herath missed the third and final Test against India at Pallekele due to back spasms.
"I was going non-stop and had a stiffness in the back and was advised to rest with a long season ahead. But I am fine now. I am gutted at the way I bowled during the series. Bitterly disappointed with the outcome and not my best performance. But no excuses and I am looking forward for the challenge ahead," noted Herath.
The last few days, the Sri Lankans’ preparations have taken place under lights at R. Premadasa Stadium. The team has been training with pink balls as the second Test in Dubai will be a day-night game. This is the first time Sri Lanka will be playing a day-night Test.
"The last season, we played our domestic cricket with the pink ball. But I was able to play only one game as I was touring with the national team. Even that game wasn’t under lights. This will be a totally different challenge. When we played the domestic tournament, there was not much of a difference as we were playing in the day time, but under lights it will be a different story. I think fast bowlers will enjoy it the most as the ball could seam around for a bit longer.
Herath, who has been playing Test cricket for 18 years now welcomed the move to shift to day-night cricket as the new trend could bring in more fans.
"It has been an ICC decision. Very few people attend Test matches these days. If Test cricket could attract more fans with day-night cricket, that should be the way forward. It’s a good thing for the fans and for the players," noted Herath.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=172207
