Australians are human too, they are bound to commit mistakes: Mahela

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene is banking on the 'human' nature of Australians to make mistakes and has asserted that his relaxed team was up for the challenge to take on the mighty Aussies in the World Cup final.

''The final is a big game but over a period of 100 overs, everyone makes mistakes. Australians are human too, we just have to capitalise on the mistakes that they make,'' the captain remarked.

Talking to newspersons here Jaywardane betrayed no emotions and looked relaxed on the eve of what is going to be the biggest match of his life.

''There is no pressure on us. I have been telling them it is all about relaxing and enjoying the challenge,'' the Sri Lankan captain said, adding ''All the guys are looking forward to the challenge.

We enjoy such challenges very much.'' Asked how he was going to contain the Australians, Jayawardene said ''they (Australians) come at you early, and we must be ready for it. As I have said repeatedly, we have to stick to our gameplan and not try playing any other way.'' He continued ''We express ourselves best when we play that way.

The most important thing is to play the brand of cricket we've been playing, and not try something that's not our style.'' He opined that South Africa lost the semi-finals against the Aussies because the Proteas did not play their natural game. ''We saw that with South Africa in the semifinals. They didn't play the way they normally do, and it didn't work,'' he said.

Asked if Sri Lanka would bat first if he wins the toss, Jayawardene said that at noon time on match-eve, the toss didn't really matter too much ''But I might change my mind about the toss in the morning.'' ''How the match shapes up will depend on the surface. It looks a good, hard surface seeing it mid-day. But in the morning it might be different. Having not played here, we won't have any pre-conceived notions. We'll just have to adapt quickly.

''Our bowling has been very good, but as I've said before, it's not about having big names, it's about them turning up and performing.

''The whole idea of leaving out Murali and Vaasy from the Super Eight game against Australia was to keep them fresh for the final two games.

''That has worked out very well. Lasith hasn't bowled all that much to the Australians. That will be to our advantage too. All the guys are at their best,'' he explained.

Apart from facing fast bowling ''We play spin well. We know how to attack spin,'' the skipper asserted.

He praised coach Tom Moody for making the players stronger in the mind. ''Tom has been brilliant for us. He taught us how to attain maintain mental toughness. He has the experience of a World Cup win as a player.

''With that experience, he has taught us how important it is to be mentally stronger. We have had a sports psychologist for the last 16 months, that was Tom's idea, and it has helped the team no end,'' he added.

Jayawardane acknowledged that his team has got tremendous support from the local fans, saying ''Right from the time we have arrived here, we have had a lot of local support. It perhaps has to do with the brand of cricket we play.

''This kind of support reminds us of home -- the music and the screaming and the shouting. I am sure we have increased our fan base in the Caribbean in the last one and a half months, and I am confident of getting their support in the final also.'' UNI HSB SAM KP1152

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