Sangakkara rules out any psychological advantage for second Test

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara today ruled out any psychological advantage going into the second Test, saying that,''It is going to be even when we go to next location. We all have to start fresh. It was a good team effort and there were few very good individual performances in which we can take confidence in though.'' Speaking to mediapersons after the first Test ended in a draw here today, Sangakkara described the wicket as one,''If you were a batsman you would like it. I don't think anyone expected this wicket to be this flat. Last time around South Africa dominated the entire Test Match on a seaming wicket. We had our best chance when we had them 32 for four, but we gave it away after lunch. There was not much for the guys on the last two days. Those few chances early on, but those are all ifs and buts. But it was a good Test Match for both sides, especially for us.'' Speaking about the rookie pace bowler Chanaka Welegedara, the Sri Lankan captain said the hardest thing to do is do is not to expect to play the match and to be told five minutes before the toss that you are going to play. ''The way he responded showed he has lot of character and lot of hunger. He has been out of cricket and he was bowling really well. For some reason he was out for a while and he has now comeback and he has got a long way to go,'' he stated.

Sangakkara though, was not too happy with the spinners' performance, saying the seamers did the bulk of the work for the team. ''For the spinners, this is a good experience for them to get lengthy bowling spells. Both of them bowled well, Rangana Herath bowled better. That's the way it goes. The spinners weren't most effective on this track for both sides. All credit to the fast bowlers. The way they were putting in extra effort they had a more chance of taking wickets,'' he felt.

Sangakkara also felt that the presence of Kaushal Silva in the side has helped Prasanna Jayawardene up his performance. That bit of pressure on him as made him to rise to greater heights. ''If you take most of Prasannas performances, mostly he has done better when the pressure is on. The last time he batted with me we were like five down for 60 and he got a very good half-century as well. If you push him he shows what he can do. This is his true potential. Once you get your first big one, hopefully he can keep going,'' he quipped.

The Sri Lankan captain also said it was Sachin's decision to bat on. ''We asked whether we could stop the match. But he want to continue to get his hundred.'' Sangakkara, however, said with the injury to Dammika Prasad the Lankans will have to wait and see. ''But right now the chances are slim for the second Test.

Hopefully we'll have him ready as soon as possible. He's bowling in the high 140s and hes a huge advantage to have in the side.'' Speaking about the individual performances in the side, Sangakkara said,''Mahela's 275 was unbelievable and we just want him to going. T.M. Dilshan he has become a run scoring machine this year. Prasanna was brilliant. We want these guys to keep doing what they did.''

-- (UNI) -- 20SPD32.xml

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