NZ put security concerns aside as they take on Lanka
Charlie Austin - 24 July 2001
Cricket was pushed into the background by security fears for the
second time in a week today by the news that Tamil Tiger cadres had
launched a pre-dawn attack on an Air Force base located just 30 km
north of Colombo.
Practices continued without disruption, but the Sri Lankan cricket
board chairman Vijaya Malalsekera called an emergency meeting with the
team managers and the match referee Cammie Smith.
Both the Indian and New Zealand boards have accepted the board
assurances that the players and officials are safe and stressed to the
media that they "didn't believe cricket to be a target."
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, speaking after the team's
training session at Premadasa International Stadium, said: "You are a
little bit wary if you watch CNN. The reports coming out are a little
alarming, but we feel very safe."
The Indian manager A.N.Mate said: "The board have promised to increase
security at both the hotel and the ground and we are satisfied and
have decided to play on."
The security fears are not the only concerns faced by the Kiwi's as
they prepare for the exhausting prospect of two consecutive day games
in the enervating heat of Colombo. Three of the players - Matthew
Sinclair, Darryl Tuffey, and Dion Nash - are suffering from suspected
food poisoning.
Sinclair was able to bat this morning in the nets, but Tuffey and Nash
returned early to the hotel as a `precautionary' measure according to
Fleming.
Fleming admitted that: "There is a little bit of concern as three of
the guys have been carrying viruses over the past couple of days. The
coming two days are going to be very tough. If some of the guys are
not one hundred per cent then we may look at playing them in just one
of those two games."
Fleming said they would make a final decision in the morning. If they
do target one game, then this is likely to be the Indian one on
Thursday. The Sri Lankans are almost through to the finals and another
loss for the Indians would make their qualification very difficult and
assure the Kiwi's a berth.
New Zealand have just returned from four days in the cooler climes of
Kandy, a sacred city in the hill country. Ostensibly planned to
prevent an outbreak of cabin fever in their Colombo hotel, Fleming
said: "During the last four days we have had a chance to recharge the
batteries - playing in this heat does take it out of you - and have
had some good skills sessions."
The Kiwi's, though delighted with their victory against India, have
pinpointed the last ten overs of the innings, when they fell away
against India, as an area for improvement: " The individuals that were
involved in that have had the onus put on them. We have discussed it
as a squad in a very positive way and it's now out in the open.
"There are things to work on, but the first innings totals have been
around the 220 mark and we weren't far away from posting the highest
total of the tournament," he reasoned. "We are pretty close to getting
it right."
With Sunday's pitch being re-used on Wednesday the same kind of total
can be expected and the toss will once again be important.
Fleming admitted that they would like to bat first, but also said: "We
would like to buck the trend of the team batting first going on to win
the game if we get an opportunity to do so."
Sri Lanka meanwhile are expected to name an unchanged team and
Jayasuriya was happy with the current batting order. Romesh
Kaluwitharana, however, is likely to bat number three if an early
wicket falls, as he was going to do against India until the
introduction of spin.
Nevertheless, Jayasuriya remains frustrated by the performance of the
middle order: "We have been addressing the issue of middle order
failing right from the start. But nothing has worked. I am sure the
boys will come out soon."
He singled out Kumar Dharmasena for special praise after his nerveless
performance on Sunday night: "Right from the start I had lot of faith
in Kumar: he's got the experience and he's a team man. I am very happy
with his performance, his batting and bowling."
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