Tillakaratne: fit, healthy and hungry

Hashan Tillakaratme, Sri Lanka's 35-year-old Test captain, has vowed to make up for lost time and continue to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka as long as possible. Claiming he's fit, healthy and, most importantly, still hungry for success, Tillakaratne has made it clear that he has no retirement plans.

"After two years out of the team I have a lot of catching up to do," writes Tillakaratne in the official England tour souvenir for Sri Lanka Cricket. "I may be 35-years-old but I am fit, agile and hungry for success. I want to play many more Test matches for Sri Lanka."

Tillakaratne had spent two years in the wilderness after the 1999 World Cup, a disastrous tournament for Sri Lanka that precipitated the implementation of a radical youth policy by the selectors. When he finally returned, after two seasons of heavy scoring in the domestic competition, he scored a stack of runs, claiming back a regular place.

Then, when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped down as Sri Lanka captain earlier this year, Tillakaratne assumed the captaincy - a surprise choice from the selectors. But now, after a drawn home series against New Zealand and a 1-0 defeat in the Caribbean, Tillakaratne is under pressure to perform. Defeat against England would almost certainly end his tenure.

But Tillakaratne, an adhesive player who clearly revels in adversity, rejects criticism that his captaincy has been too negative thus far, arguing that with greater luck Sri Lanka could have bagged their last two Test series against New Zealand and West Indies.

"We failed to win my first two Tests series in charge, against New Zealand and West Indies, but the margin between success and failure is small and, with some more luck and a bit more application, we could have won both," he says in his column.

"Against New Zealand, we were let down by our catching in the first Test. We spilled an unacceptable number of chances. Then, in the second Test, we were unfortunate to lose so much time to the poor weather. In the end we were left with too few overs to chase a modest victory target.

"The first Test in the West Indies was rain-affected and drawn. We played creditably. In the second Test we were in the hunt for a series win. However, we batted badly in the second innings. Had we dismissed Brian Lara earlier in the final run chase - which we so nearly did - it could so easily have been a different result."

He's looking forward to taking on the challenge of facing the English, and a chance of securing some payback from two heavy defeats in the last two series between the sides, particularly the painful 2-1 loss at home in 2001.

"This series, against a newish-looking English outfit, we need to pull together all departments of our game," he says. "Although I didn't play in the last home series against England, my assessment was that we did more to lose the series than England did to win it. We must be tougher and play to our potential.

"England have a sturdy top five that is stacked full of experience," he says. "One of the keys will be to make early inroads into this powerful top order and put pressure on a lower middle order weakened by the absence of Alec Stewart.

"We have the bowlers to do that, especially the hard-working Chaminda Vaas with his skilful swing bowling and Muttiah Muralitharan, a bowler who is surely destined to become the highest wicket-taker in Test history.

"But we cannot rely solely on this pair. We have done so too much in the past and that has held back our development. We need the bowlers to click as a unit. The support bowlers must maintain the pressure created by Murali and Chaminda.

"Once again our batsmen must be on guard. Our batting, especially the middle order, has not lived up to expectations during the past year. It's essential that we knuckle down to play with discipline and determination. The good news is that most of the top order has found good form in the current domestic tournament.

Tillakaratne hopes that an extended four-month break for the players since the last tour will have a positive effect: "We are fortunate to have had a proper break. After nearly two years of non-stop cricket everyone needed to spend time with their families to refresh the mind and body. We should now be hungry and sharp."