The morale of the Sri Lankan team is not low despite their 1-6 loss in the recent one-day series against India and they are starting afresh for the long season ahead.
"Our morale is not low since losing the one-day series badly. Actually we are starting afresh and geared up to face the challenges in the three Test series against India," former Sri Lankan captain Michael Tissera, the manager of the team, said.
Talking to reporters during the team's net practice session, Tissera said "we have a long season ahead. We will start off with the Asia Cup in Pakistan in January 2006 and then visit New Zealand and Australia. We will visit England after Pakistan's tour in Sri Lanka."
Claiming that his team was not unduly worried about the experiments of India coach Greg Chappell, Tissera said "it was expected from the coach to try out many such things. We are not worried but geared up to face the challenges."
Asked whether Muttiah Muralitharan was not handled well in the ODI series, the manager opined that "he was handled properly. We lost the one-day series mainly becuase our batsmen did not put up enough totals and the bowlers mostly failed to keep a good line and length."
{{/usCountry}}Asked whether Muttiah Muralitharan was not handled well in the ODI series, the manager opined that "he was handled properly. We lost the one-day series mainly becuase our batsmen did not put up enough totals and the bowlers mostly failed to keep a good line and length."
{{/usCountry}}He informed that Chamara Kapugedara, who sufferred a knee injury, had gone back home and in his place, Jahan Mubarak will be joining the team today.