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Bring on the short stuff: Jayasuriya

July 07, 2004 13:59 IST

Opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya has challenged Australia's bowlers to adopt short-pitched bowling in this week's second Test against Sri Lanka.

"We are quite used to it. We don't have to worry about those things, that's part of the game," Jayasuriya told reporters on Wednesday.

Glenn McGrath took five for 37 last week in Sri Lanka's first innings of 97 in the first Test and Michael Kasprowicz claimed seven for 39 in their second innings of 162 as Australia clinched a 149-run win inside three days in Darwin.

The second Test starts on Friday in the tropical north Queensland city of Cairns. The wicket has a covering of grass but is expected to favour Australia's pace trio of McGrath, Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie.

Australian players Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne say the Sri Lankans will be on the receiving end of some ferocious fast bowling.

"It looks a good wicket. We need to be positive," Jayasuriya said. "We should do our thing and just go out there and bat."

Jayasuriya made eight and 16 in Darwin, falling leg before wicket to McGrath twice.

Jayasuriya, who scored 131 in Kandy in March in the second Test against Australia, said he was not concerned about McGrath's public statements that he would be focussing on Jayasuriya in this series.

"Glenn has been bowling well for the last game and he bowled in the right areas," the 35-year-old left-hander said.

"I'm not worried about if he wants to go after a batsman. That's his way of thinking. I go and play my natural game."

Leg spinner Warne has 520 career wickets, seven short of Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's world mark.

The 32-year-old Muralitharan has withdrawn from the two-match series for personal reasons. Jayasuriya said Warne may struggle to take the eight wickets he needs to set a world record.

"It depends how he bowls and how much turn is in the wicket," said Jayasuriya, who has made 12 hundreds in 89 Tests.

"Most of the boys know what to do basically, just see him off most of the time, whenever he comes on.

"But we just play him as another bowler. We don't worry about his getting the record (from Sri Lanka's Muralitharan).


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