Having gone through an itinerary of nine matches involving 23 cricket playing days, and seen some of the promising, talented and experienced cricketers Sri Lanka 'A' put on display, Gooch said : ``From what I've seen of Arnold, he looks a good player. He played pretty well. The way Jayawardene bats, bowls and fields, he looks a fine cricketer to me. I consider that young off-spinner of 17 years, Junaid, an excellent bowler''.
``The side we brought to Sri Lanka was a mixture of experience and youth. We had eight players fresh out of the under 19 side, and with very limited amount of first-class experience. We were looking not only for a degree of success in the matches, but also for these guys to improve and learn their trade as a cricketer,'' said Gooch.
``I think we achieved those aims. We won the unofficial Test series 2-0 which I think is an achievement over here. Sri Lanka is a very good cricket playing country, a good Test side and holders of the World Cup. They have got some very, very talented cricketers here, very enthusiastic,'' said Gooch.
``By beating us convincingly 3-0 in the one-day matches, Sri Lanka have proved they are a very adept side at one-day cricket. They are one of the premier sides in one-day cricket in the world,'' he said.
However, Gooch cautioned, that Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph at Lahore in 1996 would not count a lot when the next World Cup is stage in England in 1999. ``Three years is quite a long time. One-day cricket is a little bit more unpredictable than Test cricket. You can plan and get the right person involved. You can get what you think is your best team, but it is the team that plays well on the day and peaks well at the right time that counts''.
Gooch said the England 'A' side that toured Sri Lanka was not necessarily their second best team, although there were a few players possibly on standby for West Indies in case there was an injury. However, the manner in which the 16 players adapted to the hot and humid conditions here without suffering any illness or injury was in Gooch's opinion, a plus point.
``Sri Lanka is one of the hottest places in the world to play cricket. Its hot and humid and conditions tough because you get sweaty and tired completely. I am pleased that our players have coped with the conditions a lot better than I expected,'' said Gooch.
``They are quite fit. They have their own training programs. They are getting to know the importance of having a higher fitness level to play top class sport. Every top class athlete has to be in condition. You can't expect to perform out there in the heat for six hours a day if you are not in some sort of condition''.
``The try to win whatever game we play, one-day or whatever. That's the way I've been brought up to play cricket. I know the other guys in the side feel the same,'' he said.
For the England and Wales Cricket Board (EWCB) to send two former England captains and national selectors, Gooch and Mike Gatting (coach) as officials of the England 'A' team to Sri Lanka, showed how much of importance they attached to this tour.
``We attach a great deal of importance in nuturing our young cricketers and bringing them up the right way. It was deemed that we (Gooch and Gatting) might have a good effect on them on the education and learning process. That's why we were asked to combine and bring this young tour away. We both enjoyed it and found it very rewarding,'' said Gooch.
``We not only look at the tour as a successful one, because we won a few games, but enjoyed the cricketing experience against the Sri Lankan side. We like to say a big thank you to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board for the hospitality they've shown us. It has been nothing but first-class.
``The way they helped to suggest the itinerary because of our slight worries over the security situation was excellent. I like to thank M. Rajasingham and Dammika Ranatunga for all their help in that matter,'' said Gooch.