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Cricketers glad to have him back

The initial reaction Davenall Whatmore received from the national cricket squad players when he met them last morning said it all.

``We are glad to have you back,'' they said. Those are words any coach would want to hear if he is going to work with them for the next three years.

The cricketing public has not forgotten how three years ago Whatmore transformed a team of no-hopers into a world-beating unit when Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996.

The reception Whatmore received from 'the people in the street and the public at large' when he arrived on Saturday to undertake his second assignment as coach of the national cricket team was described as 'wonderful'.

``You feel the pressure. The expectations forced upon myself sometimes could be a bit unrealistic, but we are going to try very hard to achieve the results we all want. It may not happen as quickly as we would like. If we compete as hard as we can then losing is no problem. You must lose as much as you win,'' said Whatmore in his first interview with the press at the Cricket Board headquarters yesterday.

``We all agree the outcome is victory in all matches for Sri Lanka. But to achieve that there are lots of little processes that we have to put into place to give yourself a better than even chance of obtaining that outcome,'' he said.

``What I have to do with Sri Lanka is to ensure they are a good fighting unit at any given time. The way in which players in this country enjoy their cricket to me is paramount. If you don't enjoy what you are doing in your work then its not a very nice place to be in.

``The sort of things that are happening with many senior players in this country is the same everywhere. What we should look at is to have good quality players at any given time in the future.

``We must try to create a positive environment. Along with that comes skill. No matter how good you are, you must have skill. The skill level in this country is very high. The players know their skill to a great degree. The important thing is, when you are looking after a group whether it is in business or sport is the managment of it.

``One must ensure that is a healthy environment for performance and motivated from time to time when it matters and from time to time make sure the process is and the components of performance are fully understood to achieve the results that we all want,'' Whatmore said.

The former Sri Lankan-born Australian Test cricketer welcomed the changes the team had undergone and said: ``In most instances changes are always for the better. I always believe to get better from time to time you should always have slight changes,'' he said.

Whatmore said the extra responsibility of captain would do Sanath Jayasuriya a lot of good.''I think its time that responsibility is shown and Sanath has accepted it pretty well. He is confident he has got the support of everyone which is very important. He certainly has got the support of the coach,'' said Whatmore.

Speaking of deposed captain Arjun Ranatunga, Whatmore said: ``He has been a wonderful servant along with a number of other senior players and has done extremely well for the country over a period of time. I think Arjuna has still a little bit to offer. It would surprise me if he doesn't figure in the selectors' minds over the next six weeks to two months''.

National selector Ashantha de Mel said that Whatmore would be co-opted into the selection committee, but would have no hand in the selections.

De Mel said the selectors will announce a squad of 15 players for the one-day triangular against Australia and India by the end of the week.

Sizing up the two opponents Sri Lanka will come up against, Whatmore said: ``Whether they won the World Cup or not Australia is always a formidable team. Whenever you play against Australia you know you have a fight on your hands. Even when they lost the World Cup in 1996 it wasn't an easy victory although it may have appeared on paper. I can tell you whenever you play those guys they always fight, they nver give in. We don't expect anything different. But we are looking forward to the contest very much. India in these conditions won't be easy to beat either. It's going to be tough opposition. But I prefer it that way''.

Whatmore said the main reason for him leaving his first contract with the Cricket Board was ``because of his family and because the situation that existed at the time''.

``I am extremely happy to be back. I have always been drawn back to Sri Lanka and happy to work with a group of cricketers to ensure that Sri Lanka is as good as they potentially can be,'' said Whatmore, who was picked as 'Coach of the Year' by 'Wisden Cricket Monthly' after helping Lancashire win two one-day titles (Sunday league and NatWest trophy) and finish runner-up in the county championships last year.