Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore is wary of player burnout as he prepares his young team during the nest six weeks in South Africa and Australia for another shot at cricket's most prized and expensive title – the World Cup next February .
The coach who guided the country to its highest achievement in the sport when they won the World Cup in 1996 thinks the present team has the ingredients to make it happen again provided the players are nurtured carefully through the next four months .
"It's great to play against that kind of opposition, but we've got to be careful that we don't mismanage the opportunity that's provided for us," said Whatmore.
"In my opinion, it is potentially dangerous with the frequency of games and the workload that we have, that we should be a little bit careful we do not get into a situation when we play our first World Cup match on February 10 (v New Zealand) we have a group of players who are very tired and jaded.
"While it's great to play on surfaces that we need to get used to, we also have to be a little bit careful the players don't burn out. Prescribing sufficient rest would mean that you wouldn't play necessarily your strongest team on a game to game basis. Therefore, it is important that the public and everyone else know and understand that.
"While the objective is to win every match, you also run the risk of a little bit of confidence down because you are playing against good, tough opposition and managing players that is not your best team that is available at anyone game," said Whatmore.
"In my mind there is a huge danger of being in a situation where the players start an important competition and they are down in terms of their drive to perform in a major competition. The objective is to ensure that the players are at their peak at the World Cup and commence the tournament as fresh as they possibly can. There's a mean's to an end and our objective is the World Cup," Whatmore said.
Sri Lanka commence their final preparations towards the World Cup when they leave tomorrow for a two-Test and five-match one-day international tour to South Africa. This will be followed in mid-December by an eight-match (11 if Sri Lanka qualify for the finals) triangular in Australia, where England is also playing.
"We would be looking to play a game of cricket more suited to those conditions. That being the underline objective, I would like to see the Sri Lankan team take on its opposition with an attack a little bit more akin to what other teams do in those conditions and have had success," said Whatmore.
"In South Africa we are playing only against one opposition. In the World Cup we are playing against many. I think it will be very good practice for us if we are able to come up with a combination that is more likely to give us a result in these five games against the same opposition bearing in mind, we won't be playing South Africa in every match in the World Cup," he said.
Whatmore said that he was keenly looking forward to seeing more of the seven quicks picked for the tour, and the batsmen getting in there and creating a presence amongst themselves.
He said to be successful in South African conditions Sri Lanka will need to succeed in all departments.
"At any stage you can get a good batting or bowling performance that can win a match. The fielding has to be of paramount importance to back up the quicks. There are certain wickets there where the bowlers can make an impression on the game and there are certain wickets where the batters can do the same. It is important that all areas are covered adequately and contributions are provided," said Whatmore.
"Personally, I think we need to brush up a bit in our bowling attack which has been predominantly based around spin and had some terrific results. In these conditions I would like to see the more medium-pace quick stuff providing the bulk of the overs to put the pressure on the opposition. That will really provide good opportunities for some.
"The batting has also to be given due importance with the ball that's coming on with a little bit of bounce, making sure that when they do get a start they go on. We've got enough batsmen to make a reasonable total or chase a total. What I would like to see is a little bit more dedicated effort into the formation of the bowling attack, which is slightly different to what we have been doing," he said.
Whatmore said that in his opinion the bulk of the players who are selected for the Australian tour will form the World Cup squad because there was hardly any time between tours to make changes. Even for the current South African tour, the one-day squad is likely to be finalized before the first Test starts at Jo'burg on November 8.
There will be similar logistic problems concerning the World Cup squad too because the final 15 will have to be submitted to the ICC by December 31, at which point Sri Lanka would have played only three of their allotted eight qualifying matches in Australia.
Whatmore said as much as the one-day games are important so too are the two Tests against South Africa.
"It is very important for Sri Lanka to come out and have a good strong showing in those conditions. We haven't particularly done well on that last tour and some of the lessons I am sure have been learnt," he said.
Sir Lanka have made two Test tours to South Africa in 1997-98 and 2000-01 and, lost both series by 2-0 margins.
"I think the group of players that we've got in terms of the attack and the options that we have, we might be better placed to put more pressure on the opposition than before," said Whatmore.
"The two Test matches are important to get out there and really compete in conditions different to what we are used to. I think that might give us a little bit of confidence as well for the one-day series. The game is a very good indicator of the final group of players who will represent us in the World Cup," he said.
"The last time Sri Lanka went there, South Africa played very well. They were on top[ of their game. But at the moment I am not sure they are as stronger as they have been. So there are some variables. All I can say is that the boys who are going there have a good feeling that they can do well.
"South Africa are still a good outfit in their own country and despite (Allan) Donald retiring from Test cricket, and Jonty Rhodes and Darryl Cullinan not playing Test cricket, they are still not an easy team to beat in their own country. I think it would be a good test for us," Whatmore said.
SRI LANKA TEST TEAM TO SOUTH AFRICA:
Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu (vice-captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene (w/k), Hasantha Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Chamila Gamage, Sujeewa de Silva, Tharanga Lakshitha, Thilan Thushara.
Officials: Dav Whatmore (coach), Ajit Jayasekera (manager), Duleep Mendis (technical advisor), Alex Kountouri (physio).
© CricInfo
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