Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews has spoken out against using a points system for his country’s upcoming tour of England. The points system used is going to be similar to that used in the woman’s Ashes series where points will be awarded for each format and aggregated to determine the overall winner of the tour.
Angelo Mathews, speaking to reporters at the Lords Cricket Ground said, “I don't like to move away from the traditional game but whatever the administrators decide we'll have to go with and move on," The 28-year-old all-rounder added, “We have to experience and see whether it's good or bad.” I don't like to move away from the traditions of the game. I like the good old five days”, he said.
Sri Lanka have good memories of touring England as they won the Twenty20, One-day and Test Series they played there, although they would miss veteran batsmen, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in this series.
Also read: Graham Ford says Sri Lanka will face a huge challenge in England
Mathews said, “We don't have Sanga and Mahela anymore.” "But we've got to move on and take up the challenge with who we have in the squad and I believe we can still win if we play to our potential.We've got some fearless players in our team. That can be a plus point for us."
Angelo Mathews had famously scored 160 to set up Sri Lanka’s 100 run victory in the third and final test match of the 2014 series at Headingley which had completed Sri Lanka’s first ever test series win in England. Referring to that historic series win, the Sri Lankan skipper said, “That is one moment that we will always cherish for the rest of our lives.”
Stating that the team would like to repeat their triumph, Mathews said, “We'd never won a Test series in England before and to be able to do that as a team was fantastic. If we can repeat that once again it will be ideal for us."
Also read: Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya back into the selection committee
Sri Lankan coach, Graham Ford, who is on his second stint with Sri Lanka was clear on the teams objectives for the England tour saying, “I think, first and foremost we are here to try to win the Test series and I believe we can do that."
This year’s three test series between England and Sri Lanka starts at the Headingly on May 17th.
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