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Mendis believes SL can win overseas
COLOMBO, Dec 14: Shri Lanka s cricketers, a decade on from their Test debut, have finally come of
age, emerging from a rewarding summer ready for their next major challenge, reports AFP.
"Our cricket has matured over the past decade. Now we have the experience and the skill to win our First Test overseas." manager Diileep Mendis told AFP.
Shri Lanka are celebrating the Test and one-day .series win against New Zealand who lost the final one-day game here Sunday.
Shri Lanka scored their first win In 11 Tests against New Zealand and only their third In 42 Tests. The Kiwis left for home today a day earlier than scheduled.
The triumph followed on the back of a strong performance against Australia in August and September when Shri Lanka narrowly lost a hard-fought-three-Test series 1-0 and won the three-match one-day series 2-0.
Mendis, 40, who captained Shri Dinka in their Iwo prevl-
ous lest wins, against India In 1985 and Pakistan In 1986 in Colombo, believes his side arc now ready for their next big step — victory overseas. >
Sines' making their Test debut against England tn 1982. Shri Lanka have never won abroad. Mendis is still angered by criticism first levelled by Indian star Kapil Dev that the team can only on home soil. .
"Such remarks were made by some overseas players to cast aspersions on our urn plrcs. It Is quljc unfair to judge the team's performance by our umpiring." said Mendis who captained 19 of his 24 Tests for Shri Lanka.
"There were times we thought that the umpiring went against us In the series against Australia. The New Zealand team has given a lot of credit to • our umpires In this series."
Shri Lanka may have to wait, however, for the qhance to prove themselves away from home.
Cricket officials have no plans for tours abroad next year and the 1994 programme has yet to be finalised.
Mendis Is angered: by critics who detract Irom ih< side's
sun-css by saying that New Zealand were weakened by the loss of five players who returned home alter a bomb blast before the opening game of the tour in mid-November.
"They still had a good batting line-up. They had Martin Crowe. Ken Rutherford and ( Andrew) Jones. They lost only Mark Greatbatch," he said.
Skipper Martine Crowe described the loss as " a great disappointment."
Mendis said It was ironic that when Shri l.anka lost several good players who went on a rebel tour of South Africa in October 1982, no one Talked about a weak Shri Lankan side." That toured New Zealand later that year losing the series 2-0.
Mendis paid tribute to the New Zealanders for deciding lo continue the tour instead of taking " the first available flight home" after the bombing fn which five people died outside the team's hotel.
They staying behind averted a disaster for Shri Lanka's cricket. Had they gone ft would have ruined our future programmes. By continuing the tour, il also provided our young cricketers a lot of exposure." he said.
Mendis said that skipper Arjuna Ranatunga had a well balanced side with batsmen of the calibre of Roshan Maha-nama, wl»o had brilliant scries against New Zealand, and an array of talented bowlers.
"Arjuna is fast Improving as a captain. There was a time when we used to send messages to him tn the field. Now he is thinking on his own That Is good for him and the team Shri l^nka can hold Ils own against most sides, he said.
Before departing for home. Crowe told national television that It had been a disappoint mg tour for New Zealand and had the side been al full strength "It would have been an evenly matched series.’