PROVIDENCE, Guyana (AFP) - Chaminda Vaas has plans to end his distinguished international career for Sri Lanka in a year’s time.
The left-arm fast-medium bowler collected three wickets for 45 from 22 overs to help his side restrict West Indies to 269 for nine, replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 476 for eight declared, on the third day of the opening Test at the Guyana National Stadium.
“I feel no pressure right now at all, and I am enjoying the way I have been bowling, and the way things have been going for the Sri Lanka team,” Vaas told reporters.
“I am coming to the end of my playing career. I am taking game by game by game. I am enjoying what I am doing right now for Sri Lanka cricket.
“I am thinking I will play for another year - about three or four more Test matches before I call it quits.”
Sri Lanka have recently lost the services of batting stalwarts Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu to retirement from Tests, but Vaas believes there are strong replacements waiting in the wings to take up the mantle when he departs.
He did, however, bemoan the loss of Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, and Farveez Maharoof all to injury for this trip to the Caribbean.
“We are missing them, but I think the players we have in this side have a good chance to prove themselves,” he said.
“I think we have good fast bowling stocks in Sri Lanka. Apart from Malinga, Fernando, and Maharoof, we also have Ishara Amarasinghe, who has not played a Test, but he is on this trip, and there are others, so I think it is a good time for Sri Lanka cricket concerning fast bowlers.
“I think Sri Lanka cricket is going in the right way, and I believe that when I leave, it will be the right time.”
Like the rest of his teammates, Vaas is focussed right now on winning the opening Test against West Indies to hand Sri Lanka their first Test match win in the Caribbean.
“I think we bowled pretty well to restrict them ëon the third dayû,” he said. “They scored only 240 runs. We bowled well, but we could not get the last wicket, and they still need eight runs to avoid the follow-on, but we have to dismiss them early.
“I think we have to bowl them out as early as possible on the fourth day. We have not won a match in the Caribbean, but we are looking forward to winning this Test. I think the boys are fighting really hard to win this time in the Caribbean.”
The left-arm fast-medium bowler collected three wickets for 45 from 22 overs to help his side restrict West Indies to 269 for nine, replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 476 for eight declared, on the third day of the opening Test at the Guyana National Stadium.
“I feel no pressure right now at all, and I am enjoying the way I have been bowling, and the way things have been going for the Sri Lanka team,” Vaas told reporters.
“I am coming to the end of my playing career. I am taking game by game by game. I am enjoying what I am doing right now for Sri Lanka cricket.
“I am thinking I will play for another year - about three or four more Test matches before I call it quits.”
Sri Lanka have recently lost the services of batting stalwarts Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu to retirement from Tests, but Vaas believes there are strong replacements waiting in the wings to take up the mantle when he departs.
He did, however, bemoan the loss of Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, and Farveez Maharoof all to injury for this trip to the Caribbean.
“We are missing them, but I think the players we have in this side have a good chance to prove themselves,” he said.
“I think we have good fast bowling stocks in Sri Lanka. Apart from Malinga, Fernando, and Maharoof, we also have Ishara Amarasinghe, who has not played a Test, but he is on this trip, and there are others, so I think it is a good time for Sri Lanka cricket concerning fast bowlers.
“I think Sri Lanka cricket is going in the right way, and I believe that when I leave, it will be the right time.”
Like the rest of his teammates, Vaas is focussed right now on winning the opening Test against West Indies to hand Sri Lanka their first Test match win in the Caribbean.
“I think we bowled pretty well to restrict them ëon the third dayû,” he said. “They scored only 240 runs. We bowled well, but we could not get the last wicket, and they still need eight runs to avoid the follow-on, but we have to dismiss them early.
“I think we have to bowl them out as early as possible on the fourth day. We have not won a match in the Caribbean, but we are looking forward to winning this Test. I think the boys are fighting really hard to win this time in the Caribbean.”
