13 April,2011 07:55 AM IST | | Ashwin D Silva
In spite of entering the high-voltage Indian Premier League, a tournament that involves non-stop travelling, within a week of the World Cup final, Kochi Tuskers skipper Mahela Jayawardene asserts that he is not fatigued.
Jayawardene was quick to point out Sri Lanka had qualified to three of the last five World Cup finals, and that his team-mates were professionals who understand the rigours of modern day cricket. "We work really hard on our fitness in the off-season and during competitions. This helps us." He added, "Yes, mentally I was tired. I took a few days break after the World Cup and now I am ready," he said referring to a query about some players requesting for a break. The former Sri Lanka skipper said that success was the best way to fight fatigue. "When you have a successful run as a team, you don't feel fatigued. It is a good challenge," he added.
Kochi Tuskers Kerala, debutants in the Twenty20 league, lost their opening game against Royal Challenger Bangalore, and will now face Pune Warriors in Navi Mumbai today. When queried about how he will handle the temperamental S Sreesanth, he said: "You need to identify the individual, I think Sree performs well in that aggressive manner. If you take that away from him, you might not see a very aggressive bowler. At the same time I noticed that he has toned down quite a bit in the last year." "We need characters like Sree. If he uses the same energy, it will be good for Kochi and for India. Success will energise him and lead him to a good direction," he concluded.
