Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews after the ODI series loss to Zimbabwe said that it is my lowest points in my career. It was a poor performance by the hosts who were outplayed by the visitors Zimbabwe as they won the series 3-2 to register their first series win against the test playing nation since 2013.
“It”s one of the lowest points in my career and a hard one to swallow,” Angelo Mathews said. “Everything went against us, from the toss to misreading the wicket. But there are no excuses. At the end of the day, we were not good enough to beat them. They played better cricket.”
Since Angelo Mathews became captain of the Sri Lankan team, they won away test series against England in their home ground and home test series against Australia. Since the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand, Sri Lanka performances have not been great winning the series against Ireland, West Indies. Under Mathew’s captaincy, Sri Lanka has lost ODI series against Pakistan, Australia, and Zimbabwe all in Sri Lanka.
This year, they have won T20 series against South Africa and Australia in their own den. They have not won a test or ODI series in the year 2017. In the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2017, they were knocked out of the group stages. Also, they were whitewashed by South Africa in the ODI series this year.
“We have not been consistent,” Angelo Mathews said. “The pressure is on all of us. The more we lose, the more pressure we are under. There is no solution for that and the only solution is winning. We try to win games, but we commit too many mistakes.”
Mathews is a key member of the current squad which lacks the experience. The Sri Lankan greats like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, TM Dilshan all have retired from the game and have found it difficult. The Sri Lankan was knocked out of in the group stages of World T20 2016 held in India.
He was named the captain of the Sri Lankan team in 2013 and since then he is the captain of the team in all formats.
Sri Lanka will face India in 3 test matches, 5 ODI and 1 T20 from 26th July. Before India’s tour, Sri Lanka has to face Zimbabwe in one- off test match from 14th July.
“Still haven”t thought about stepping down,” Angelo Mathews said. “There”s time. I”ll give it a bit more thought and talk to the selectors. I haven”t decided anything yet.”
In the fifth ODI on Monday, Sri Lanka posted 203 for 8 in 50 overs. Danish Gunathilka scored 52 while Guarantee remained not out on 59. Zimbabwe openers Mire and Masakadza added 92 runs for the first wicket. The visitors lost wickets but Raza, captain Cremer ensured that Zimbabwe clinched a historic win.
Sri Lanka is currently 7th in ODI and test matches while in T20 they are 8th ranked.
