Post-match quotes from Marvan Atapattu, Chaminda Vaas and Geoff Marsh

Wisden Cricinfo staff23-Apr-2004Sri Lanka’s captain, Marvan Atapattu, their Man of the Match, Chaminda Vaas, and Zimbabwe’s coach, Geoff Marsh, spoke to the press after the second one-dayer at Harare. Here’s what they had to say:Marvan Atapattu
On Sri Lanka’s bowling
[Chaminda] Vaas and Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] taking wickets shows the class of the two bowlers. They have been the main contributors to Sri Lankan cricket. I don’t think [Upul] Chandana had the best of days on the field today. Sanath [Jayasuriya] bowled well today after a long time. [Nuwan] Zoysa on his day will perform better.On playing an extra batsman in Saman Jayantha
Looking at the winning combinations we had in the past, it is always seven batsmen that Sri Lanka have gone with. For some reason it had changed a little bit, going with two spinners and three fast bowlers on certain wickets. But in world cricket today most of the teams play with seven batsmen. That adds that little bit of confidence to the batting. Anyway, we are going to cover the fifth bowler’s ten overs with the part-time bowlers we have.On Jayantha’s 74 not out off 64 balls
I can’t ask for anything more from Saman. This is the first time he opened and he scored faster than Sanath. He is that kind of batsman, and takes very little risk. We are more than happy to see someone scoring [like that].On Dilhara Fernando
Dilhara is fit. We want Dilhara in the squad. At the same time we want to get into the position we want to be in, and [only] then try out players. We are only one win away from a series victory, and if it is possible, we will try to give everyone a chance [after that].On Jayasuriya
It is nice to have a guy like that in the side, and he contributes in all three aspects of the game. He has been a great ambassador. Some people recognise the country by Sanath’s batting exploits. What can’t you expect from a guy like him? As a captain, I [am] happy to have a guy like him in my team.On what posterity will say about this series
I don’t want to think a couple of years ahead and say that we toured Zimbabwe in 2004 and this is the type of opposition we beat. I can’t [even] remember most of their names. It won’t have the same effect as beating a full-strength Zimbabwe team. We want Zimbabwe to field their strongest side.Chaminda Vaas
On his preparation
Nothing in particular against Zimbabwe. I got my rhythm from the first game and I am happy [with] the way I bowled.On the pitch
[It was] nice to see some grass on the pitch. You don’t get that kind of a wicket in the subcontinent. I am trying to bend my back and get some extra pace, encouraged by the green tracks.[I got] most of my wickets [today] seaming the ball. I tried to hit the deck and get more wickets. I am happy with my performance although I failed to get five in the innings.I am looking forward to getting to 300 ODI wickets; that is my first target in one-day cricket. Looking forward to getting it in Harare.Geoff Marsh
On his planning
It is difficult to plan against a very good side. We are obviously under-manned, with a lot of the players out. The team is doing the best they possibly can. The boys are trying very hard, they are showing a lot of spirit. They are a very young and inexperienced side.On the series so far
In the first game we put up a good fight, but unfortunately we didn’t get enough runs on the board. To score 136 and expect to bowl Sri Lanka out on a beautiful batting wicket [is unrealistic]. It’s not going to happen. We are doing the best we possibly can.On his young side
It’s great exposure for them. But when you are playing against the best in the world you have got to put up a good fight. You need competition, and we have got to play a lot better than we did today.Ideally you’ll want the best players in the country playing. But at the moment we’ve got a few problems. It’s going to be sorted out the next week or so, and hopefully we can get a good side out.On the silver lining
One of the things about playing with the present group of players [is that] there’s been some good positives coming out of it. The batting of [Tatenda] Taibu, the bowling of [Tinashe] Panyangara, although today he learnt that he cannot afford to bowl wide to players like Jayasuriya. The important thing is to get all our players back and put a full-strength side out on the ground.On his experience as coach of Zimbabwe
[I have] been Zimbabwe’s coach for three years, and this is the most inexperienced team that I have handled. [For] any coach around the world to lose 13 players from the squad of 18, and another three after that, it is pretty difficult.On Taibu, Zimbabwe’s young captain
I give credit to Taibu, [for] the way he has rallied these guys. We are trying as hard as we possibly can without overtrying. It is a big ask.It is important that he remains behind the stumps, although he can bowl, like he showed us the other day.On his side’s fielding
You cannot afford to drop catches off players like {kumar] Sangakkara, [a] lovely player in great form. You [have] got to take the chances and we didn’t do it in the first game.