Atapattu disappointed Windies not at their best

Marvan Atapattu has expressed his disappointment that Sri Lanka will not be playing the best West Indies side in their two-Test series. "Personally I would like to think when I finished my career that I had played with the best teams. So obviously with Lara, Sarwan and Gayle not being here, I will be thinking that I didn't play the best side that I've heard of.

"Lara gave us a bit of a rough time when he was here the last time, scoring over 600 runs in the series. But the game of cricket is such that it doesn't mean that it happens every time. We were looking forward to the challenge this time but it is a bit disappointing now that he is not here."

Atapattu said his team had a similar experience in Zimbabwe last year when the top white cricketers took a stand against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union on the racial issue concerning selections. "We managed to motivate the guys in different ways according to the form of the game that we played in one-day or a Test match. We'll have a plan here as well. As we came good out of that tour I am sure we will do the same here."

Atapattu admitted that his team had not played much cricket since the tour of New Zealand, which ended in April. "In the past few weeks, along with Tom Moody who has taken up the job as our new coach, we had a program or two. We have worked hard at match situations and hopefully we will do well when the series actually starts."

He said that the first Test at the SSC ground was important from Sri Lanka's point of view because it will be their 150th since gaining Test status 24 years ago. "It is always important and always special when you play a Test match for your country. It is even more special when it is the 150th.

"We have got a new management now. As far as the players are concerned we are trying to focus as much as we can on the game. We do need the right support from the management staff and I am sure we will get it."

Atapattu welcomed the return of Muttiah Muralitharan to the team. He joined them at practice after representing Lancashire in the County Championship. Muralitharan is returning to Test cricket after a gap of nearly eleven months having undergone an operation in his bowling arm.

"It is nice to have Murali back. He is not only the best bowler in my side but the world's best bowler. He troubles more batsmen than anybody else in the world. It is exciting to have him back after a long lay-off. Everybody in the side is looking forward to having him among us."

With regard to the players' contracts, which the Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee has yet to finalise, Atapattu said: "Nearing the series I think the contract will be of less priority. We will try and focus more on the cricket that we are going to play. I am sure the authorities are looking at the contracts and the legal side of it and will get it over sooner than later. Our job in the meanwhile is to focus on cricket, at least until this series is over."