I want a repeat of 1996 WC: Sanath Jayasuriya

Port of Spain, Mar 14 (UNI) Sri Lanka's explosive opener Sanath Jayasuriya today said his greatest wish was to see his country repeating the 1996 World Cup winning performance in the Caribbean.

With 27 World Cup matches prior to this showpiece event, including the final match of 1996 WC in Lahore, Jayasuriya says he wants to spearhead his country's challenge this time too.

''It (1996 win) was probably the greatest moment in a cricketer's life,'' the fit-as-a-fiddle left hander said after nets today. ''I can't think of a moment to match that in my cricket career.,'' he added.

''As far as this World Cup is concerned, it gives us three (Muttiah Muralihtaran and Chaminda Vaas being the other members of Arjuna Ranatunga's champion side) a chance to share just how we achieved what we did 11 years ago. Not just the joy and pleasure of winning, but also how to go about it.

''For a lot of the younger guys, this is a novel experience so it helps when we keep recalling the 1996 campaign, on how we took it one game at a time, and then move on to the next match,'' the 37-year-old cricketer said.

Jayasuriya admits that 2005 was the most depressing year for him. An injured shoulder and a poor one-day international series in India led to his exclusion from the Test squad, following which he announced his retirement.

However, he was recalled when there was a change in the Sri Lankan board. ''It was probably the worst phase of my cricketing life. I didn't perform well in India, had a shoulder injury and then retired. It was a hard time,''Jayasuriya remembered.

''But the new selection committee had faith in me and even while I was out of the game, I worked very hard on my game and fitness. A lot of questions were answered when I came back to the team for the series in England. Since then, things have been going well,'' he said.

On how he plans to take the present Sri Lankan campaign, he said, ''Basically match by match, just look to perform to the best of my abilities in each game and hope Sri Lanka go all the way.'' And how does he continue to bat on in the trademark buccaneering Jayasuriya style? ''That's the only way I know to play. It is God-given talent and I've worked very hard to stay fit so that I can continue to provide quick starts for the team and then try and settle down to play long innings,'' he said.

UNI