Lankans looking at constant improvement: Jayawardene

Rajkot, Feb 10 (UNI) Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene today said his team was looking to constantly improve not only for the World Cup but beyond that also.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the second one-dayer at the Madhavrao Scindia cricket stadium here, Jayawardene said though they were missing Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, they are confident of doing well here in India as they know they have the personnel who can deliver the goods for them.

Meanwhile, Sir Lankan coach Tom Moody said they were not treating this series as a preparation for the World Cup, as they had started their preparation a year back and this series is just a continuation of that process. ''We are looking to improve continuously in all areas and there are no specific areas on which we are concentrating but looking to improve as cricketers and human beings in all aspects and as such there is no specific thrust in any one area,'' he said.

Moody also said they have all but got their team ready for the World Cup except for one spot. He, however, refused which spot was that saying that you will come to know on February 12 when the Sri Lankan World Cup squad is picked.

The Australia-born coach, while admitting that it would be difficult to get the same caliber like Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, their absence gives an opportunity for players like Lasith Malinga and Malinga Bandara to stand up and be counted.

Moody said the team is going into this match with confidence after the wash out first one-dayer in which they were in a good position. That confidence we will take into tomorrow's game, he added.

UNI