Marvan Atapattu Quotations

The positive side of it is that we have managed to keep our intensive levels high to beat teams like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. We have done our homework well. We respect teams and we do what we can do best, without thinking too much about the opponents. It is shown by our results.

We honestly did not think the win would come so easily after the way they batted and reached 155 for two after lunch on the first day. Then, one bad shot changed everything and allowed us to come back.

We've shown the critics we're a better team than they say. We can leave the country with our heads high.

We were clearly underdogs coming into the series and now we are 1-0 up in the final. We believe in ourselves.

We were clearly underdogs before the series and people thought it was a two horse race (between Australia and South Africa) but here we are. We believe in ourselves and back ourselves and we played almost as well as we can today.

He's been doing a lot of work on his fielding and tonight it paid off in a final.

It is a big series and to lose our two main players is something that's very hard to bear. But I am sure the guys who take their places will give their 100 per cent.

It is nice to finish the home season with a victory,

It is always good to win the first match of the series,

Over the years they have shown potential and what they have got. They have improved and it shows in their recent performances too.

Our batting let us down but we need to come back and do better in the remaining matches. India are playing very well at the moment but we need to encourage each other to do better.

We have also suffered similar defeats in our early years.

True, it was a two-and-a-half-day match, but we do not want to insult the opposition and deprive them of competing with the big boys.

We produced a good all-round performance and I suppose the only slight concern was that the top order batsmen could have done better,

We've come here with several things on our mind and goals to achieve,

We were focused all the time and played as we do against any other side. The pitch was slow to begin with and it suited their kind of bowlers.

We are very keen to put things right considering the fact that we haven't had a good last month in India.

We are very keen to put things right.

We are aware of what is needed but we were second in the rankings not too long ago. A poor series in India has cost us a lot.

Everything is falling in place and everyone wants to keep going the way they are going. It's all about winning habits. There was a time when we couldn't chase 225, but everything falls into place when you're winning.

The one-day game requires quick decisions and when the super-sub comes into play it's yet another headache for the captain. On a personal note I prefer if we don't have the rule.

This is going to be an interesting challenge for both sides, playing the same opponent in seven consecutive games.

In terms of cricket I would rather think we get on with the game now and play to our potential, than thinking about it too much.