Jayawardene concerned about ODI batting form

Captain Mahela Jayawardene said Sunday he was worried about a slump in his batting form in one-day internationals as Sri Lanka arrived for a tour of three ODIs against Pakistan.

Jayawardene has scored 409 runs in the last 18 ODIs over the last seven months, and has not scored a century in the shortened version of the international game in one and a half years.

"It's a concern because as a batsman I need to contribute and that's very important," Jayawardene told reporters. "I haven't been able to get those big runs for the team and that's something on which I'm really working hard on.

"I don't see that I'm like out of form or anything like that because when I play test matches I'm batting really well and getting big runs," said the 31-year-old veteran of 291 ODIs.

Sri Lanka is filling a gap after India canceled its scheduled tour in the wake of Mumbai attacks and will return for two test matches next month after playing five ODIs against India at home.

Bangladesh nearly stunned Sri Lanka in a tri-series final on Friday before Jayawardene's team made a remarkable recovery from being 5-6 to win by two wickets — helped by Muttiah Muralitharan's 33 runs off 16 balls.

"I don't think I've seen a team being 5-6 and winning a match, that's something special whether it's against Bangladesh or whoever," Jayawardene said.

"In cricket there are some periods when you go through bad times and tough times, you just need to pull through and that's what character is all about."

Jayawardene downplayed the role of his two key spin bowlers Muralitharan and new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis in the series against Pakistan.

"There's no focus on my part on those two guys. They are two very good bowlers but at the same time we have got some other really good bowlers who could win matches on their day," he said.

However, Jayawardene predicted a bright future for Mendis, 23, who has taken the quickest 50 wickets in one-day internationals (in 19 matches) — four matches less than India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar.

"He hasn't had any added pressure, he is enjoying his challenges and pressure does not affect him," Jayawardene said. "There are some really good guys around him giving him advice especially Murli (Muralitharan) who is a brilliant role model for Ajantha because he is somebody who has worked 18 years very hard.

"As long as Ajantha realizes that if he can go at the same path as Murli, I'm sure we will have a big match winner for us in the next ten years.

Security concerns among foreign teams meant that Pakistan missed out on home test matches last year, with Australia deciding not to tour in March 2008. The one-day ICC Champions Trophy was also postponed.

Jayawardene said Pakistan had toured Sri Lanka in the past when other teams had refused, and that it was only right for his team to now play in Pakistan.

"I'm not a diplomat, I'm here to play cricket and for us it's all about committing our obligations,"he said. "Obviously Pakistan have done the same with us in the past and it's our duty.

"We came here six months ago (for the Asia Cup) and we had a very great time. Hopefully it's an enjoyable tour for us."

Jayawardene said that Pakistan, which will have the likes of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar back in the team, was always a formidable opponent.

"For me they are a very tough side whether they play regularly or not," he said. "They have got quite a few individual players who can take the game away from you on a given day so it's going to be a tough series for us."

Karachi will host back to back one-day internationals on Jan. 20 and 21 before Lahore stages the final match on Jan. 24.