Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur said that as a South African he was looking forward to the challenge in the two-Test cricket series which started yesterday.
Arthur is hopeful that his knowledge of the local conditions in South Africa can come in handy for Sri Lanka and has backed his pace attack to deliver the goods.
“I know the conditions,” Arthur said in a video press conference from South Africa. “I finished coaching South Africa in 2010, but there’s a familiarity for me. South Africa never leaves me and I felt comfortable coming back to the environment. I know how South Africa will attack us and their head coach and I go back a hell of a long way. I am looking forward to locking horns with them.”
Arthur said the LPL had also prepared the Sri Lankan players to be positive.
“The one thing that the LPL did was that it allowed players to play competitive cricket which is always a good thing and that is a plus point for the players,” said Arthur.
“ The only thing I really enjoyed was the guys were playing good, hard competitive cricket and you can’t replicate that in a training session.”
He also said a good showing against South Africa will put the players on a strong footing to meet England in the home Test series starting on January 14 in Galle.
“A strong showing in these two Tests can help Sri Lanka take a lot of confidence into the home Test series against England.
“Every series for us is extremely important. The one thing that I do know which is very important is that if you play well and you get some wins along the line, irrespective of the conditions you take confidence. And confidence and belief is very powerful within a playing group.
“This South Africa series for us is massive. Last time Sri Lanka was here, they won. In that series, Sri Lanka became the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa and we would love to be able to replicate that,” said Arthur.