BENGALURU: Four years ago, on a balmy day in June, an unfancied Sri Lanka upset England at Headingley to add spice to the World Cup. On Thursday when the two teams go out to play a do-or-die contest, the Islanders will seek inspiration from one of the architects of that famous win - Angelo Mathews.
Mathews scored an unbeaten 115-ball-85 before Lasith Malinga worked his magic to beat England. Back then, Mathews was among linchpins. In an anti-climax thereafter, his form dipped and the outlook of the national selectors changed and they made wholesale changes to blood youngsters.
With a brittle middle-order and injuries plaguing the former champions, the team management chose not to experiment and fell back on Mathews. He was drafted in as a travelling reserve last week and made it to the team on Tuesday as a replacement for Matheesha Pathirana. Mathews, set for his fourth World Cup, is banking on his experience of having played 221 ODIs.
"I haven't played a lot of white ball cricket over the last three years. But I'm hoping to use my experience and give it my all in this World Cup," said the former Sri Lankan skipper.
On being mentally prepared to enter the big stage again, Mathews pointed out, "I've probably seen it all over the last 15 years, so it's quite easy for me to focus on what I have to do rather than getting too affected by what's happening around me. I'm a little more mature now. I shut out things which I have to and focus on what I have to focus on."
