Mahela wants to move to opener in ODIs

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Veteran Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene has expressed a desire to open the batting in ODIs, especially in the current series against India where the openers have failed to set a good platform.

Veteran Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene has expressed a desire to open the batting in ODIs, especially in the current series against India where the openers have failed to set a good platform.

Sri Lanka have already lost the series, three down after three games, but Jayawardene has been in good nick. With Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga struggling, he has respectfully urged the selectors to see his side.

Jayawardene said: "Letting me open batting for Sri Lanka is up to the selectors to decide. I really would like to open. I have always wanted to open ever since the 2007 World Cup and even made a request to the selectors of my consent.

"That's where I have made the maximum as a batsman. The management wanted me to be there in the middle order because we are yet to settle in, in that area. Let's hope that our middle order would click and I get back to open during the remaining days of my career."

He then went on to say that while he scored a ton in the previous match, and got a man of the match gong, that meant little to him as his side lost, and he wanted to ensure the pattern did not repeat during the rest of the series.

He said; "When we plan out a game we have faced problems in implementing them and it has been our setback in the three games played so far. It's just that nothing has come in our way so far in this tour.

"We need to look seriously into it and try to make suitable corrections. You need to look at situations differently and maturely when you are a senior player. You cannot be selfish aiming at records.

"Though I reached an important milestone in my career and won a man-of-the-match award, it's not pleasing to be in the losing side."

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