Penny to Lankans : Develop mental toughness like Aussies

Colombo, June 12 (UNI) Hoping to continue from where Tom Moody left, Sri Lanka's newly appointed coach Trevor Penny has said the Islanders have still to catch up with the mental toughness of the Australians although talentwise, they are up there with the best.

''The mental toughness of the Australians is a classic example - and they have never lost it. If they are 5 down for 20, someone would come and get a hundred,'' Penny said.

''The Sri Lankans were catching up with the Aussies in this aspect, but talentwise, the Lankans are as good as anyone in the world.

''So, it's about the mental pressure that has come a long, long way as we saw in the World Cup. We saw some tough situations and we got to keep working on that and keeping the same squad and make the guys confident,'' the Zimbabwean double international asserted.

At the moment, the Sri Lanka team is scattered with some players in England and the others playing in the Afro-Asia Championship in India.

''Once we are in a position to muster all the players, may be in a week or so, the practice sessions in proper could commence.

Anyway, it's good to note, that all the players will be involved in cricket somewhere which is very good for the players,'' Penny was quoted as saying in 'Sunday Observer'.

Penny said he is going to build on the work done by his predecessor Moody. ''The preparations will be just like it was in the past two years, and the team will be getting a sports psychologist Sandy Gordon from Perth next week and the team should be fully prepared to get the best side,'' he said.

The Bangladesh team is scheduled to arrive for their Sri Lanka tour on June 17 for three Tests and an equal number of one-dayers during their 41-day stay in the Island.

''Definitely, I am going to start from where Tom left, but unfortunately I got three months to do it. I definitely didn't want to leave this job, but my family needs me and it's a different story.

''I want to continue the way exactly how Tom did, because we really worked together and the coaching methods were the same,'' he explained.

He praised Jayawardene for his captaincy and said the two shared a good rapport. ''So I am going to continue on that track. Mahela is a very, very good captain and I get on well with him, so there is nothing different really,'' Penny said.

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