We have the ideal combination to repeat '96 glory: Mahela

Colombo, Feb 26 (UNI) Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena today sent out a strong warning, asserting his team has got the ''ideal combination and verities'' to repeat the glory of winning the 1996 World Cup.

''We have played a series of very good games over the past one year with the combination of experienced and young boys. I think we got a very good chance to win the Word Cup,'' Jayawardene told reporters here today ahead of the team's departure for the West Indies for the showpiece event.

Emphasising that the team was well prepared to adapt to the conditions of the West Indian wickets, Jayawardene said, ''Our boys are geared up to give their 100 per cent to the repeat the 1996 glory of winning the World Cup.'' Asked if he felt that Australia are a lesser threat now due to the absence of their injured spearhead Brett Lee, the Lankan captain said it was not prudent to underestimate the defending champions just because they had a poor one-day series against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, coach Tom Moody, who had a pre-World Cup tour of the West Indies in order to get first hand information on the conditions at different venues, said that the Lankans would take every game seriously including their maiden game against Bermuda ''no matter if they are minnows or not.'' Speaking to reporters, the quartet of Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Marvan Attapattu and Kumar Sangakkara also expressed confidence and promised to give 100 per cent in the Caribbean.

UNI