Sri Lanka players have to tackle pressure better, cricket awareness also needs sharpening: Sanath Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka's interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya didn't have a great start to his tenure as the Lankan Lions were whitewashed in the three-match T20I series against India. Charith Asalanka's men will hope for a much better performance when they take on the Men in Blue in the three-match ODI series, starting with the first game on Friday, August 2.

Jayasuriya asserted that there is no lack of commitment from his players. However, he admitted that they need to get better at handling pressure situations and assured that the coaching staff will give them full support on their journey.

"I don't see a lack of commitment, but they have got to tackle pressure better. Their cricket awareness also needs sharpening. We are taking the responsibility; you can't go away from that. As long as they realise that, and make sure that, we'll have to keep giving them the confidence and support," Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by India Today.

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The former Sri Lanka captain said that on the bigger Sri Lankan grounds, players need to focus on placing the balls into the gaps instead of only trying to hit sixes.

"When you talk about power hitting, I don't think you need that much. If you hit enough fours and enough twos, you get the total that you need. The [Sri Lankan] grounds are a little bigger. There's no reason why you can't hit boundaries, or twos, or threes. If you can do that, you can get by without hitting so many sixes."

Charith Asalanka is very professional and communicates well: Sanath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya heaped praise on new white-ball captain Asalanka and urged the other players and the support staff to give him all the support he needs to ease his way into the role.

"Charith Asalanka is one of our best players in this format, and we need to remember that. But when you get the captaincy, there is some pressure. I've been there too. You have got to give them a little time in that position," Jayasuriya said.

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"There are ten more players in the side, and 16 in the squad. We all have to get together and give him the confidence too. At any moment, the captain could click. Charith Asalanka is someone who works really hard. He's very professional and communicates well," the 55-year-old added.