Sri Lanka 'not in top form yet'

By Martin Gough

Jayawardene's first ODI as captain was in Zimbabwe in 2004

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene insists his team still need to improve, starting with Wednesday's Super 8 match against England in Antigua.

The Sri Lankans thrashed West Indies by 113 runs in Guyana on Sunday to move up to second in the group table.

"There's a lot of work to do because we can't start where we left off against West Indies," Jayawardene cautioned.

"It's a different venue, a different wicket and conditions so we have to make sure we adjust to that."

Jayawardene was also quick to play down the 5-0 whitewash his team inflicted on England in the one-day series last summer.

"It is eight months since then," he said. "We've both played a lot of cricket and the conditions are different. We can't just go out there and think everything will be happy for us.

"To sustain the performances we have been putting out we need to work harder on all areas."

Sri Lanka are regarded as one of the few teams capable of challenging a dominant Australia, and their captain revealed a cautious optimism.

"We're doing a very good job. Under tough conditions, we've managed to build scores, bowl well up front, field well. Those are positive things for us to take," Jayawardene said.

But he drew the line at instant suggestions of lifting the World Cup in Barbados on 28 April.

"I won't think about that - if I dream about it that would be brilliant but if you think too far ahead you won't concentrate."