Mathews: Need to be patient, quick decisions won't help

Sri Lanka has won only against UAE and Afghanistan in their last 10 T20 Internationals failing to beat any Test playing nation.

Angelo Mathews said that missing regular T20 captain Lasith Malinga was a big blow but there is no excuse for such shoddy performance.

It is normal for a losing team captain to refrain from answering tough questions. Sri Lankan captain >Angelo Mathews was honest in his assessment of the defending champion's performances after being knocked out of the World T20.

Sri Lanka's 10-run defeat to England despite a heroic fightback from Mathews ended its hopes but the Sri Lankan skipper, disappointment writ large on his face, was honest enough to admit that his team did not deserve to advance in the competition.

Mathews, given charge after Lasith Malinga pulled out, fought a lonely battle before running out of partners and overs on Saturday. “I think we have got slightly better and better with every game, it's just that the finishing touches weren't there for us. We have got a fairly inexperienced team but it's not an excuse. This is the World Cup and we all have to perform and unfortunately we haven't and we don't deserve to go into the semifinals,” Mathews said after the loss.

With the team down and out at 15 for four, a hobbling Mathews gave it his all but it wasn't enough. “We had nothing to lose after being 15 for four, we were running out of overs as well and we had to keep going. Unfortunately, I didn't have a batter with me for the last couple of overs. If I had I could have given up a single and allowed him the strike and we could have got over the line,” he admitted.

With the Sri Lankan top-order failing, Mathews agreed that the batting has been inconsistent. For a team that only has wins against Afghanistan and UAE against its name in the past few months, it hasn't been an easy journey so far.

“We have let down the fans and the country, we haven't played good cricket at all. All we can do is try and stick to a combination, not change the team too much, try and pick about 20 players and give them an opportunity to settle down. We can re-evaluate them after six months and see what they have come up with in terms of performances, then we can take decision but I think quick decisions won't solve this matter, we have to try and be patient,” he said on the future course for Sri Lanka cricket.