Cricket: One-day international Sri Lankans get their heads read

Marvan Atapattu is run out in Christchurch. Picture / Simon Baker

Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody has called in a sports psychologist to help with the morale of his embattled team as they eye the last two one-dayers against New Zealand.

Destroyed 6-1 in India before arriving in New Zealand, Sri Lanka were jet-lagged when they were beaten in the opening match at Queenstown and, although showing an improvement in Christchurch on Tuesday, were still noticeably off the pace.

The concern for Sri Lankan fans is that, if the team cannot turn around their form in the next couple of games, they face an even more torrid time in Australia at the hands of their world champion hosts and South Africa.

To make matters worse for Moody, former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya remains on the doubtful list after slipping in the shower on the eve of the third match in Christchurch, apparently while reaching for the shampoo.

Why Jayasuriya, who has about as much hair as your average household saucepan, would be requiring shampoo has not yet been explained, but his absence hurt Sri Lanka on Tuesday in terms of both bat and ball.

Moody explained yesterday that the team psychologist had been previously scheduled to arrive in New Zealand at this stage of the series, and had not been summoned as a result of recent form.

"We had Sandy Gordon working with the team about five months ago and I'd arranged for him to join us because he's based in Australia during the VB Series," said Moody.

"He'll be with for us for a few days in Melbourne and Perth but it's certainly not something that's been put in place because of recent form. It's been part of the long-term plan to get the players working with a sports psychologist."

Most other cricketing nations had already employed the services of a psychologist in one capacity or another, and New Zealand were yesterday practising under the watchful eye of their management team, including shrink Gilbert Enoka.

Moody insisted there was no suggestion of his players being hypnotised with gold lockets, or brain-washed on leather couches, but believed Sri Lanka need to pay more attention to sport science.

"It's an interesting one because in Sri Lanka, understanding the mental side of the game hasn't been a priority, and I think it's an area where we have plenty of room to improve.

"I think it's like anything. A win is all the team needs. The team just need that positive boost. The individuals are relatively confident and happy with their games but it's just not quite clicking as a team.

"As soon as we get that under our belt tomorrow I'm sure what's happened over the last few weeks will be well and truly behind us, and we'll be forging ahead. It's not that far away, just a little bit of fine- tuning and we're there."