Muttiah Muralitharan believes Sri Lanka's batting must improve if they are to mount a serious challenge on the Champions Trophy.
Sri Lankan legend fit and ready for world event
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes his side's batting must improve if they are to mount a serious challenge on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
The sub-continent nation begin their assault on the title against host nation South Africa on September 22, hoping to end a trio of final defeats.
Sri Lanka lost in the finals of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England, and come into the event on the back of a 46-run defeat to India in the final of the Compaq Cup triangular series.
Murali missed the recent tournament against New Zealand and India with a groin injury, however the 37-year-old is expected to be fit for his side's Champions Trophy challenge.
Speaking ahead of the event, Murali, who has 511 one-day international wickets to his name, said: "It was disappointing to lose the final to India (in Colombo).
Huge tournament
"Chasing a huge total is difficult, especially in day-night games.
"We should have restricted them to a lower total. You can come up with all sorts of excuses, but you have got to admit that they played very well.
"But that is in the past, and we are all looking forward to the Champions Trophy.
"We have done well in multi-nation tournaments, reaching the final, and hope we will be able to come up with a good show in South Africa as well.
"The Champions Trophy is going to be a huge tournament, and it will be very demanding as well," he added.
"You have got to compete hard right from the start. We have struggled a bit with our batting recently. But Thilan (Samaraweera) has got runs, and (Thilina) Kandamby has been batting well too.
"If Sanath (Jayasuriya) also makes runs that would be good, and we can make a real impact."
Sri Lanka will play New Zealand and England, as well as South Africa, in their group matches.
