---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should not play like Australia or…"
description: "\"We should not play like Australia or India or England - we should play like Sri Lanka.\" — Mahela Jayawardene"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg"
---

#  We should not play like Australia or India or England - we…

![“We should not play like Australia or India or England - we should play like Sri Lanka.” quote by Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg)

> “We should not play like Australia or India or England - we should play like Sri Lanka.”

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Adopt Sri Lanka’s unique cricket style rather than copying other nations to achieve success.

**In simple terms:** Embrace local strengths over imitation.

Key Takeaway

Develop a distinctive, home‑grown approach.

Themes

strategy national identity innovation team dynamics

Mood

pragmatic confident strategic

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- international tournaments
- coaching sessions
- team building

Key Concepts

cultural advantage sports tactics

Questions to Reflect On

- What unique strengths does your team have?
- How can you blend tradition with innovation?

A Different Perspective

Copying can offer useful insights.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) [Cricket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sri lanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sri-lanka/)

## Related quotes

> [I've always said, in India and England especially, but all around the world, it's hard to start your innings against good attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke/i-ve-always-said-in-india-and-england-especially-but-all-around-the/)

[Michael Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke/)

> [I cannot separate the finances of India from those of England. If the finances of the Indian Government receive any severe and irreparable check,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-cannot-separate-the-finances-of-india-from-those-of-england-if-the/)

[Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/)

> [The one major disappointment I have is that I didn't get a hundred against India in India. I got lots of runs against India…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gower/the-one-major-disappointment-i-have-is-that-i-didn-t-get-a-hundred/)

[David Gower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gower/)

> [In France, it's easy to know which team is going to win the game, whereas in England, anywhere you play, you know it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-martial/in-france-it-s-easy-to-know-which-team-is-going-to-win-the-game/)

[Anthony Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-martial/)

> [There are teams in England who play the football I like, keeping the ball on the ground, playing a quick game with one-twos, pressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorginho/there-are-teams-in-england-who-play-the-football-i-like-keeping-the/)

[Jorginho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorginho/)

> [It's not about age. If Marcus Rashford is ready for England then he should play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/it-s-not-about-age-if-marcus-rashford-is-ready-for-england-then-he/)

[Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/)

> [Whether you play England, either you play West Indies or Australia, you have to take wicket if you stop any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarfaraz-ahmed/whether-you-play-england-either-you-play-west-indies-or-australia-you/)

[Sarfaraz Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarfaraz-ahmed/)

> [To be called up to England, to play at Old Trafford and then to come and play at the Bridge, there's so much experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-mount/to-be-called-up-to-england-to-play-at-old-trafford-and-then-to-come/)

[Mason Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-mount/)

> [A lot of people have lost interest in watching England play. To get motivated to watch international football, you need your country to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/a-lot-of-people-have-lost-interest-in-watching-england-play-to-get/)

[Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/)

> [When I first came to England to play I saw coaches having a go at players when they made mistakes and they would literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dier/when-i-first-came-to-england-to-play-i-saw-coaches-having-a-go-at/)

[Eric Dier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dier/)

> [For England, I play centre-half. I enjoy it. You face all the best strikers in the world. I enjoy the challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/for-england-i-play-centre-half-i-enjoy-it-you-face-all-the-best/)

[Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/)

> [The game has evolved over the years, and I don't think we have as a country. In other countries they have, and they adjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/the-game-has-evolved-over-the-years-and-i-don-t-think-we-have-as-a/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [It is nice that we finished the game today. At the end we finished the series with a convincing victory against Bangladesh. We came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/it-is-nice-that-we-finished-the-game-today-at-the-end-we-finished-the/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [I feel like in Australia, all the films I've done, we're all equal moving parts in this equation of making the film - an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/i-feel-like-in-australia-all-the-films-i-ve-done-we-re-all-equal/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [Having something like an Australia points-based system means we control immigration and bring in the skills that we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsimrat-kaur-badal/having-something-like-an-australia-points-based-system-means-we/)

Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## More by Mahela Jayawardene

> [I was feeling pretty good out there in the middle when I went in, but it was one of those things - sometimes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/i-was-feeling-pretty-good-out-there-in-the-middle-when-i-went-in-but/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [There are no fears out there. There is nothing we cannot handle. It is just how we prepare ourselves mentaly and physically..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/there-are-no-fears-out-there-there-is-nothing-we-cannot-handle-it-is/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [There is so much uncertainty in cricket. One day you can get a hundred, the next day you can be dismissed for a zero.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/there-is-so-much-uncertainty-in-cricket-one-day-you-can-get-a-hundred/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [It is nice that we finished the game today. At the end we finished the series with a convincing victory against Bangladesh. We came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/it-is-nice-that-we-finished-the-game-today-at-the-end-we-finished-the/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [The game has evolved over the years, and I don't think we have as a country. In other countries they have, and they adjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/the-game-has-evolved-over-the-years-and-i-don-t-think-we-have-as-a/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

> [People are already worrying about the ball moving around and all that jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/people-are-already-worrying-about-the-ball-moving-around-and-all-that/)

[Mahela Jayawardene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

[Explore all 7 Mahela Jayawardene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/)

## More Australia quotes

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [I wanted to have a peaceful married life with my wife, so we both moved to Sydney in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-wanted-to-have-a-peaceful-married-life-with-my-wife-so-we-both/)

[Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/)

> [It will be nice to play against Australia. It's a great country, and football is getting bigger and bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/it-will-be-nice-to-play-against-australia-it-s-a-great-country-and/)

[Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/)

> [We don't have any sailors in Australia, we have rowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lexcen/we-don-t-have-any-sailors-in-australia-we-have-rowers/)

Ben Lexcen

> [I think that prosecuting some college kid because she shared a file is a lot like sending somebody to Australia 200 years ago for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-think-that-prosecuting-some-college-kid-because-she-shared-a-file/)

[Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/)

> [Sydney CBD is the eastern city, Parramatta is the central city and Badgerys will be the third city in greater Sydney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/sydney-cbd-is-the-eastern-city-parramatta-is-the-central-city-and/)

[Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/)

> [No matter what day we celebrate Australia Day, let's celebrate it together and give thanks to the original inhabitants of this vast country. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/no-matter-what-day-we-celebrate-australia-day-let-s-celebrate-it/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [As a young kid you stay up late to watch the Ashes, getting told off for not being in bed, and dream of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-bairstow/as-a-young-kid-you-stay-up-late-to-watch-the-ashes-getting-told-off/)

[Jonny Bairstow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-bairstow/)

> [I love coming out to Australia, if it weren't so far away I would go all the time. I've worked with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-morillo/i-love-coming-out-to-australia-if-it-weren-t-so-far-away-i-would-go/)

[Erick Morillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-morillo/)

> [What I appreciated was the fact that the script delved into how Australians were - and still are - condescended to by the English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/what-i-appreciated-was-the-fact-that-the-script-delved-into-how/)

[Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/)

> [Okay the names 360, I run around tipsy. My fellas in Australia all sit with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/360/okay-the-names-360-i-run-around-tipsy-my-fellas-in-australia-all-sit/)

 360

> [Coal is the moral choice, particularly for the developing world... The model for the world right now should be Australia. Australia gets it. Scientifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morano/coal-is-the-moral-choice-particularly-for-the-developing-world-the/)

Marc Morano

> [I want to be part of the team that wins a Test series in England and Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-gambhir/i-want-to-be-part-of-the-team-that-wins-a-test-series-in-england-and/)

[Gautam Gambhir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-gambhir/)

> [I was brought up in a Christian home in Australia with a father who was very bold about his faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/i-was-brought-up-in-a-christian-home-in-australia-with-a-father-who/)

[Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/)

[Browse all 1,907 Australia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We should not play like Australia or India or England - we should play like Sri Lanka.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mahela Jayawardene"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-india-or-england-we-should-play/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Australia"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-india-or-england-we-should-play/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/mahela-jayawardene-50176_australia_we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-ind_3041461.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We should not play like Australia or India or England - we should play like Sri Lanka.” — Mahela Jayawardene",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mahela Jayawardene",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahela-jayawardene/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We should not play like Australia...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-india-or-england-we-should-play/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahela-jayawardene/we-should-not-play-like-australia-or-india-or-england-we-should-play/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
