'Mathews' rise the highlight of last two years' - De Zoysa

The maturing of Angelo Mathews as a player and as a captain was the highlight of Michael de Zoysa's two-year term as manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team.

De Zoysa took up the role in February 2013, the same time when Mathews was appointed captain, and completed his term at the end of the 2015 World Cup. He has been replaced by Jeryl Woutersz for the upcoming home series against Pakistan and India.

"From the time he (Angelo Mathews) captained in the Bangladesh series through to the end of the 2015 World Cup, it was marvellous to see a young man really filling the shoes he was intended to fill," de Zoysa said. "With Mahela (Jayawardene) not there and once Sangakkara goes, he will have to do it on his own, then we will really see what he is really made of."

Kumar Sangakkara retired from one-day cricket at the end of the 2015 World Cup and is set to sign-off from Tests during the series against India in August. Suggesting that he continue, de Zoysa said, "it would be a tragedy for him to stop now."

"He can probably surpass (Sachin) Tendulkar's number of Test centuries if he keeps going," he said. "He is already no. 2 to (Don) Bradman and he will probably retain that position in batting average terms. There is so much more he can offer for Sri Lanka."

Looking at the future of the Sri Lanka team, de Zoysa said the health of the team's batting was good, but the bowling remained a worry without an impact bowler.

"The batting is going to be fairly sound. Obviously you will miss Mahela; no way you won't miss a guy who has scored 18,000 runs, but someone has to step up," he said.

"(Lahiru) Thirimanne is definitely going to be one of the players for the future. I am very confident (Dinesh) Chandimal will do so too when he is confident of a place in the side. Others who should come through are Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva has to be little bit more positive he has tremendous temperament and good technique."

In the bowling department, de Zoysa said, Sri Lanka will "struggle for sure because we haven't got that destroyer. Suranga Lakmal has to stand up but whether these guys can keep fit for six Test matches we have coming up against Pakistan and India is questionable.

"(Shaminda) Eranga and (Dhammika) Prasad have a lot of potential so too does (Dushmantha) Chameera but we will have to see whether he is fit enough for Test cricket," he said. "Ten overs in ODI cricket is quite a different game against 20-25 overs in a Test match."

De Zoysa also lamented the continued struggles of Thisara Perera and Kusal Perera, two players he earmarked as match-winners, but who were yet to realise their potentials.

Sri Lanka's series against Pakistan is scheduled for June and that would be a time for the younger players to step up, de Zoysa said.

"There is no greater opportunity for the young guys than now," he said.