DILSHAN’S NEW YEAR GIFT TO SRI LANKAN CRICKET FANS!-DILSHAN IS NOT A TRADITIONAL SKIPPER BUT AN INNOVATIVE SKIPPER!
Posted on December 30th, 2011
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
Tilekeratne Dilshan and the team had produced one of the best display of cricket in winning the second test in Kingsmead,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Durban.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Right from the outset the Sri Lankan team ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was virtually written off by some local cricket commentatorsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as well as South African former cricketers , labeling them asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ under-performing team that can be beaten by a team other than South African National Team.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka has replied them with the bat and the ball,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This was a splendid victory.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The South African team is now soul searching and appears to be in disarray with rumoursƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of impending resignation of Graeme Smith as Captain.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The big-headed South African team has been taught a lesson.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The victory was largely due to the teamƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ability to play as an integrated unit.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The communication amongst the senior players have improved significantly during this match.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In a way, the match winning margin of 210 runs can be equated to the contributions of Thilan Samaraweera and Dinesh Chandimal. This was an unexpected source of runs from a forgotten Senior and a vibrant youngster. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SangakkaraƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s return to form with a splendid century is the way forward for Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is no doubt Dilshan and Mahela will endeavour to join the Club at the Cape Town in the third and final test.
Dilhara Fernando is now a much improvedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bowler compared to his performances ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ few years ago.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Welagedera and Herath duoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ took 14 out of 20 wicketsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to seal the victory with an aggressive bowling attack.
When Herath was bowling at a time South Africa was 6 wickets down and the second new ball due in 6 overs, the predictions by the commentators were that Dilshan will not opt for the new ball.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They argued that the spinner Herath was likely to penetrate into the tail-enders much better than seamers and therefore the continuous use of old ball as the best option.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But Dilshan had other ideas, he opted for the new ball to surprise most of the commentators.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Some of them laughed at DilshanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s decision.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DilshanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s judgement paid the dividends immediately with Herath continuing to take wickets with the new ball, with his armoury of spin attack.
It is interesting to note that Dilshan is taking the Captaincy seriously.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He is a committed leader giving hundred percent to the game.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He is not a traditional skipper but an innovative skipper.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is vital that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan Cricket managementƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should extend fullest support for Dilshan and provide him every assistance to develop his role in the new year.
Our best wishes for Dilshan and the Team in the New Year!
December 30th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Indeed the victory was largely due to the team’s ability to play as an integrated unit, Tilekeratne Dilshan taking a more aggressive approach towards captaincy than previously as well as the South Africans taking things for granted that they were invincible particularly through the rantings of Kepler Wessels and Alan Donald who have not said much in the aftermath. The curator at Cape Town is very likely to prepare another bouncy wicket similar to the one they did at Newlands and if Dishan wins the toss should have no hesitation to put ’em in and have a go at them with the strike bowlers.Hope Elvitigala gets a call! These types of wicket seem to favour the side batting second as they tend to ease off after the first few days of play but then Sri Lanka has enough talent if applied properly to bat at any call whether first lease or not and if they fire from all engines the Saffies will be groping again.Apparently Sanath ‘Master Blaster’ Jayasuriya’s comment that “‘ the ‘boys’ have choked them is said to have left the Proteas bristling, so expect a few rough house tactics which the umpires and match referee should be very watchful about!
Jayaweva Sri Lanka!
December 30th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Yes – Dilshan’s gamble in passing the harder new ball to Rangana Herat immediately paid. He is a master of this trick perfected under Sanga’s time. I recall in one day matches Sanga used Dilshan to open with the new ball once when playing against England when they opted to bat first. Captain Strauss gave away many dot balls before succumbing to Dilspin.
Sri Lanka can justly claim that they have brought another trick to internationa Cricket – after explosive batting style of Sanath Jayasuriya that is getting the spinners to use the highbounce of a new ball both in one day and test cricket.
In the art of sledging I noticed one South African fast bowler trying his best to take away Chandimal’s concentration I hope our lads too will develop what is necessary to pay back with the same medicine.
December 31st, 2011 at 2:10 am
The writer and all the armchair pundits and cricket experts commenting here fail to realize that Sri Lankan cricketers were not paid for over a year. Just before the second test they received half their accumulated past salaries.
How can a man perform with no salary. Our cricketers are not angels or saints to perform with no monetary returns.
Thanks Pandithayas – JP
December 31st, 2011 at 3:51 am
It was a great victory at Durban which everyone can rightly celebrate and for which we need to congratulate the team and the coaches and others associated with it.
As for Naram’s comments, Dilshan did the sensible thing in giving the new ball to Herath as soon as he did. In fact, it would have been silly if he had not done so. Herath was bowling well and in the fading light if Dilshan opted to keep the fast bowlers on the umpires will simply have called off play. So, whilst I do not wish to detract from Dilshan’s role in this game, I am not so sure that this was a piece of inspired captaincy and represents “another trick” Dilshan has introduced to international cricket. And as for sledging, my fervent wish is that the Sri Lankan cricketers do NOT try to develop this ugly, unsporting and thoroughly disgusting habit. If you learn to ignore the sledging and become more determined when they sledge, the opposition will soon learn that sledging will not pay with you. And so it is said that the Australians, for instance, had learned not to sledge the likes of Lara and Aravinda because they realised that the more they sledged these players, the better they played.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:14 am
I agree with Cassandra.
Jayantha should know that web is always for armchair discussion, we cannot type while bowling or batting. People watching cricket for long time with ointernational experiece too can comment, contribute and sometimes even suggest ideas better than cricket playing pundits who have no brains. Muppet Atapattu is such a pundit.
I belive fastest and most threatening bowles should always open bowling.