Niroshan Dickwella searching for his maiden Test hundred 

• Lankan wicketkeeper looking forward to scoring his maiden Test hundred

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s robust and enigmatic wicketkeeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella is looking forward to scoring his maiden Test hundred in the upcoming two Tests against England at Galle and helping his team win the series.

“Against England we have a good chance to win by rectifying our mistakes from the last series. I also have a goal to achieve by scoring my maiden Test hundred. To score 15 Test fifties and not converting any of them into a hundred is a shame. Out in the middle I don’t set myself goals to score hundreds or anything of that sort but try and concentrate on the next ball. If I can do the correct things for a long time, I am sure I can get to that hundred,” said Dickwella in a virtual media conference yesterday.

“I am looking forward to playing a big innings for my country, but on most occasions I get the opportunity to bat with the tailenders. However, in South Africa I had two good batters in Dasun (Shanaka) and Wanindu (Hasaranga) with me but unfortunately I couldn’t convert those innings into big ones. My role is to play according to the situation for the team. Although I have not scored anything big, there have been occasions where my contributions of 40s and 50s have helped the team win,” Dickwella continued.

“At the moment I am working with the batting coach on my batting, on how to change gears and to target only certain bowlers instead of everyone, and then pace out my innings. I think in the near future I will be able to contribute with a big score,” he said.

In South Africa Dickwella made scores of 49 and 36 without converting them into hundreds. In 39 Tests he has a top score of 83 and averages 30.

Dickwella has been faulted for his impetuosity when well set and for overplaying the sweep and reverse sweep shots – shots that have brought about runs but also on more than one occasion his downfall.

“In the LPL (Lanka Premier League) I played the reverse sweep and sweep shots in the first two games and realised that I could get more runs by playing straight. In South Africa due to the wickets we got, there wasn’t much turn and the spinners didn’t bowl too many overs for me to employ the sweep shots. But in the England series, on turning pitches, I will most probably play them. I have a different style of play and approach to the game but that’s my way of batting. From ball one in our conditions my approach is to play positive and try and get results from it,” said Dickwella.

Sri Lanka were white-washed 3-0 by Joe Root’s Englishmen in 2018 with spinners Jack Leach, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid playing the major roles in that defeat. But on this occasion England have only Leach - Ali (tested positive for corona and unavailable) and Rashid (not selected) are not in their line-up – and Dom Bess, and three spinners to choose from their reserve squad.

“We are not worried about the bowlers; we have to concentrate on the ball. Whoever is bowling can get anyone out. It’s going to be a tough series for both teams against the conditions. Compared to the last series in 2018 I think we have a better chance this time with no Joffra Archer, Ben Stokes and two other good players. We are not taking it easy, we will play our normal game and see how it goes,” said Dickwella.

“Spin will play a major role in the series – at least 90 per cent. The onus is on the batsmen to put enough runs on the board for the spinners to be effective. If everyone plays their role right, we can win. We have a bigger advantage in the series. We had only little time to get ready and there are small issues like rain which is prevalent in Galle at this time of the year, but we are ready to face the challenges and face up to England in our conditions. The mistakes we made in the last series we will rectify and come prepared to take on England,” Dickwella continued.

“We have identified the areas where we made mistakes.  In South Africa we couldn’t adjust to the conditions and situations, but as a team we should be able to do that and try and win sessions. We must have a positive approach, and if we are to win matches the players must know their roles to play during situations. If we can do that, we can achieve the result we want,” he added.

In conclusion, Dickwella said that he would one day love to captain his country but that decision was in the hands of the selection committee and the head coach.

England can cope with tough conditions in Sri Lanka: Silverwood

Grant Luden new Physical Performance Manager at SLC