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Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan is adamant he won’t change his risky batting style and that’s fine with Australia.
Dilshan made four and 12 in two brief stays at the crease during Australia’s 125-run win in the first Test in Galle last week, losing his wicket early in both innings to give the tourists early momentum.
In the first innings the opener got off the mark smashing a ball through cover off debutant Trent Copeland but then fell the very next delivery attempting the same shot, this time picking out Ricky Ponting at short-cover.
His knock in the second innings, with the team chasing an improbable 379 for victory and already down a wicket when Tharanga Paranavitana was dismissed first ball, was even more irresponsible.
The 34-year-old seemed intent on scoring a boundary with every ball, swinging wildly without footwork before Ryan Harris inevitably got one to crash into his stumps.
But with the second Test to get underway on Thursday in Kandy, Dilshan says he’s not going to change his approach.
“I’m not going to change my batting, I’ve batted the last three or four years aggressive and I want to play my own shots,” he said.
“Although I am the captain, I don’t want to change the way I bat.
“This is the way that has brought me a lot of success. I play that well usually, but that day the ball went to Ponting. Had I got some quick runs that day (Wednesday), there could have been a difference.”
Dilshan’s declaration was received well by Australia vice-captain Shane Watson, who said the challenge was to continue to dominate Sri Lanka’s leader.
“That’s the way he plays isn’t it? He’s always batted like that, he’s always backed himself,” Watson said of Dilshan.
“There’s no doubt the ball coming back into him provides a different ball game compared to when the ball’s going away from him and he can free his arms.
“Hopefully he keeps playing the way he does and we’re able to execute the way we did, like Ryan Harris did in the second innings especially. Hopefully as a captain he won’t have too much impact throughout the series.”
The Australians travel to Kandy on Monday before beginning their preparations for the second Test.
West Australian Shaun Marsh is expected to make his debut after Ricky Ponting flew home to be with wife Rianna for the arrival of their second child.
NSW opener David Warner will depart Australia on Monday to join the squad in Kandy as an emergency player.
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