Rex Clementine reporting from Cape Town
Over the years, Sri Lanka has carefully chosen their number three batsman and once convinced that someone has got the technique and the patience to succeed at cricket’s toughest batting position, they have persevered with that individual for a long duration.
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Roy Dias did it in the earlier stages while Asanka Gurusinghe occupied that position for a decade before his premature retirement in 1997. Kumar Sangakkara was given the chance to play at three in 2000 and he remained there for 15 years. It seems that Dhananjaya de Silva is the chosen one to bat at three in the longer run.
“I think the selectors were quite keen for him (Dhananjaya) to spend quite a bit of time in his apprenticeship phase of Test cricket batting down the order with a view to him eventually becoming a top order player. But with what we’ve got at the moment, in terms of requirements, it may mean that he has to go up the order earlier than initially planned,” Ford told journalists before Sri Lanka’s training at Newlands in Cape Town.
Kusal Janith Perera batted at number three in the first Test in Port Elizabeth and after looking unconvincing there against a quality fast bowling unit; Sri Lanka could push for a change.
“Before the tour there were quite a lot of discussions about batting orders with the selectors. Perhaps we felt that this was an order that we should be giving some sort of a run to. Those discussions continue. In these conditions we may well look to go with something different,” Ford added.
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Dhananjaya has done well at number seven since making his debut against Australia last year and Sri Lanka have a huge call to make if he were to push up the order.
“He’s performed fantastically at number seven and when we have got ourselves into trouble he’s got us out of trouble. Also he’s the last man of the group so he’s a calm man for pressure situations. The balance of the side at the moment when we play the extra seamer – we are one batter less, he’s got less of a batting order to bat with down there at the bottom. The danger of him batting down the order now is that he may run out of partners quicker than previously. That’s something to look at. He’s certainly showed that he’s well-equipped to handle batting up the order as well. It’s nice to know that we’ve got somebody that capable who can possibly slot in higher up the order.”
Dhananjaya opens batting in domestic cricket and Ford was convinced that he will succeed in a different role. “On the temperament side – we saw when he came in at 20 for five against Australia and played beautifully. On a number of occasions he’s been under big pressure and he’s handled it pretty well. We’ve also seen him handle the second new ball well on a number of occasions. We know he’s got the technical ability, as we’ve pointed out. We know he has played there in domestic cricket. There are a lot of good qualities in the young man,” Ford said.
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“At the same time we also don’t want to put too much pressure on him. He’s very much in the apprenticeship phase of his career, and going very well in that phase. We want to manage that as best we can,” he added.
Provided Dhananjaya moves up the order, Kusal Perera will drop down to number seven. Sri Lanka also has the option of playing the experienced Upul Tharanga at number seven.
