Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella filling up the spot that fell vacant after Kusal Janith Perera’s fell ill has become the talking point in cricket circles. Barring a couple of half-centuries in domestic cricket, the 30-year-old hasn’t done much to earn a comeback.
The selectors argued that they were looking for some experience in a World Cup year and that made them give Dickwella the nod ahead of a couple of youngsters. The fact that both captain and coach endorsed his selection justifies the selectors’ call.
That Dickwella is the most talented player to wear the Sri Lankan cap since Angelo Mathews is a debatable claim but what is not debatable is here is a man who won the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in 2012.
Most Sri Lankan coaches in the last ten years from Graham Ford to Chris Silverwood would underline that Dickwella is one of the brightest talents that they have seen.
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Sri Lanka were India for a full tour in 2017 and there were several young players who emerged in that series as bright prospects. There was Roshen Silva, who saved a Test match, there was Dhananjaya de Silva, who made R. Ashwin look like an ordinary bowler and then there was Dickwella, who got under the skin of the opposition.
Sri Lanka were crashing in Calcutta and Dickwella spared the team’s blushes. Aged 24, he employed time wasting tactics infuriating the Indian captain. Not many players are able to stand toe to toe with Virat Kohli. In a day and age when opposition were quite content to take selfies with one of the modern-day greats, Dickwella stood up to Kohli and told him to get lost.
Even the seniors were baffled that someone so young not holding back. It was so good to see.
Then Dickwella’s game awareness came to the fore. Mohmmad Shami, the local boy, was bowling short stuff at the left-hander and he continued to attack forgetting there was a Test match to be saved. It was baffling indeed, but then you realized that India were operating with three fielders on the leg-side behind square and Dickwella knew he can not be dismissed as it was a no ball. It was some Test match. During the post-match media briefing, the Indian captain was all praise for Dickwella. It was music to the ear.
“I like to see that character. I liked that competitiveness on the field. He is someone who takes a lot of pride in his cricket, impressed with what I have seen so far from him. He has got great ability to do something very special for Sri Lankan cricket,” Kohli said in response to a question posed by Sunday Island.
“In the heat of things, I will do anything for my team to win. Dickwella is like me. Afterwards we had a chat on the flight. When your opponent is competitive you’ve got to respect that. He is a very feisty character and that works for his game. Credit for him for maintaining that and I am sure he will do many good things for Sri Lankan cricket,” Kohli added.
Another facet of Dickwella was seen later in that series in the final Test match in Delhi. A draw was on the cards and the opposition was willing to shake hands leading into the mandatory overs. Dickwella told his batting partner to just hang in there. He reminded Roshen Silva that Sri Lanka had already lost the series and it didn’t matter whether they lost 1-0 or 2-0. However, if they tried and scored the runs, history would be created as Sri Lanka had never won a Test match in India. Roshen Silva wasn’t going to take the bait. But Dickwella was prepared to think out of the box.
Not since the glory days of Arjuna Ranatunga, you had seen such a combative Sri Lankan cricketer. He had the ability, was good at winding up the opposition, very well versed on Laws of Cricket and played the game to win.
However, the early promise hardly materialized. Often he threw away his wicket. Not having a Test match hundred after 54 appearances is a crime. There were days lady luck was smiling at him whole day. Like in Antigua a few years ago. He was dropped, he was given not out after nicking one, once even the ball rolled over and hit the stumps but bails weren’t dislodged. He moved on to 96 before throwing it away again.
Dickwella’s reviewing has been horrendous too. There were Test matches where he had urged the skipper to take reviews even before Rangana Herath, the team’s best bowler had come on to bowl.
What Dickwella does off the field is none of our business. But on the field he has been a mess. His bad attitude and indiscipline has not only cost him but cost the team dearly too.
What can we expect during his second coming?
