Dilshan’s advice to young cricketers

DAMBULLA: Retiring ODI cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan adviced young cricketers to make Test cricket their priority before branching onto playing the other two formats fifty-over and T20 cricket.

“A lot of youngsters try to play T20s and one-dayers, but I’m giving advice to them that they should make sure they enjoy Test cricket first, then they can enjoy one-dayers and T20s,” said 39-year-old Dilshan after playing his 330th and final ODI at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday against Australia before retiring.

“Everyone has to play more Test cricket. That is the duty of the game. I really enjoyed my Test career as well, rather than the one-dayers. This is a time for our youngsters to put their hands up and take over Sri Lankan cricket. That’s the reason for my retirement. The youngsters are doing really well. Hopefully they can take our national flag a long way,” he said.

Dilshan appeared for his country in 87 Tests scoring 5492 runs at an average of 40.98 with 16 hundreds and captained in 11 of them. It was during his short tenure as captain that Dilshan made his highest Test score – a magnificent 193 against England at Lord’s in 2011 and Sri Lanka recorded their maiden Test win in South Africa by 208 runs at Durban in 2012.

About the timing of his retirement Dilshan said, “I just thought it was time, just as I had thought with my Test career. After this series there is no cricket for me for six months. It’s in January that we play next in South Africa. I thought that it’s better for a new player to train with the team in those six months than me.

“They can get good experience with the team during that time. I thought it was enough so I talked with my wife and my parents. If young players can win in the future that would give me the most joy. You can’t buy that feeling.

“There was no influence.

I had been expecting to play on, but I talked with a lot of people around me and changed my mind. I talked to Thilanga Sumathipala (SLC president) as well, who is someone you can get a lot of good advice from. He’s been like a father, when I faced some problems. I’ve got that support from all these people.”

Reflecting back on his career Dilshan said, “I am happy about what I’ve done for my country in my career. I won’t forget my 17 years serving Sri Lanka. I gave everything in all my matches. If I couldn’t bat, I bowled, and if I couldn’t bowl well, I fielded well.

I can be happy about my journey. Today also I tried my best to win this game, but unfortunately we were short by about 10 or 15 runs. I’m also disappointed that after getting a 40 – and getting starts in the last two games – I couldn’t get a big one. But I’m glad to be giving the youngsters a chance.”

Dilshan said that he hadn’t planned to retire before the series but when he woke up that day he felt that it was time for him to go.

“Whether someone tells me to keep playing or stop playing, that’s not what’s important. What is important is what I feel.

I started the series thinking that I’ll play for another year – at least in T20 cricket. But when I woke up that day I felt that it was time to go,” said Dilshan.

“To be honest I could easily play for another year or two. But we have to look to the future. If I play for another two years and leave, there’s only 18 months before the next World Cup and that’s unfair to the team. A young player could be blooded in that time.

“Since I started opening six years ago, we haven’t found a permanent partner for me. I’ve opened with about 10 people – so that’s a problematic area for us.

If I keep playing we won’t be able to get two batsmen settled in that place. At the same time I’ll also get some rest,” he said.