There has been plenty of criticism of Australia’s captain Steve Smith for departing the Sri Lanka tour early.
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Smith has returned to Sydney from Colombo following the crushing 82-run defeat in the second match of the series to rest, with vice-captain David Warner handed the reins for the remaining three matches and two T20 internationals.
Particularly as Steyn is still a part of the current South Africa playing XI and likely to feature against the Australians if not in next month’s one-day series hosted by the Proteas, but nearly certainly in the three-Test series to be played in Australia this summer.
“The schedule is very busy”.
Dilshan captained Sri Lanka across formats between May 2010 and January 2012, and though their first Test win under him came against South Africa at the tail end of that period, the team had endured a lull during his leadership.
Selector Rod Marsh was also keen to defend the timing of Smith’s rest. “So that’s another opportunity and that’s important for us to get him that experience”.
Australia stand-in skipper David Warner has admitted that he is usually the main “culprit” whenever there is sledging going on but added that he understands the responsibility that comes with his new role. That is also the case in the one-day worldwide and Twenty20 formats.
Sri Lankan opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, who pioneered the “Dilscoop” flick over the wicketkeeper’s head, has announced retirement from worldwide cricket.
Sri Lanka Cricket has chose to dedicate the 3rd ODI to be played on Sunday 28th of August 2016 in Dambulla to honor the master batsman Dilshan for his invaluable contribution to the country.
Inventor of the famous “Dilscoop” ramp shot, Dilshan played the last of his 87 Tests in 2013 before quitting the longer format with 5492 runs and 39 wickets.
Having scored 1000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year four times since being sent permanently up the order, Dilshan never failed to amass fewer than 800 runs between 2009 and 2015.
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Lehmann said he had no issue with the former captain Clarke’s comments.
