Tillakaratne Dilshan has chose to retire from ODIs after the third match in the ongoing five-match series against Australia.
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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.
“I would of (sic) liked to have seen the captain play until the series was won and then have a rest”, Clarke said. “Would any other @CricketAus captain done this?”
Zampa then trapped Mathews (2) in front to land his second telling blow in the space of three deliveries, the Sri Lanka skipper reviewing the decision unsuccessfully to leave the hosts in trouble at 4-103.
Australian cricket team captain, Steve Smith, leaves the ground after a practice session ahead of their second test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Their tour of South Africa begins on September 27 with an ODI against Ireland in Benoni, after which they play five ODIs against South Africa. I think I’ve learned a lot about the way I play, particularly white-ball cricket, from the IPL.
Former Test opener Michael Slater echoed Clarke’s sentiments, but Lehmann said he had no issue with their comments.
“There’s no dramas, they’re entitled to that”. The whole team wishes him all the very best for the future.
Despite the importance of the result, much of the focus will be on stand-in captain Warner and more importantly Dilshan playing his last match. The 39-year-old – who invented the “Dilscoop” – a ramp shot that brought him plenty of runs and unbelievable number of fans around the world – has been part of Sri Lankan cricket folklore for a decade and half. But a losing 3-0 series there has led to Smith’s team dropping to No.3 on the ICC rankings.
Australia were hammered 3-0 in the test series, finding it hard on the turning pitches in Sri Lanka, but achieved a three-wicket win in the first one-day global in Colombo.
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“We’d planned it for a long time and he took some convincing there is no doubt about that, but as a coaching and selection panel we have to make sure he is fresh and ready to go for Australia”.
