Thirimanne looking to improve

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

Lahiru Thirimanne has been one of the the latest young talents that has blossomed in the Sri Lankan team. The selectors have finally given a consistent youngster an opportunity after perennial and proven failures like Chamara Kapugedara who hasn’t done anything substantial to be part of a Sri Lanka 15 man squad even.

Lahiru although had a fine run in the CB series in Australia has gone through a bad run of form in test matches. Here, Thirimanne answers questions on how tough it is to adjust to play in different positions, how he has developed as a player and many more.

Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Lahiru Thirimanne

Q: You have been struggling in test matches recently, haven’t got many big scores. Is opening the innings facing the red ball a problem for you?

A: We played a lot of ODI cricket through out and a hectic Asia cup scheduled right in the middle.

The preparation for the test matches wasn’t sufficient at all. We had only two days of training but I cannot give excuses for my bad run. I should have played much better in the test matches.

I batted in the middle order in ODIs at a stretch and opening in test matches is a completely different role. I feel I still haven’t adjusted fully to both the roles.

Q: Sri Lanka have tried out many different opening combinations in the recent past. Tharnaga Pranawithana is also pushing himself to the final 11 with steady domestic performances. Is this competition a worrying factor for you?

A: Competition is always healthy. It pushes you to perform much better and brings the best out of you since someone is waiting in the wings to grab your position. I need to focus on myself, my batting technique and score many runs as possible.

Q: Do you have a specific role defined as a test opener in the team? What has the captain and coach told you about your ole?

A: There isn’t a specific role defined for me,but as an opener my job is to see out the new ball and play safe. Dilshan is a different type of opener who will blast from ball one itself. I play quite defensively till there is movement and then go for my shots.

Q: You seem to struggle to rotate the strike at times. Doesn’t this put extra pressure on you?

A: It really depends on the situation.I am working on my technique with Marvan Atapattu and I would like to keep the scoreboard ticking, but sometimes you have to be patient in your stroke play without taking much risks.

Q: How difficult is it to adjust from First class cricket in Sri Lanka to international cricket? How much of a gap is there?

A: Yes there is a big gap and in test matches the adjustment is more. I faced top quality attacks in my test career from Pakistan to South Africa to England and it wasn’t easy at all. In domestic games there are one or two good bowlers, but in the international scene you face the very best.

Q: You bat in the middle order in ODIs and you face the Power play as well.Being a typical steady, traditional player how do you approach your role to?

A: In ODIs I am more free to play my shots since the ball isn’t moving that much. The field is wide spread most of the time so I can pinch the singles. I am not a slogger but in Power plays I can play proper strokes and get runs. I started batting at number 4 at my club so it helped me to bat in the middle overs in ODIs.

Q: You seem to struggle a bit against spinners as opposed to pace bowlers. Are you working on your shot selection as to come down the track and unsettle them?

A: Bowlers read us well, specially international quality bowlers who are experienced and skillfull. I want to step out from the crease and play spin, with experience I will do it more often. I have to improve on my batting against spin bowling.

Q: What really happened between you and R. Ashwin at the CB series game? Did he warn you before he ran you out?

A: He didn’t warn me at all. I didn’t know the proper law until I was out so that’s why I stepped out and backed away. But you can see many international players doing it and get unnoticed. When the umpires check for a front foot no ball, you can see that how many non strikers are backing away.

Q: You bowl steady medium pace, don’t you want to improve more on your bowling and bowl more?

A: My primary role is to play as a batsman but I can act as a part time bowler who can bowl 3-4 overs when needed. I bowl everyday in nets at practice and if the captain wants I will bowl.

Q: You field brilliantly and fearlessly at short leg and took some crucial catches in Galle against England for us to win the game. Have you always fielded there?

A: In club games also I field at short leg and it’s a customary position for me.

Q: Who are the most difficult bowlers you have faced?

A: In tests it has got to be James Anderson, he troubled me with his movement. In ODIs, Brett Lee was very tough to face with his extreme pace and accuracy.

Q: What are your career goals?

A: I want to be a permanent member in the ODI side and the Pakistan series will provide me a good opportunity for it. In tests I want to go on to make big scores.