Tillakaratne Dilshan Biography
Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana are two great Sri Lankan legends whose careers took a u-turn once they started opening the innings. Following the same decision has proved fruitful for Dilshan who from a struggling middle order batsman has become one of the most destructive opening batsman in the modern era.
His professional career began in 1996 and within 3 years of his debut, he was selected to represent Sri Lanka in Tests. In only his 2nd test, he scored a composed 163 against Zimbabwe. He made his ODI debut, the same year against the same opposition. However even after being granted numerous chances he failed to impress and endured a miserable period between 2001 and 2003 when he was dropped on several occasions. Even after his comeback, Dilshan did little to inspire to confidence. In 2007-08, he was relegated to captaining the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side after he was dropped for Sri Lanka’s test series in Australia. To prove his detractors wrong, Dilshan slammed 111, 78 and 31 in his three innings thus guiding his team to 3-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe. On his return to Sri Lanka, he became Bloomfield Cricket Club’s most prolific scorer in the Premier Limited Over Tournament of the season which included a mind numbing 188 of just 135 balls against Colts CC, an innings which had 12 towering sixes. He was recalled for the Commonwealth ODI series in Australia and scored 62 runs of just 59 balls opening the innings against India. But after failing in the next two games, he was relegated to the middle order where he was wasted till the next 11 months. Sangakkara, Vandort and Jayasuriya were tried during this period and failed giving Dilshan a second chance in open the innings in a match against Pakistan in 2009.
Dilshan grabbed the bull by it horns and since then has become the first choice opener for Sri Lanka in all three formats. He now exhibits a self belief and confidence which was previously lacking in his game. He is ruthless in the power plays constantly attempting to clear the infield but has become much more sensible interspersing it with singles and twos. He is the pioneer of the ‘Dilscoop’ a shot where he paddles the ball over his own head in a typically unique style.
His transition has been such that he has been made captain in ODI’s and T20’s on occasions. A brilliant fielder, he is also a useful off spinner. He will be one of Sri Lanka’s major players in WC 2011 and his countrymen will be hoping that he provide them with those flying starts that they have become so accustomed to.
Fast Facts
He is in the top 10 run getters for Sri Lanka in Tests and ODI’s.
He is currently only one of three Sri Lankan batsman to score more than 700 runs in international T20’s.
He currently holds Sri Lanka’s second highest score in ODI’s (160) and in T20 (96 not out).
In ODI’s, he averages over 50 when he opens the innings.
He shares the highest Sri Lankan 5th wicket partnership in tests with Thilan Samaraweera (280), a feat achieved against Bangladesh in 2005.
He is only the 15th captain for Sri Lanka in ODI’s.
His 61 against India in 2010 is the second highest score by a Sri Lankan on captaincy debut.
He scored his maiden ODI century against Netherlands in 2006 after playing 88 games.
He was the first player to take advantage of the UDRS referral system when he reversed an out decision against India in 2008.
He was ‘Player of the Series’ in the 2009 T20 WC.
He currently holds the record of most number of fours in a T20 tournament (46) which he achieved in the 2009 T20 WC.
He won the award of ‘Twenty20 International Performance of the Year’ at the ICC awards 2009 for his 96 off 57 balls against West Indies in the semi-final of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England.
He has scored more than 1000 runs in the calendar years 2009 and 2010.
Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana are two great Sri Lankan legends whose careers took a u-turn once they started opening the innings. Following the same decision has proved fruitful for Dilshan who from a struggling middle order batsman has become one of the most destructive opening batsman in the modern era.
His professional career began in 1996 and within 3 years of his debut, he was selected to represent Sri Lanka in Tests. In only his 2nd test, he scored a composed 163 against Zimbabwe. He made his ODI debut, the same year against the same opposition. However even after being granted numerous chances he failed to impress and endured a miserable period between 2001 and 2003 when he was dropped on several occasions. Even after his comeback, Dilshan did little to inspire to confidence. In 2007-08, he was relegated to captaining the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side after he was dropped for Sri Lanka’s test series in Australia. To prove his detractors wrong, Dilshan slammed 111, 78 and 31 in his three innings thus guiding his team to 3-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe. On his return to Sri Lanka, he became Bloomfield Cricket Club’s most prolific scorer in the Premier Limited Over Tournament of the season which included a mind numbing 188 of just 135 balls against Colts CC, an innings which had 12 towering sixes. He was recalled for the Commonwealth ODI series in Australia and scored 62 runs of just 59 balls opening the innings against India. But after failing in the next two games, he was relegated to the middle order where he was wasted till the next 11 months. Sangakkara, Vandort and Jayasuriya were tried during this period and failed giving Dilshan a second chance in open the innings in a match against Pakistan in 2009.
Dilshan grabbed the bull by it horns and since then has become the first choice opener for Sri Lanka in all three formats. He now exhibits a self belief and confidence which was previously lacking in his game. He is ruthless in the power plays constantly attempting to clear the infield but has become much more sensible interspersing it with singles and twos. He is the pioneer of the ‘Dilscoop’ a shot where he paddles the ball over his own head in a typically unique style.
His transition has been such that he has been made captain in ODI’s and T20’s on occasions. A brilliant fielder, he is also a useful off spinner. He will be one of Sri Lanka’s major players in WC 2011 and his countrymen will be hoping that he provide them with those flying starts that they have become so accustomed to.
Fast Facts
He is in the top 10 run getters for Sri Lanka in Tests and ODI’s.
He is currently only one of three Sri Lankan batsman to score more than 700 runs in international T20’s.
He currently holds Sri Lanka’s second highest score in ODI’s (160) and in T20 (96 not out).
In ODI’s, he averages over 50 when he opens the innings.
He shares the highest Sri Lankan 5th wicket partnership in tests with Thilan Samaraweera (280), a feat achieved against Bangladesh in 2005.
He is only the 15th captain for Sri Lanka in ODI’s.
His 61 against India in 2010 is the second highest score by a Sri Lankan on captaincy debut.
He scored his maiden ODI century against Netherlands in 2006 after playing 88 games.
He was the first player to take advantage of the UDRS referral system when he reversed an out decision against India in 2008.
He was ‘Player of the Series’ in the 2009 T20 WC.
He currently holds the record of most number of fours in a T20 tournament (46) which he achieved in the 2009 T20 WC.
He won the award of ‘Twenty20 International Performance of the Year’ at the ICC awards 2009 for his 96 off 57 balls against West Indies in the semi-final of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England.
He has scored more than 1000 runs in the calendar years 2009 and 2010.
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan
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